The latest (2000) book from
Iain M. Banks, before he takes a years holiday from writing.
It deals with the results of
Culture interference that went horribly wrong, and also contains some threads from
Consider Phlebas, as the light from two suns that were detonated by the
Idirans in the
Twin Novae battle reaches the
Orbital where much of the book takes place.
In typical Banks style, the book also covers a number of other themes, such as reaction to the
loss of a loved one (human or otherwise),
caste systems, and more.