So I typed all my notes into my laptop. The teacher wants that? She can pry it from my cold, dead hands.

A common style of Banks' novels is to have multiple threads running through the books which merge towards the last 1/3rd of the book. In this, Matter is no exception. I found the book to be a very enjoyable and fulfilling read, but only after I had slugged through the mid-section.

I think it would have been nicer and would have maintained a faster pace had it concentrated on and filled-out the culture side more, whilst skipping some of the sub-plots in the "historic" side (the mother of the Prince Regeant, for example, which really I think was just a device to move him to another setting.)

In the engaging parts of this book though - which was most of it in my opinion - this book was gripping and exciting, with a good touch of cynical wit to it. It's nice to see the Culture again, though I would like an entirely Culture based book, which didn't meander off into other worlds.

To compare one Banks against another is a difficult task, as they are all different, and yet all the same. Personal favourites of mine are The Bridge and The Business (From non-m Banks) and Against A Dark Background, The Player of Games and Feersum Endjinn (AADB was my first Banks sci-fi, Player of Games a very inticing read, and Feersum Endjinn was book-long-set-up that leaves you with an amused feeling.)