The Algebraist
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The Algebraist (ISBN 1-841-49155-1 (UK)/ ISBN 1-59780-026-0 (US)) is a non-Culture science fiction novel by Iain M. Banks, published in the UK by Orbit (an imprint of Time Warner) on 4th October 2004. To be published in the United States by Night Shade Books (an independent, West Coast based publisher) in September of 2005. It was Nominated for a Hugo award for Best Novel.
Set in a 4034AD where mankind has spread through the galaxy, it centres around the human Fassin Taak, a Slow Seer at the Court of the Nasqueron Dwellers, an alien species who live around a gas giant on the far reaches of the galaxy, cut off from the rest of civilisation until its wormhole connection is built.
Containing a number of similarities to Bank's previous science fiction novels, it reads like a Culture novel in reverse. It follows the interaction between predominately human civilisations which can broadly be described as feudal and the Nasqueron Dweller aliens. The Nasqueron Dwellers are a hyper advanced (and ancient) post-civilisation who lead an almost anarchic existence that is defended from exceptional threats by an almost invisible self defence 'club' (reminiscient of the AI cabals in the Culture stories). The theme of interference by 'progressive' societies in more 'primitive' societies is explored as is the influence of interstellar travel mechanisms in shaping space faring civilisations.