[pkinsky]

The Culture themselves aren't terribly interesting. What really makes the books shine (for me) are their interactions with lower-tech societies.

[HCIdivision17]

This is lampshaded pretty hard in Consider Phlebas, I think, where Horza basically hates the Culture for that reason (among others). I also consider Star Trek's Federation boring as well, but worse: at least The Culture meddles in the affairs of other groups (for better or worse!).

[throwanem]

So does the Federation. It just lies to itself and everyone else about so doing.