I noticed just now that the new US edition of Iain M. Banks’ Use of Weapons is available and in stock, no longer just for preorder. It had been out-of-print for years in America, which was too bad, as I think it’s one of Banks’ best Culture novels. In fact, I remember reading somewhere that it was the first one he wrote, but the structure just didn’t work until Ken MacLeod suggested trying an experimental, interleaved alternating chronological/anti-chronological organization of the chapters that made it all come together. It’s a little confusing at first, but it makes the plot unfold perfectly.

Highly recommended.