[Zhukov]

I just finished Use of Weapons, by Iain M. Banks. It was fantastic, my favourite of his so far. The twist at the end was a complete surprise, and I could only see it coming a few paragraphs before it happened. I had to keep myself from looking ahead by covering the offending passages with my hands. I kept saying to myself in my head "no, no no! Don't let THAT be the case!" Right up to the end.

Have now started his most recent sci fi The Algebraist. It's great so far. Some nut on the bus last night noticed I was reading his favourite author and proceded to annoy me with his views on metaphysics and Socrates. This is the second time this has happened.