Originally Posted by phaishazamkhan

Anyway Banks's future and universe always comes across as being something to look forward to rather than moving forward, shoulders slumped and head bowed ready to take that boot which will smash their face — forever.
Just seems that dystopia is the flavor du jour because the dystopia will make our lives seem far better in comparison to the author's dark opinion of what may come. Heck I think that Banks does a better Federation with The Culture than Roddenberry could or would ever imagine. Mostly because Banks has fun with it and it shows in his writing. Finally there's a certain charm finding such casual use of a particular word (fiki for the esperantists out in the audience) in his novels but that's just me.