This is a word of warning, avoid the sci-fi stuff and go for his other stuff. It shows that you need more than an exotic environment. The hero of the book is the "Culture". Machines run the Galaxy, there is no external threat and everyone is very laid back. Then there is a threat from the Baddis Affront. They have bred a bat which they use as a squash ball! The machines get frightened and become greedy. It's analogous to what happened to the USA, which became self congratulatory about its culture and had no self analysis. It could have been a much better book.
Gavin 17/5/98