The Culture Books Club podcast

The State of the Art, 4, The State of the Art Chapter 3 25.06.2026 45:27 ↓

Get ready for a deep dive into the Paris and Berlin of the late 1970s, and relive the drunken holiday hookups of your youth.

The State of the Art, 3, The State of the Art Chapter 2 10.01.2026 46:29 ↓

Sma takes a museum tour and we come to grips with the memory of our own past.

The State of the Art, 2, The State of the Art Chapter 1 15.12.2025 22:08 ↓

The triumphant return of Diziet Sma and we're taking the show to Planet Earth folks!

The State of the Art, 1, A Gift From The Culture 30.10.2025 42:29 ↓

One of the earliest Culture works, we get to know a world eerily like that of BladeRunner and a Culture renegade in more trouble than they can handle.

Use of Weapons, 29, End Notes 09.06.2025 25:29 ↓

At journey's end we can look back and discuss the costs of victory and defeat.

Use of Weapons, 28, Remembrance, Fourteen 17.04.2025 42:57 ↓

We find out who Zakalwe really is...

Use of Weapons, 27, Remembrance, I 03.03.2025 51:21 ↓

Possibly the most infamous chapter in science fiction history. Zakalwe receives a present.

Use of Weapons, 26, Remembrance, Thirteen 04.02.2025 23:03 ↓

Zakalwe has a breakdown followed by an even more terrible day, but we get the standout quote of the book.

Use of Weapons, 25, Remembrance, II 06.01.2025 39:32 ↓

Zakalwe takes the slow road to the stars, and almost doesn't make it.

Use of Weapons, 24, Remembrance, Twelve 06.11.2024 35:33 ↓

Finally we get to see Zakalwe doing what he does best; soldiering.

Use of Weapons, 23, Remembrance, III 20.09.2024 30:44 ↓

Zakalwe goes to the snow!

Use of Weapons, 22, Remembrance, Eleven 11.08.2024 35:55 ↓

Zakalwe ruins a lot of nice people's holidays like the total jerk he is.

Use of Weapons, 21, Remembrance, IV 05.07.2024 50:11 ↓

Zakalwe takes us on a tour of life on a Culture GSV!

Use of Weapons, 20, Remembrance, Ten 30.05.2024 24:06 ↓

Zakalwe throws away his weapon, has a philosphical discussion, and fixes for a fight

Use of Weapons, 19, An Outing, V 26.04.2024 36:26 ↓

This is Zakalwe's brain on drugs!

Use of Weapons, 18, An Outing, Nine 05.04.2024 36:52 ↓

Zakalwe gets in a lot of fights, but his love of the old plasma rifle finally pays off!

Use of Weapons, 17, An Outing, VI 17.03.2024 22:34 ↓

Zakalwe tries his hand at writing poetry in an idyllic rural setting, but it's not as nice as he'd hoped.

Use of Weapons, 16, An Outing, Eight 05.03.2024 34:28 ↓

Zakalwe plays James Bond again, Diziet gets distracted, and our hero goes to an interesting party which he does not enjoy.

Use of Weapons, 15, An Outing, VII 28.01.2024 33:54 ↓

As a flashback from the worst day of Zakalwe's life we get the origin story!

Use of Weapons, 14, An Outing, Seven 06.01.2024 26:38 ↓

Agent Zakalwe makes a big splash while trying to play the part of James Bond.

Use of Weapons, 13, An Outing, VIII 02.01.2024 40:09 ↓

Zakalwe gets stuck in a storm, takes a long hard look at himself, argues with an idiot, and sees some very strange things.

Use of Weapons, 12, An Outing, Six 07.12.2023 31:05 ↓

Zakalwe spends a lot of time being rude to GSV minds, but does receive a lovely gift!

Use of Weapons, 11, An Outing, IX 17.11.2023 25:39 ↓

Zakalwe falls in love, and dreams about the ghost of the real Zakalwe.

Use of Weapons, 10, The Good Soldier, Five 24.10.2023 20:09 ↓

Zakalwe seems suspiciously happy to run away from his problems, but they have a nice time at the beach.

Use of Weapons, 9, The Good Soldier, X 01.10.2023 21:17 ↓

We find out what happened to Zakalwe on Fohls. It was not nice.