I loved this science fiction novel and it's societal commentary. It felt like a better The Dispossessed. Banks doesn't try to shove his views into your face, which is refreshing. And he doesn't try exhaustively prove a point. I felt as though just enough was left up to imagination. Speaking of imagination I loved the world of Azad and the games throughout the book were beautifully described. Leaving the finer points to the reader's imagination opened a world of wonder about what they could be like. I enjoy when an author treats the audience with respect like that instead of rigidly setting out rules. I'm looking forward to more by Iain M. Banks.