The Culture Books podcast
Episodes
The State of the Art, 3, The State of the Art Chapter 2
10 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sma takes a museum tour and we come to grips with the memory of our own past.
The State of the Art, 2, The State of the Art Chapter 1
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The triumphant return of Diziet Sma and we're taking the show to Planet Earth folks!
The State of the Art, 1, A Gift From The Culture
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the earliest Culture works, we get to know a world eerily like that of BladeRunner and a Culture renegade in more trouble than they can handle.
Use of Weapons, 29, End Notes
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At journey's end we can look back and discuss the costs of victory and defeat.
Use of Weapons, 28, Remembrance, Fourteen
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We find out who Zakalwe really is...
Use of Weapons, 27, Remembrance, I
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Possibly the most infamous chapter in science fiction history. Zakalwe receives a present.
Use of Weapons, 26, Remembrance, Thirteen
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe has a breakdown followed by an even more terrible day, but we get the standout quote of the book.
Use of Weapons, 25, Remembrance, II
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe takes the slow road to the stars, and almost doesn't make it.
Use of Weapons, 24, Remembrance, Twelve
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Finally we get to see Zakalwe doing what he does best; soldiering.
Use of Weapons, 23, Remembrance, III
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe goes to the snow!
Use of Weapons, 22, Remembrance, Eleven
11 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe ruins a lot of nice people's holidays like the total jerk he is.
Use of Weapons, 21, Remembrance, IV
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe takes us on a tour of life on a Culture GSV!
Use of Weapons, 20, Remembrance, Ten
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe throws away his weapon, has a philosphical discussion, and fixes for a fight
Use of Weapons, 19, An Outing, V
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is Zakalwe's brain on drugs!
Use of Weapons, 18, An Outing, Nine
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe gets in a lot of fights, but his love of the old plasma rifle finally pays off!
Use of Weapons, 17, An Outing, VI
17 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe tries his hand at writing poetry in an idyllic rural setting, but it's not as nice as he'd hoped.
Use of Weapons, 16, An Outing, Eight
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe plays James Bond again, Diziet gets distracted, and our hero goes to an interesting party which he does not enjoy.
Use of Weapons, 15, An Outing, VII
28 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As a flashback from the worst day of Zakalwe's life we get the origin story!
Use of Weapons, 14, An Outing, Seven
06 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Agent Zakalwe makes a big splash while trying to play the part of James Bond.
Use of Weapons, 13, An Outing, VIII
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe gets stuck in a storm, takes a long hard look at himself, argues with an idiot, and sees some very strange things.
Use of Weapons, 12, An Outing, Six
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe spends a lot of time being rude to GSV minds, but does receive a lovely gift!
Use of Weapons, 11, An Outing, IX
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe falls in love, and dreams about the ghost of the real Zakalwe.
Use of Weapons, 10, The Good Soldier, Five
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe seems suspiciously happy to run away from his problems, but they have a nice time at the beach.
Use of Weapons, 9, The Good Soldier, X
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We find out what happened to Zakalwe on Fohls. It was not nice.
Use of Weapons, 8, The Good Soldier, Four
16 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sma and Skaffen recover from a party and go for an island cruise. Meanwhile The Culture goes nuclear around them!
Use of Weapons, 7, The Good Soldier, XI
27 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe goes to the beach, and we ask, is he a Gary Stu?
Use of Weapons, 6, The Good Soldier, Three
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Skaffen and Sma go to a party on the Xenophobe and have a fight....
Use of Weapons, 5, The Good Soldier, XII
15 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zakalwe has a less pleasant visit to a castle and we ask if any aristocrat can be a good aristocrat?
Use of Weapons, 4, The Good Soldier, Two
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Diziet gets out of bed and the Culture goes to the wild west to see just how scary a drone can be!
Use of Weapons, 3, The Good Soldier, XIII
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In which we briefly meet an Ethnarch, and get a good look at just how stone cold cool this Zakalwe cat can be!
Use of Weapons, 2, The Good Soldier, One
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We meet Diziet Sma and spend a lot of time on how exactly she likes to bone. And The Culture seems to be putting a lot more resources into this caper ...
Use of Weapons, 1, Slight Mechanical Destruction, and Prologue
20 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We start The Big One for Banks fans, a great whiskey is reviewed, and the scene is set for a wild ride with fortunately short chapters!
The Player of Games, 4, The Passed Pawn
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We wrap up Elon Musk's favourite book with a short chapter that ties up a couple of loose ends and really gets into non-binary love.
The Player of Games, 3, Machina Ex Machina
09 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With apologies for the delay we are back with the third chapter of The Player of Games where we get to see just what rat bastards The Culture can be w...
The Player of Games, 2, Imperium
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Getting deep and dirty into The Player of Games and really wondering what Elon Musk gets into in this tale of cruelty and perversion. Chapter 2, Imper...
The Player of Games, 1, Culture Plate
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Player of Games begins as we talk about the first chapter of this remarkable book and consider what games are really being played.
Consider Phlebas, 14, Consider Phlebas, and all the other bits
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We come to an end of the journey for the first of The Culture books. Fear not we shall return soon for The Player of Games.
Consider Phlebas, 13, The Command System: Terminus
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's a big episode with a big body count! But finally we finish up in these goddamn tunnels!
Consider Phlebas, 12, The Command System: Engines
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We get to learn a lot more about Idirans, and trains, in a chapter that spends a lot of time setting up the finale!
Consider Phlebas, 11, The Command System: Stations
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The drone makes some jokes, the Idirans are mean, and Yalson has a big surprise!
Consider Phlebas, 10, The Command System: Batholith
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The KFC ventures deep under Schar's World, while through Fal's musings we learn the history of the Culture.
Consider Phlebas, 9, Schar's World
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The KFC on the CAT finally makes it to Schar's World and Horza's misspent youth catches up with him.
Consider Phlebas, 8, The Ends of Invention
30 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A madcap escape, the arsenal of the end of the universe, a plucky drone, and the immense drag of being a galactic warlord with a young dude hitting on...
Consider Phlebas, 7, A Game of Damage
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How much damage can a game do? We finally see the game up close and very personal, Horza and Kraiklyn settle their scores, and the scale and glory of ...
Consider Phlebas, 6, The Eaters
12 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Horza goes to a very bad place... some might say he's lucky to escape...
Consider Phlebas, 5, Megaship
29 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the staggering vastness of the Vavatch Orbital Kraiklyn's Free Company try their hands at maritime salvage. But what is this Damage game Kraiklyn's...
Consider Phlebas, 4, The Temple of Light
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Things go as you might expect for Kraiklyn's Free Company in combat. And we finally get a look at the Culture on its own turf.
Consider Phlebas, 3, Clear Air Turbulence
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Horza, floating in deep space, is found, and fights for his life. Is this an allegory for patriarchal capitalism? And who is Yalson?
Consider Phlebas, 2, The Hand of God 137
08 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this chapter we get to know the Idirans, big conversations are had, and Horza steps outside for a long walk!
Consider Phlebas, 1, Sorpen
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In which we meet Horza, get our first glimpse of the culture, form views about the Gerontocracy of Sorpen, and become acquainted with Idirans. A short...
Prelude - Consider Phlebas and welcome
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the start of The Culture Books Club, a read-along exploration of Iain M. Banks Culture novels. In this episode some special guests give us ...