Surface Detail

Yes there are some very serious themes in this but also a ton of Banks showing off his humor.

Story: Basically a revenge tale at heart but also a lot of politics and religion.
Character: Main character and some of ship Minds are excellent, main baddie a bit thin.
Setting: Fantastical Space settings for sentient entities in the “real” while the parts set in a simulation of “hell” are super creepy and violent.
Language: Banks in full flow in this one with great humor.

Overall good stuff but just feels thin or maybe should have been edited down?