[austinl]

If you enjoyed this essay, I would recommend reading Why the Culture Wins: An Appreciation of Iain M. Banks by Prof. Joseph Heath (https://www.sciphijournal.org/index.php/2017/11/12/why-the-c...)

Among other things, it compares the Idirans—who have what we consider a more traditional, modern-day culture—with the Culture. For example:

"The war between the Idirans and the Culture is peculiarly asymmetrical, since the Culture is not an empire, or even a “polity” in any traditional sense of the term, it is simply a culture. It has no capital city, or even any “territory” in the conventional sense."

I also love Heath's criticism of Dune (I appreciate the series, but now can't help but notice how often sci-fi series use regressive social structures).

"In fact, modern science fiction writers have had so little to say about the evolution of culture and society that it has become a standard trope of the genre to imagine a technologically advanced future that contains archaic social structures. The most influential example of this is undoubtedly Frank Herbert’s Dune, which imagines an advanced galactic civilization, but where society is dominated by warring “houses,” organized as extended clans, all under the nominal authority of an “emperor.”"

[Bluestein]

From the essay:

> Indeed, Banks distinguishes himself in having thought carefully about the social and political consequences of technological development.

This we need more of. In any way shape or form.-

[arethuza]

Of the spectrum of possibilities of how (if) we end up co-existing with AIs then anything like the Culture is definitely towards the positive end. Yes it can look like the humans in the Culture are being kept like pets - but if any group or individuals want to leave the Culture then they get support and encouragement - which isn't very pet like?

[TiredOfLife]

Culture has AI. Dune doesn't.

[ZeroGravitas]

Dune had AI and outlawed it, to be precise.