BookBingeThe Culture Books in Order
A sprawling space opera about a post-scarcity utopian civilization run by benevolent AIs, seen through outsiders who test its ideals.
Here is the complete The Culture reading order — all 9 books by Iain M. Banks, in the order you should read them:
Publication order (recommended)
- Consider Phlebas(1987)
- The Player of Games(1988)
- Use of Weapons(1990)
- Excession(1996)
- Inversions(1998)
- Look to Windward(2000)
- Matter(2008)
- Surface Detail(2010)
- The Hydrogen Sonata(2012)
Good news: for this series, publication order and chronological order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many books are in the The Culture series?
There are 9 books in the The Culture series by Iain M. Banks, beginning with Consider Phlebas (1987) and most recently The Hydrogen Sonata (2012).
What is the first The Culture book?
The first book is Consider Phlebas, published in 1987. That's where new readers should start.
Should I read The Culture in publication or chronological order?
Publication and chronological order are identical for this series, so just follow the list.