"Consider Phlebas" Book Review

What is the point of winning if you change everything about yourself to win? If your identity is so 'open' and 'fluid', is it even an identity? Is the goal of individuals, societies and civilizations to 'stand out' or to 'fit in'? Are there any sacred limits to change?

Relative universality vs Absolutist identitarianism. That is the philosophical debate underpinning the inter-generation conflict in the galactic war in "Consider Plebas", the first novel in the Culture series by *Iain M. Banks*. I found myself reflecting on how these philosophical ideas relate to the conflicts and relationships between groups in real life; there were many connections to be found at different level of politics and society.

On one side we have ‘The Culture’; a post scarcity, AI-ruled society that has one goal on its minds: continual, ‘peaceful’ expansion. They can’t help but meddle in the affairs of other planets and manipulate them slowly into joining their ranks. Everyone that joins slowly becomes less and less unique. It is giant blob with no real identity, standing for nothing, just wanting to expand membership. Aka: globalism gone wild. Beautiful on the surface, soulless on the inside.

On the other side, we have the Iderians, a strong, smart, anti-AI, religious race that believes they are superior and others must be subdued. In that belief, they offer their enemies some inherent dignity; we respect that you are separate and different, rather than something to slowly infect and corrupt. We will kill you, but we will not disrespect you. We will leave you intact as yourself until your death. I think it is obvious how this clashes with ‘The Culture’.

I won’t go into specific characters and their journeys. They aren’t particularly likeable or memorable, but provide a passable story as a eyepiece into the war. Overall it is an 'okay’ book. I found the underlying philosophy of the war much more interesting than the story. However, I am taking away one major lesson from the story. As it progresses the idealistic characters 'detach' from their philosophies as unrelated physical and emotional challenges ensue and ‘sides’ get blurred. Life, war, and conflict happens regardless of what you believe.

This 'depegging' of unfolding events from apparently deep, philosophical battles, illustrates that while transcending simpler hierarchies of needs unlocks the ability to pursue higher goals and ways of thinking; this up-leveling is not permanent. Our grand beliefs, sciences, philosophies are all enabled by the outer physical world and inner emotional worlds. And if those foundations are shaken, any elaborate, 'academic' philosophy can be abandoned. I think it is worth reading just to feel and contemplate that for a moment.

If you like Sci-Fi with strong philosophical underpinnings; read this book or another one in ‘The Culture’ series.