The Weekend...

[stellar_muddle]

Part way into Iain M Banks "Consider Phlebas" at present. Isn't bad but it is not really grabbing me and wanting me to not put it down. Sorry, require more to be convinced of Iain Banks's greatness...
Another thing which I am really not convinced about is "Team America", which I started watching and mostly slept through on Sat evening. Yes, the puppet sex was mildly amusing, but by the time Rushmore was blown up by Michael Moore... nyeh...
It may be a reflection of a warped sense of humour, but what I really liked was the one was watched 1st on Sat: The Lion in Winter. Miniseries starring Patrick Stewart as Henry II and Glenn Close as Eleanor of Aquataine. The sniping, bitching, backstabbing and general political manovering was great fun. Now just have to rewatch the earlier 1968 movie version with Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn. Both are based on the Broadway play by Sam Goldman and the dialogue is glorious (Quotes)
Gotten out at the same time but yet to be seen are "The Triplets of Bellevue" and "Big Fish"

Comments

[mellific.livejournal.com]

I prefer his fiction to his science fiction. The Wasp Factory being particularly interesting and The Crow Road being enjoyable. There's another good one I've read, but I can't remember the name.

I've heard people rave about his sci-fi, but, meh.

[jwm.livejournal.com]

Consider Phelbas is his weakest SF book, I think. It's got some great scenes in it, but it reads like somebodies Traveller campaign; would have been fun to play, but not quite as consistantly good to read.

Look To Windward is probably the best one, with The Algebraist and Use Of Weapons jostling for a close second.

[tatianitska.livejournal.com]

The player of Games is his best IMO.