{"product_id":"excession","title":"Excession","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Banks is a phenomenon.\" -- William Gibson\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo and a half millennia ago in a remote corner of space, beside a trillion-year-old dying sun from a different universe, the artifact appeared. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt was a perfect black-body sphere, and it did nothing. Then it disappeared. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNow it is back. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiplomat Genar-Hofoen of Special Circumstances is sent to investigate but, sidetracked by an old flame and the spoiled-brat operative Ulver Seich, and faced with the systematic depravities of a race who call themselves the A­ffront, it's anyone's guess whether he'll succeed . . . \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for the Culture series: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Epic in scope, ambitious in its ideas and absorbing in its execution.\" - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eIndependent on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Banks has created one of the most enduring and endearing visions of the future.\" - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Jam-packed with extraordinary invention.\" - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eScotsman\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Compulsive reading.\" - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSunday Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Culture series: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eConsider Phlebas \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Player of Games \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUse of Weapons \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExcession \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInversions \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLook to Windward \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe State of the Art\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Publish date - 01\/20\/2026 - paperback","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53594198442294,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0762\/8714\/8342\/files\/FullSizeRender_e4964214-8cc4-4f84-b0a3-3caddd48cd5b.jpg?v=1769019832","url":"https:\/\/thenandnowbookshop.com\/products\/excession","provider":"Then \u0026 Now Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}