Matter by Iain M. Banks
“So, one of us has to—” Holse began.
“I can’t ask either of you—” Anaplian started to say at the same time, then gulped and shouted, “Ferbin!”
The suited figure was already rising above the shield of the vane, upper body exposed to the flickering radiations beyond, throwing away the weapon he’d been carrying.
She must have been hit hard. When she awoke it was to find herself in the grip of something adamantinely hard and utterly unforgiving. Dear fuck, it had eviscerated her. The suit was shredded, torn apart, and her body inside with it. All that was left of her was her head – half flayed, skin burned off – and a short tattered tail of spinal cord. This bloody scrap was what the Iln thing cradled.
Eyelids burned away, she couldn’t blink; not even her tongue or jaws were responding to orders. Djan Seriy Anaplian felt more helpless than a newborn.
The Iln machine above her was dark, not big, vaguely triangular. Her eyes were damaged, the view hazy. So much trouble from something so small, she thought, and would have laughed if she could. Its slickly bulbous shape was lit from the side by the cage of light surrounding the Xinthian and from below by the scintillations sparking from the containment holding the growing sphere of anti-matter.
Strange little beasts, you, the great heavy voice said inside her head. What fleeting titillations life continues to throw up, many-fold, like virtual particles, bioscale, so long after –
Oh
She had seen all she needed to see, heard all she needed to hear.
go
Now she was close enough.
and
(This was all she had, and the worst of it was, backups or not, she’d never know if it was going to be enough.)
fuck yourself, Djan Seriy Anaplian said finally.
She let the containment within the little anti-matter reactor inside her head go.
Appendix
C: the Culture
HLI: High-level Involved (also MLI: Mid-level; LLI: Low-level)
L1S: level one of Sursamen (etc.)
S: Sursamen
Characters
Aclyn the lady Blisk, mother to Elime and Oramen; banished
Aiaik Towermaster of the D’nengoal Tower, Sursamen
Alveyal Girgetioni Acting Craterine Zamerin, Sursamen
Archipontine head monk of the Hyeng-zharia Mission
Baerth knight of Charvin, Sarl (Bower or Brower to Ferbin)
Bleye one of tyl Loesp’s lieutenants
Broft foreman, Nameless City dig, Ninth, Sursamen
Chasque Exaltine, Sarl chief of priests
Chire rail car driver, the Falls
Choubris Holse Ferbin’s servant
Chilgitheri (Morthanveld) liaison officer on “Fasilyce, Upon Waking”
Dilucherre old master of painting, Sarl
Djan Seriy Anaplian; princess, C SC agent
Droffo earl, from Shilda; becomes equerry to Oramen
Dubrile ex-soldier at Falls; becomes Oramen’s bodyguard chief
Elime esk Blisk-Hausk’r; dead eldest son of Hausk
Everlasting Queen Nariscene monarch; currently on 3044th Great Spawning
Fanthile secretary of royal palace, Pourl
Ferbin otz Aelsh-Hausk’r (Feri, as child)
Foise general, Sarl army, attached to Falls contingent
Geltry Skiltz C person, aboard MSV Don’t Try This At Home
Gillews (Dr) Royal Physician to Hausk
Girgetioni Nariscene family, Sursamen
Harne the lady Aelsh; mother to Ferbin
Hausk Nerieth (“the Conqueror”); warrior-king, Sarl
Hippinse Pone; an avatoid of the Liveware Problem
Humli Ghasartravhara; liaison officer, MSV Don’t Try This At Home
Honge bravard of Pourl’s drinking dens
Illis armourer, royal palace, Pourl
Jerle Batra Djan Seriy’s SC Control/mentor; an Aciculate
Jerfin Poatas in charge of Falls excavation
Jish whore, Pourl
Kebli child in court at same time as Djan Seriy
Kiu (-to-Pourl) Oct Ambassador to Pourl
Klatsli Quike avatoid of the Liveware Problem
Koust Oct Tower under-clerk, Sursamen
Leeb Scoperin another Special Circumstances agent on Prasadal
Leratiy senior technician, Sarcophagus excavation, Falls
Luzehl whore; sister to Paiteng
Machasa Mrs; young Djan Seriy’s nurse and tutor
Mallarh lady of the Sarl court
Masyen Aclyn’s husband; becomes mayor of Rasselle
Munhreo junior scholar, Hicturean-Anjrinh Scholastery
Neguste Puibive becomes Oramen’s servant
Nuthe 3887b Morthanveld greeting device, Syaungun
Obli Harne’s ynt
Omoulldeo old master of painting, Sarl
Oramen lin Blisk-Hausk’r; a prince, same mother as Elime
Prode the younger ancient Sarl playwright
Puisil servant in the royal palace, Sarl
Quitrilis Yurke C traveller; finds Oct lying about ship movements
Ramile lady of the Sarl court
Renneque, the lady Silbe
Savidius Savide Oct Peripatetic Special Envoy, Sursamen
Seltis old tutor of Ferbin’s – now Scholastery Head Scholar
Senble Holse’s wife
Shir Rocasse tutor to Oramen
Shoum director general of Morthanveld Strategic Mission
Sinnel ancient Sarl playwright
Skalpapta Alien Greeting and Liaison Officer, GS Inspiral, Coalescence, Ringdown
Sordic old master of painting, Sarl
Tove Lomma childhood friend of Oramen; later his equerry
Tulya Puonvangi C ambassador, on Inspiral, Coalescence, Ringdown
Tagratark Towermaster of Vaw-yei Tower, Sursamen
Tareah Sarl doctor
Tchilk Nariscene Barbarian Relational Mentor, Baeng-yon Crater
Toark child Djan Seriy rescues from burning city
Tohonlo one of tyl Loesp’s lieutenants (also Toho, as child)
Truffe second cousin to Ferbin
Turminder Xuss (Handrataler) Djan Seriy’s drone
tyl Loesp Mertis; Hausk’s 2nd in command
Utaltifuhl Nariscene Grand Zamerin of Sursamen
Vaime the lady Anaplia; mother of Djan Seriy
Vollird of Sournier, knight of Sarl
Werreber senior general; becomes field marshal, army chief
Wudyen duke; Hausk’s brother
Xessice whore, Hyeng-zhar Settlement
Xide Hyrlis C outcast, military commander for Nariscene
Xidia young lady at court (named after Xide Hyrlis)
Yariem Girgetioni Deputy Acting Zamerin, Sursamen
Yilim senior officer in Hausk’s army
Zandone Sarl actor and impresario
Zeel young Djan Seriy’s pet mersicor
Zourd (Expanded Version Five) Cumuloform, 13th, Sursamen
Culture Full Names
Astle-Chulinisa Klatsli LP Quike dam Uast
Meseriphine-Sursamen/VIIIsa Djan Seriy Anaplian dam Pourl
Sholz-Iniassa Jerle Ruule Batra dam Ilyon
Stafl-Lepoortsa Xide Ozoal Hyrlis dam Pappens
Species
Aeronathaurs Tensile; see Xinthia
Aultridia upstart species that evolved from parasites living under carapaces of Xinthia; mat-like/Pelliform (also “Squirmiform”, term of abuse); LLI
Avians bird species; L5S variety methane gas-going
Birilisi Avian species much given to excessive narcoticism; MLI
Bithians (L0S) gilled whale-size creatures, waterborne; HLI
caude giant winged creature, tameable and rideable; L8&9S
choup Sarl equivalent of dog; L8&9S
chunsel warbeast, later of burden and traction; L8S
Culture, the mongrel humanoid civilisation; HLI
Cumuloforms cloudlike O2 beings; L4S
Deldeyn same species as Sarl, one level down; allied to the Aultridia, seen as antagonistic to the WorldGod and so enemies of the Sarl; L9S
hefter beast of burden and traction; L8&9S
Hydrals black hole smoker species; L13S
Iln aero-spiniform HLI aeons ago; wrecked Shellworlds, destroyed Veil tombs; believed extinct/missing
Inheritors see Oct
Involucra/Veil Shellworld builders, HLI aeons ago
lyge giant winged creature, tameable and rideable; L8&9S
mersicor large quadruped, tameable and rideable; L8&9S
Monthia pan-species very large ocean-going creature-type
Morthanveld Nariscene mentors; spiniform waterworlders, HLI
Nariscene Sarl mentors; insectile, MLI
Nuersotise humanoid; one of the contending species on Prasadal
Oct/Inheritors claim descent from Involucra; control (most) travel within Towers of Sursamen and many other Shellworlds; octal Waterworlders; LLI
ossesyi quadruped warbeasts; L8S
Pelagic Kite atmospheric waterworlders; sail air over waterworlds; term also used for surface-going kited bioships; L5S
rowel quadruped pack beast; L8&9S
ryre quadruped, equivalent of cat; L8&9S
Sarl humanoid people exiled/interned within Sursamen; L8&9S
Seedsails mirror-sailed seed carriers; L1S
spore-wisp plasma seed of a stellar field-liner
Swimmers beings from lower levels of gas giant planets; L12S
Tendrils elongated gas giant species, L6 & 10S
Tubers black hole smoker species; L13S
Tueriellian (Maieutic) investigative Seedsail
uoxantch quadruped warbeasts; L9S
WorldGod, the being at Core of Sursamen; a Xinthian; L15&16S
Veil see Involucra
Vesicular surface waterworlders; having gas-filled bladder/sail; L10S
Xinthia (Tensile Aeronathaur) an Airworlder; giant airships (smaller than dirigible behemothaurs); semi-adapted for high-pressure gaseous/liquid environments and space-capable. Now rare and generally Developmentally/Inherently/Pervasively Senile; see WorldGod, the
Xolpe humanoid; Nariscene client species, at war
ynt quadruped equivalent of small tame otter; L8&9S
Zeloy humanoid, one of the contending species on Prasadal
General Glossary
34th Pendant Floret region of space
512th Degree FifthStrand Humanoid Guest Facility, Syaungun
aboriginistas those with obsessive interest in “primitives”
Aciculate bush-like
afap as fast as possible (C)
Altruist a civilisation purposefully and consistently eschewing naked self-interest
Anjrinh district in Hicture; home to a Scholastery
Aoud star/system, home of Gadampth Orbital
aquaticised (humanoids) fully converted to water- dwelling
Arithmetic re a Shellworld, term given to one whose levels occur in simple multiples
Articles of Inhabitation rules by which Shellworld inhabitants live
Aspirant civilisations wanting to be Involveds
Asulious IV Morthanveld planet, Lesser Yattlian Spray
autoscender uncrewed transport within Shellworld Tower
backing direction (opposite of facing)
Baeng-yon Surface crater, Sursamen
bald-head fruit edible by caude, common to L8&9S
Bare places on Shellworld with no ground cover
Baron Lepessi classic play by Prode the younger
Baskers species type; absorb sunlight directly
bell-goblet vibrating crystal container used when drinking Chapantlic spirit
billow bed C bed with 99% AG, multiple soft wisps of material and smart “feathers” able to avoid being breathed in
Bilpier Nariscene planet, Heisp system
black-backed borm C animal
Botrey’s gambling/whore house in Pourl’s Schtip district
Bowlsea body of water filling Prime depression in Shellworld
brattle bush, L8&9S, Sursamen
bravard lusty, drinking, up-for-a-fight kind of man
Bulthmaas planet in Chyme system where Xide Hyrlis found
camoufield (C) projected field camouflaging objects
Chapantlic spirit type of booze (see bell-goblet)
Charvin a county of Sarl
Cherien ridge, near Sarl city, L8S
Chone a star in the Lesser Yattlian Spray
Chyme stellar system, home of Bulthmaas
CleaveHull type of Morthanveld ship
Clissens a Rollstar of the Ninth, Sursamen
cloud trees flora, L8&9S, Sursamen
Conducer (species) those which make habit of taking over and (usually) exploiting structures, artefacts and habitats built by earlier civilisations – from ancients to the recently Sublimed
Core solid centre of a Shellworld
crackball C game played with solid wooden ball
Crater re a Shellworld, a high-walled habitable area on Surface
crile leaf cocoa-like drug, chewed; L8&9S
Curbed Lands type of (originally Deldeyn) province
cut-rot gangrene (Sarl term)
Dengroal town, L8S, beneath the D’nengoal Tower
deSept Nariscene clanlet without a Sept or major clan/family
Despairationals extremist group, Syaungun
Dillser ducal house by Boiling Sea of Yakid, L9S
director general high rank of the Morthanveld
Disputed re a Shellworld, one whose Towers are not all controlled by the same species
D’nengoal Tower Oct transport Tower, Sursamen
Domity a Rollstar of L8S
Enabler (machine) device used to find ways to communicate with alien species and artifacts
Evingreath a town on the Xilisk road from Pourl
Exaltinates elite troops under Chasque
Exaltine top Sarlian religious rank; chief priest
Exponential see logarithmic
facing direction; from facing direction of world’s rotation (opposite of backing)
Facing Approach Street near royal palace in Pourl
Falls Merchant Explorer guild of merchants exploiting Falls
Falls, the cataract on the Sulpitine river, L9S (aka the Hyeng-zhar)
Far Landing peripatetic port on far side of Sulpitine from the Settlement
farpole direction to pole of world furthest from Sarl heartlands (opposite of nearpole)
Feyrla river, Xilisk, L8S
Fifth deSept minor, unaligned clanlet, Nariscene/Sursamen
Filigree complexes of Shellworld Tower ceiling supporting inverted buttresses
Fixstars Shellworld interior stars, unmoving
floater slightly derogatory term used for aquatic peoples by landgoing peoples
Foerlinteul C Orbital
FOIADSFBF First Original Indigent Alien Deep Space Farers’ Benevolent Fund (Morthanveld)
Forelight pre-dawn light cast by Rollstar
Gadampth C Orbital
Gavantille Prime waterworld planet, Morthanveld space
Gazan-g’ya a Crater of Sursamen
Gilder’s Lament, the tavern, Pourl
Godded a Shellworld with a Xinthian at its core
Grahy Morthanveld planet, Lesser Yattlian Spray
Grand Zamerin exalted rank of the Nariscene (see also Zamerin)
Greater Army combined armies gathered by Hausk to resist Deldeyn and invade their level
Great Palace Rasselle, L9S
Great Park Rasselle, L9S
Great Ship type of very large Morthanveld ship
Great Tower one of six fortifications within Rasselle
Guime a Rollstar of L8S
habiform technically correct term for what is usually called terraforming; altering any already existing environment to suit it to the needs of one or more species
Heavenly Host Deldeyn religious sect
Heisp Nariscene colony system
Hemerje ducal palace near the Great Park, Rasselle
Heurimo a fallstar of L9S
Hicture a region of L8S
Hicturean Tower (L8S, not far from Pourl)
Hollow World see Shellworld
House of Many play by Sinnel
Roofs, The
Hyeng-zhar cataract on the Sulpitine river, L9S, aka the Falls
Hyeng-zharia Mission religious order; controlled the Falls’ excavation
Hyeng-zhar Settlement ever-temporary city, the Falls, Sursamen
Ichteuen (Godwarriors) fight for Sarl; L8S
Illsipine Tower Sursamen
Imperial Procreational on Nariscene homeworld; regulates
College Spawnings
Incremental re a Shellworld, term given to one whose levels occur in exponential increments (hence aka Exponential)
injectiles any organisms or mechanisms capable of being injected (usually into metre-scale entities, in context especially humans)
In Loco’d placed under care (Morthanveld term)
Inner Caferlitician region of space
Tendril
interior star artificial suns emplaced by secondary Shellworld species within these worlds; anti-gravitational, pressing against ceiling of given level; most mobile (Rollstars); some not (Fixstars)
Ischuer city, Bilpier
Jhouheyre city-cluster, Oct planet of Zaranche
Jiluence a Monthian (megawhales) ancestral homeworld
Keande-yi region near Pourl, L8S
Keande-yiine Tower in region near Pourl, L8S
Khatach Solus Nariscene homeworld
Kheretesuhr archipelagic province, Vilamian Ocean, L8S
Kiesestraal a fading Rollstar of L9S
Klusse city, Lesuus Plate
krisk nuts caude stimulant, L8&9S
Kuertile Pinch region of space
Lalance continent, Prasadal
lampstone carbide
Lemitte general, Sarl army