Book Series Guide

Iain Banks · series

The Culture books in order

A loose sequence of science-fiction novels and related shorter works depicting the post-scarcity interstellar Culture and its encounters with other civilizations.

complete13 books

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Reading order

Only reading orders present in the catalog are shown. Optional novellas and companion works can be hidden without changing the underlying sequence.

Publication order

  1. 1
    Consider Phlebas

    Book 1 · novel · 1987

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  2. 2
    The Player of Games

    Book 2 · novel · 1988

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  3. 3
    The State of the Art

    Book 3 · novella · 1989

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  4. 4
    Use of Weapons

    Book 4 · novel · 1990

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  5. 5
    The State of the Art

    Book 5 · short-story-collection · 1991

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  6. 6 Cover of Excession
    Excession

    Book 6 · novel · 1996

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  7. 7
    Inversions

    Book 7 · novel · 1998

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  8. 8
    Look to Windward

    Book 8 · novel · 2000

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  9. 9
    Matter

    Book 9 · novel · 2008

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  10. 10 Cover of Surface Detail
    Surface Detail

    Book 10 · novel · 2010

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  11. 11
    The Hydrogen Sonata

    Book 11 · novel · 2012

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  12. 12
    The Spheres and The Secret Courtyard

    Book 12 · chapbook · 2010 Optional

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  13. 13
    The Descendant

    Book 13 · chapbook · 2025 Optional

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