Consider Phlebas

Consider Phlebas is a space opera set during a brutal interstellar war between the Culture, a post-scarcity utopian society governed by sentient AIs called Minds, and the Idirans, a religiously zealous empire fighting for their faith. The novel explores deep ideological conflicts, contrasting the Culture's sophisticated, hedonistic but morally driven civilization with the Idirans' militant dogma. At the heart of the story is Horza, a shape-shifting mercenary who despises the Culture and fights alongside the Idirans, embarking on a dangerous mission to capture a fugitive Mind hidden on a forbidden Planet of the Dead. Banks uses this narrative to probe complex themes about morality, technology, and the nature of life, presenting the Culture as both virtuous and messily human, while questioning the costs of ideological warfare. The novel features imaginative settings like the massive orbital structure Vavatch and intense sequences such as a deadly card game played amidst impending destruction. Consider Phlebas is notable for its ambitious scope, blending thrilling action with philosophical debate, and serves as the gripping introduction to Banks' acclaimed Culture series.