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| Inversions | 
 enlarge | Author: Iain M. Banks
Publisher: Pocket
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
Buy New: $17.30
You Save: $5.65 (25%)
New (12) Used (6) from $17.30
Avg. Customer Rating:  40 reviews
Sales Rank: 269052
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 1
ISBN: 1416583785
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781416583783
ASIN: 1416583785
Publication Date: October 19, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 40 | | ... 8 NEXT » |
 Not a typical Culture novel. January 27, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is another excellent book by Mr. Banks. It gives you a glimpse of the actions of Special Circumstances agents from the viewpoint of the native civilizations that they are embedded in.
 good but not up-to-par Banksian SF November 20, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book was advertised as being a SF book and after reading all but 2 of his SF books, I looked foward to Inversions with a salivating tongue. There is no science, technology, aliens or spaceships. The story takes place on an undisclosed planet with human or human-like individuals. The two stories (which are well told) revolve around two kingdoms on the same world. Kings, Dames, harems, doctors, generals and Barons are scattered throughout the storyline which creates a gothic yet civilized portrait of the world.
Banks doesn't let the reader down with his refreshing injections of humor and darkness. I kept reading hoping for an angle of SF but was ultimetly left without. This would be a great book for fantasy readers, but as a hard SF fan and especially a Banks space-opera fan, Inversions was a disappointment to my expectations... however, I enjoyed it whilst I read.
A fun read of intrigue November 17, 2006
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is the first Ian M. Banks novel I read. I am confused why it is considered "SF"- the setting is supposedly on another planet with three moons and two suns (I think), but there's no "science". The setting is in a medieval like time in terms of technology and culture, and the story is about court intrigue and human-made suffering. After reading several of the amazon reviews here I feel maybe I missed something by not having read previous Banks novels, but still I enjoyed this book on its own. Other than the complications of the court intrigue, it is a very light read. I think it works best on the level of allegory as suggested by the stories within stories form. I was most interested in the "Doctor" character, particularly in the details which show her humanity and her sense of dignity. The sudden unexplained event which involves her toward the end of the novel works because of the depth of her character, and suggests a metaphysical level that is almost believable- Banks is clever enough to give the reader room to intuit its significance, while avoiding a deux ex machina ending by tying up the less subtle plot elements. Not a great book, but an entertaining read which convinces me to look at more of his novels.
Subtle Sci Fi/Fantasy May 7, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A distant planet has reached the stage of what we call the renaissance. People are still ruled by Kings, torture is still considered a way to find the truth, the superiority of those of noble birth from the peasant is taken as given, and while guns do exist they more often do harm to the shooter than the target. But among the barbarity there are signs of progress, power is in places being transferred from the absolute monarchy to local authorities and the science of medicine is slowly becoming less crude and (slightly) more effective.
In this world in connected but separated countries are two mysterious characters who have managed to manoeuvre themselves close to the ruler, one as a Bodyguard the other as the Kings physician. Both have enemies in the court but both seem capable of super human feats when required.
Like all Iain Banks books this one is not light reading, it requires concentration and even now having read it twice I am sure there are subtleties I have missed - but that's how good writing should be, i.e. multi-layered. My recommendation for reading this book is to initially read it as your first Iain M Banks culture book and then read it again after few other of his titles (such as Consider Phelbas, Use of Weapons etc). The first reading may be a bit mystifying at times but the second tome around it will all become clear and you are likely to become a Ian Banks fan.
His books are subtle and complex, full of intrigue, hidden links and imaginative ideas. If your taste is for a quasi Lord of the Rings sword and sorcery epic then you may be disappointed but if you prefer your sci fi with a bit of mystery and not to formula then this is for you.
jacket summary January 15, 2006
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
from the back cover of the May 2001 Pocket Books paperback edition
On a disordered world - In Haspidus, Dr. Vosill serves as the personal physician to the king, an incredible achievement for a foreigner and - even more unthinkably - a woman. Sharp-tongued, independent, and full of dangerous ideas, Vosill has more enemies at court than even she suspects. But she also has more remedies at hand than those who wish her ill could possibly imagine.
In a critical time - Across the mountains, a man named DeWar serves as chief bodyguard to the Protector General of Tassasen, a profession he describes as the business of "assassinating assassins." In a troubled new country ravaged by revolution, DeWar, too, has enemies - but his methods of combating them are more direct.
One person's presence - As these new nations struggle to rise up from the ruins of a fallen empire, Vossil and DeWar have each caught the ear of those in power. Although they seem to act as loyal servants to their chosen countries, their true agendas are as elusive as their mysterious, and possibly common, past.
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