Iain M. Banks

Book 1 of the 'Culture' series

Consider Phlebas

£100

Illustrated By Dániel Taylor

The first of Iain M. Banks’ ‘Culture’ novels dives into the heart of an interstellar war. Dániel Taylor provides the spectacular images for Folio’s edition of Consider Phlebas.

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The Player of Games

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Use of Weapons

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Consider Phlebas

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Book Details

Presentation Box & BindingBound in blocked cloth
Blocked slipcase with printed illustration inside

Dimensions9½ inches x 6¼ inches

FontSet in Garamond with Scene as display

Pages560 pages

AuthorIain M. Banks

Illustrated ByDániel Taylor

IllustrationFrontispiece and 6 colour illustrations

Publication Date14/03/2023

Editor's Notes

Iain M. Banks’ first science-fiction novel introduces one of the most iconic creations in speculative literature: the Culture, a far future interstellar civilization populated by humans and sophisticated artificial intelligences. From Horza’s last-minute escape, that starts the book with a literal bang, to the space pirates, orbital stations, deadly games and vast icebergs that populate this epic space opera, Banks barely gives the reader a moment to catch their breath. With an imagination as vast as the Culture itself, Banks was one of the true innovators of the genre, and Consider Phlebas is an electrifying first step into a remarkable universe. For this special illustrated edition, artist Dániel Taylor has created a breath-taking collection of images capturing the exotic thrills of a modern science-fiction classic, including a special hidden illustration printed on the inside of the slipcase. The binding is blocked in blue and orange foils, with a field of burning stars continuing onto the exterior of the slipcase; a spectacular finishing touch on an unmissable collectors’ edition.

About the illustrator

Dániel Taylor

Dániel Taylor is an artist and graphic designer from Budapest who has been a full-time professional illustrator since 2015. His work, produced digitally, is inspired by 20th century Surrealism, science-fiction and comic-book art; it has been commissioned by clients including Marvel , Playboy , Disney, Adobe and New Scientist . Dániel has illustrated Consider Phlebas (1987, Folio 2023), The Player of Games (1988, Folio 2024) and Use of Weapons (1990, Folio 2025) and has exhibited his art in London, Paris and Munich.

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About the illustrator

Dániel Taylor

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Dániel Taylor

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Dániel Taylor

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Dániel Taylor

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About the illustrator

Dániel Taylor

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About the Author

Iain M. Banks (1954–2013) was a Scottish novelist educated on both the East and West coasts of Scotland. He studied at the University of Stirling, gaining a degree in English with Philosophy and Psychology and, while there, appearing as an extra in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Banks’ first novel, The Wasp Factory, was published in 1984 to widespread controversy. Declared a work of ‘unparalleled depravity’ by one newspaper, the book made Banks’s name as an exceptional new talent and has since been acclaimed as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century. Banks saw himself as a science-fiction writer but was encouraged by his then-editor to make a clear distinction between his literary and science-fiction by the simple addition or omission of his middle initial, M (the family name of Menzies).  Alternating between these genres, Banks wrote 14 literary novels including  The Crow Road, which was adapted for television by the BBC, and ten science-fiction novels. The first of these, Consider Phlebas(1987, Folio 2023), launched the Culture series of space operas for which Banks is best known today. The Folio series continued with The Player of Games (1988, Folio 2024). He also wrote short stories, poetry and a travelogue, Raw Spirit.  His final novel, The Quarry, was published shortly after his death in 2013.

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