I’ve been reading quite a bit of Ian M. Banks lately (“Consider Phlebas”, “Excession”, “Inversion”, and currently “Look to Windward”). Quite nice, but the books are too short (taken me 2 days on average for one of them) and seem too focused on providing a semi-memorable non-happy ending.
I still prefer Vernor Vinge as he has – in my opinion – more of a plausible technological backdrop and vision. And more dread… 😉 But until his next book comes out, Banks is a very welcome distraction.