Title: Against a Dark Background
Author: Iain M. Banks
First published January 1, 1993
480 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781857230314 (ISBN10: 1857230310)
Rating: 4.11
Overview
Hailing from a notorious aristocratic lineage, Sharrow was once a commander of a team of combatants in one of the many commercial wars of the civilization revolving around the planet of Golter. But when she finds herself on an island with a glass shore, a relic of a bygone era, she realizes she is being hunted by the Huhsz, a religious cult that believes her to be the sole obstacle to their faith’s ultimate goal.
Her only chance of survival is to embark on a treacherous quest to find the last of the ancient and apocalyptically potent Lazy Guns, which will lead her on an odyssey through the exotic Golterian system. Her journey will unravel a trail of destruction, unveil secrets about her family and the system itself, and ultimately change everything she thought she knew.
About the Author
Iain Banks, a Scottish author, wrote science fiction under the pseudonym Iain M. Banks.
His father worked for the Admiralty and his mother was an ice skater. Banks studied English Literature, Philosophy, and Psychology at the University of Stirling.
After living in the south of England, he returned to Scotland in 1988 and lived in Edinburgh and Fife. Banks met his wife, Annie, before publishing his first book and they married in Hawaii in 1992.
However, they separated after 25 years together. Banks lived in North Queensferry near the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge.
Banks and his friend Ken MacLeod, another Scottish science fiction writer, incorporated left-wing history into their writings. Banks was also a signatory to the Declaration of Calton Hill, which advocates for Scottish independence.
In 2004, Banks was part of a group of politicians and media figures who campaigned to have Prime Minister Tony Blair impeached after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He protested by cutting up his passport and sending it to 10 Downing Street.
Banks expressed his concerns about the invasion of Iraq in his book and confronted another character with similar arguments.
Banks explained in a 2006 interview on Mark Lawson’s BBC Four series that his novels were published under two different names because of a mistake his father made when registering his name. Despite being registered as Iain Banks, he continued to use his middle name and submitted his work for publication as Iain M.
Banks. To distinguish between his mainstream and science fiction novels, he suggested bringing back the “M.” Banks passed away in 2013 after revealing that he had late-stage cancer.
His last novel, , was published in June of that year.
Editoral Review
Against a Dark Background by Iain M. Banks is a science-fiction novel first published on January 1, 1993.
The author, Iain M. Banks, is a well-known name in the science-fiction genre, having written several highly acclaimed novels.
Banks was born in Scotland in 1954 and died in 2013. He was an author, poet, and playwright who produced both science fiction and literary fiction.
He was noted for his idiosyncratic style, his dry wit, and his inventive, often bizarre ideas. Against a Dark Background is a science-fiction novel that explores heavy themes of death, redemption, and morality in a futuristic world.
The novel follows the protagonist, Lady Sharrow, as she tries to secure a crystal key that holds the answer to the salvation of humanity. Lady Sharrow is a former aristocrat, once with vast wealth, but now a hunted fugitive.
The novel is set in a galaxy where humanity has established itself on a multitude of planets. The galaxy is governed by a powerful and corrupt aristocracy, who exert their control over the masses in a brutal and violent fashion.
Lady Sharrow is constantly on the run, pursued by a team of assassins trying to steal the crystal key. In Against a Dark Background, Banks shows his mastery of the science-fiction genre.
The world he creates is immersive, and the characters are complex and well-developed. Lady Sharrow is a strong, independent female character who leads the charge to find and protect the crystal key.
Banks weaves a fascinating and intricate tale of loyalty, love, and sacrifice. One of the things that sets Against a Dark Background apart from other science-fiction novels is the quirky sense of humor that runs throughout it.
Banks has a talent for mixing science-fiction elements with clever observations on human behavior. The humor in the novel adds a lightness to what is often a dark and heavy subject matter.
The only real criticism that could be leveled against Against a Dark Background is that it is perhaps too dense and complex for some readers. The world Banks has created is complex, and the political machinations of the aristocracy can be confusing at times.
However, for those who enjoy high-concept science-fiction with an emphasis on character development, Against a Dark Background is a must-read. Overall, Against a Dark Background is a superb science-fiction novel with fully realized characters, an intricate plot, and a powerful message.
Banks’s themes of morality and redemption, coupled with a strong sense of humor, make this novel a standout in the genre. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys science-fiction or who is looking for a unique and thought-provoking read.
Against a Dark Background earns a solid four out of five stars from me.
