num_pages: 216
description: The first ever collection of Iain Banks' short fiction, this volume includes the acclaimed novella, The State of the Art. This is a striking addition to the growing body of Culture lore, and adds definition and scale to the previous works by using the Earth of 1977 as contrast.The other stories in the collection range from science fiction to horror, dark-coated fantasy to morality tale. All bear the indefinable stamp of Iain Banks' staggering talent.Road of skulls --A gift from the culture --Odd attachment --Descendant --Cleaning up --Piece --The state of the art --Scratch
language: English
title: The State of the Art
titlecomplete: The State of the Art (Culture, #4)
characters: Djibard Alsahil, Dervley Linter, The Arbitrary, Tagm Lokri, Roghres Shasapt, Li'ndane, Skaffen-Amstikaw, Diziet Sma, Lanyares Sodel, Tel Ghemada
genres: Fiction, Space Opera, Science Fiction Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space, Banks, Audiobook, Fantasy, Short Stories, Cultural
ratings_count: 16873
places: Earth
series: Culture
awards: awardedAt: 1293868800000
name: Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire
category: Nouvelle étrangère, awardedAt: 1325404800000
name: Premio Ignotus
category: Mejor Cuento Extranjero
publisher: Orbit