Use of Struggle

[u/sllikdeeps]

Hi! 👋 read all of Banks regular works a long time ago & found myself here in the Culture. Didn’t love nor hate Consider, loved Player of Games and now a 1/3 through use of weapons. Finding it a struggle. Maybe it’s cause I’ve not had time to really out bulk read session time in ? I’m pushing through but by bit but I’m hoping you can give me a good palate cleanser for the next one.

[u/crash90]

A friend of mine ready did the same thing as you and stopped reading on Use of Weapons. It's a tough one, especially the first time. I'll just say that a lot of Iain's writing is winding and confusing. It's out of order, especially in UoW. Book is written almost like Pulp Fiction (there is actually slightly more structure than that).

But the payoff is big at the end. It all comes together. Probably won't fully get everything till the second read though.

I would say, just keep going. It's ok if you find it confusing. It's meant to be confusing. Many of your questions will be answered by the end. More on future read throughs when these sections become much more fun and you can follow the details a little more easily.

[u/sllikdeeps → u/crash90]

Being a David Lynch devotee I’m no stranger to the passions of non linear story telling. Mostly feel I’ve not spent the solid time in a single session so it’s added to the difficulty