It took me a long time to buy an Iain M. Banks novel because an online magazine I profoundly despise spoke very highly of him. But after reading this book I'm glad I took my chances: in fact, seldom has money left my pockets for a more worthwhile reason!
Plunging head-first into a completely new universe was a little overwhelming at first, especially since Consider Phlebas starts "in medias res", but Banks's writing quickly grabs you and holds tightly and unknown characters turn into long-time friends in barely a couple of pages.
Simply wonderful, I'm so glad there's more where it came from!