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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
Science fiction violence; death; war referenced
Language
Some
Strong language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief sexual content
Substance Use
Barely any
Social drinking
Emotional Intensity
Some
Themes of cultural intervention, imperial responsibility, and whether utopia can coexist with human suffering
What this book is about
Banks's 1991 story collection set in the Culture universe, anchored by the novella in which a Culture ship discovers Earth in 1977 and must decide whether to contact humanity or leave it alone. Features Banks's signature dark humor, violence, and moral complexity. For adults.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Strong language
Science fiction violence
Reader Verification
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