Book Series Guide

Iain M. Banks · series

The Culture books in order

A science-fiction series about the Culture, an egalitarian post-scarcity civilization whose society is shaped by its relationship with sentient artificial intelligences. The series comprises nine novels and the short-fiction collection The State of the Art.

complete10 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 · short-story-collection · 1991 Optional

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  4. 4
    Use of Weapons

    Book 4 · novel · 1990

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  5. 5
    Excession

    Book 5 · novel · 1996

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  6. 6
    Inversions

    Book 6 · novel · 1998

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  7. 7
    Look to Windward

    Book 7 · novel · 2000

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  8. 8
    Matter

    Book 8 · novel · 2008

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  9. 9
    Surface Detail

    Book 9 · novel · 2010

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  10. 10
    The Hydrogen Sonata

    Book 10 · novel · 2012

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