bitflipper
I have not read any of Banks' Culture series. Is it necessary to read them in chronological order?

I'd say that reading the earlier books in the series will help to flesh out the world somewhat, but they're all self-contained novels and would make perfect sense if read 'out of sequence'.

I've heard the first book was weak, so I bought the second one. Kindle edition for ten bucks. That's the higher end of what I'll pay for an eBook - can't pass them along when you're done. But great for reading with the lights out, and if you fall asleep it'll remember where you left off.
 
OTOH, it sucks on a bright day at the beach, and if you fall asleep waiting for your flight there's a good chance somebody'll walk off with your tablet, when they'd likely leave a paperback alone. I have mixed feelings about eBooks.

Hi,
 
Bit ... if it were me, I think I would pick one book from each person suggesting ... I'm getting dizzy just realizing how much I still need to read!

Oh yeh. I may have to change my flight to have a stopover in New Delhi so I'll have more time for reading.

Dave,
Don't buy! Check it out from the library.
Here in King County the online Library is great.
I have the Kindle app on my phone. DL the book, its mine for 21 days.
I own, literally, a ton of books.
But no more, I hit the library.
Only reason I moved to the iPhone; the Kindle app.
Oh, and in bright light, white letters on black background.
T

Great idea, Tom. Unfortunately, being exiled to the wilds of Snohomish County I am forever denied access to decent restaurants, turn signals and the King County Library.

ston
Greg Bear: Blood Music, Darwin's Radio / Darwin's Children, Eon / Eternity
 
Any of the Culture series by Iain M Banks

+1 on Darwin's Radio.  Good book.
 
I'm currently on book two of the Atlantis Gene trilogy

King's Talisman is pretty good.
 

The Passage by Justin Cronin, a great read.

Bonnes vacances,
Jerry

What you could also be doing is buy the CD Endless River by Pink Floyd and listen to it 10 times and come back and post in the Endless River thread here in Coffee House which everyone seems to be ignoring how bloody excellent it is. (Don't download or stream it either. The CD sounds very different!)
 
They all really know it but just refuse to admit it.   And hey with all the guitarists around here surely some of you should be reveling in the beautiful work that Dave Gilmour has done all over this CD.  It is a sheer masterclass in understated but very effective playing and his sound is just killer too in this.  Another serious lesson in what sort of lead guitar sound one could be aiming for.