Culture books in order A series by Iain Banks
The Culture series by Iain Banks has 9 books, from Consider Phlebas (1987) to The Hydrogen Sonata (Oct 2012). Read it in order, starting with Consider Phlebas.
Reading order: 1 Consider Phlebas (1987) · 2 The Player of Games (1988) · 3 Use of Weapons (1990) · 5 Excession (1996) · 6 Inversions (1998) · 7 Look to Windward (2000) · 8 Matter (2008) · 9 Surface Detail (2010) · 10 The Hydrogen Sonata (2012)
Updated September 2026
All 9 Culture books in order
- 1.
Consider Phlebas (1987)
- 2.
The Player of Games (Aug 1988)
- 3.
Use of Weapons (1990)
- 5.
Excession (1996)
- 6.
Inversions (Jun 1998)
- 7.
Look to Windward (Aug 2000)
- 8.
Matter (Jan 2008)
- 9.
Surface Detail (Oct 2010)
- 10.
The Hydrogen Sonata (Oct 2012)
Culture FAQ
- How many Culture books are there?
- There are 9 Culture books, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read the Culture books in?
- In publication order, starting with Consider Phlebas (1987): 1 Consider Phlebas (1987) · 2 The Player of Games (1988) · 3 Use of Weapons (1990) · 5 Excession (1996) · 6 Inversions (1998) · 7 Look to Windward (2000) · … all 9 below.
- What is the first Culture book?
- Consider Phlebas (1987).
- What is the latest Culture book?
- The Hydrogen Sonata (Oct 2012).
- Is the Culture series finished?
- There have been no new Culture books since 2012; Iain Banks died in 2013.
Sources: series order and dates from Wikidata and Open Library. Last updated September 2026.