The Hydrogen Sonata | |||
Author | Iain M. Banks | ||
Publisher | Orbit Books | ||
Publication Date | 4 October 2012 (UK) 9 October 2012 (USA) | ||
Page Count | 528 | ||
ISBN | 978-0356501505 | ||
[Source] |
The Hydrogen Sonata is Iain M. Banks' ninth novel in the Culture series, and, due to his passing, also the last.
Synopsis
The Hydrogen Sonata is about the Gzilt, a civilisation that almost joined the Culture 10,000 years before the novel, that have decided to Sublime, leaving behind “the Real” to take up residence in higher dimensions. The Zihdren-Remnant, what is left of an older species that Sublimed before the Culture was formed, send an envoy to confess a long-kept secret before the Gzilt depart but a Gzilt warship intercepts and destroys their ship several weeks before the Sublimation is due to take place in order to preserve that secret.
The story follows a group of Culture Minds that are trying to find out the secret and what to do after they find it. The search centers around a truly ancient Culture citizen (Ngaroe QiRia) who is supposed to have taken part in the setup of the Culture some 10.000 years ago.
Civilisations & Factions
- Gzilt
- The Culture
- Liseiden
- Zihdren, a sublimed race
- Zihdren-Remnanter, the portion of the Zihdren that are in contact with the Gzilt
- Ronte
- Werpesh, builders of the Girdle City on Xown, also the sculptors of Eshri
Characters
- Vyr Cossont
- T.C. Vilabier, aka Vilabier The Younger
- Pyan, Cossont's familiar
- Chuje, a child
- Warib, Cossont's mother
- Yueweag Etalde, commissar colonel
- Nyomulde
- Ny-Xandabo-Tyun
- Septame Banstegeyne
- Folrison
- Jevan
- Solbli
- Geljemyn, the Gzilt president.
- Yegres, Quavarond and Int'yom - Gzilt trimes
- Mierbuenes
- Ziborlun
- Orpe, aka Virisse
- Chekwri, a Gzilt Marshal
- Briper Drodj, a Gzilt scribe, a disgraced, ruined trader from a fallen aristocratic family with classical military connections, writer of the Book of Truth
- Ossebri 17 Haldesib, Ronte, Swarm Prince, Sub Swarm Divisional Head, Fleet Officer in Charge,
- Boyuter, Gzilt Marshal
- Reikl, Gzilt General, Marshal elect
- Gazan'tyo, Gzilt General
- QiRia
Ships
- IR-FWS 8*Churkun
- Exultation-Parsimony III
- Mistake Not...
- Gelemtyan-Asool-Anafawaya
- Uagren, Gzilt Battle Cruiser
- Caconym
- Pressure Drop
- Passing By And Thought I'd Drop In, GSV
- Kakistocrat, Home GSV to Caconym
- Empiricist, GSV
- Refreshingly Unconcerned With The Vulgar Exigencies Of Veracity, Very Fast Picket
- Value Judgement, Very Fast Picket
- Beats Working, Culture, Limited Contact Unit, Scree Class, 5 crew
- Headcrash, GOU, Delinquent-class Offensive Unit
- Xenocrat, GOU, Delinquent-class Offensive Unit
- Contents May Differ, GSV
- The Washing Instructions Chip In Life's Rich Tapestry, GSV
- Displacement Activity, Contact Unit (GCU)
- Melanchiolia Enshrines All Triumph, Ronte Flagship
- Fzan-Juym, sub-summit-orbit satellite of Eshri
- Eshri, a Gzilt sculpt planet
- 5*Gelish-Oplule, Gzilt regimental cruiser
Locations
- Ablate
- Kwaalon
- Xown, a Gzilt world in the Mureite system.
- Zyse
- Pinicoln Sea, on Zyse
- Land
- M'yon
- Eshri a Gzilt world in the Izenion system, a Werpesh Sculpt planet
- Sapanatcheon, a star
- Loliscombana, ??
- Izenion, Gzilt world, home of Fourteenth Regiment
- Barlbanim, Gzilt world
- Taushe, Gzilt world
Bibliography
To be Added
References
To be Added