The AlgebraistThe Algebraist
Score Modern
What it's about
In the year 4034, Fassin Taak is a Seer, a scholar who studies the Dwellers, an ancient, eccentric alien race living in the clouds of a gas giant. He's sent to find a secret the Dwellers may have hidden: a map of hidden wormholes that could change the balance of power in the galaxy, just as a vicious warlord is heading his way.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Hugo finalist. Iain M. Banks writes witty, huge-scaled space opera, and the Dwellers are a delight.
You'll love it if you liked
A Fire Upon the Deep
Ancillary Justice
HyperionGood to know
It's long and digressive. The villain's cruelty is graphic. It's not part of Banks's Culture series.
By the numbers
- Readers50 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics25 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller24 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #190 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #1031 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1901 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking
More by Iain M. Banks
If you like this, read next
A Game of Thrones
The Fifth Season
Dungeon Crawler Carl
The Martian
Gideon the Ninth
Red RisingExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Algebraist worth reading?
Yes. It was a Hugo finalist. It ranks #1,901 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Algebraist about?
In the year 4034, Fassin Taak is a Seer, a scholar who studies the Dwellers, an ancient, eccentric alien race living in the clouds of a gas giant. He's sent to find a secret the Dwellers may have hidden: a map of hidden wormholes that could change the balance of power in the galaxy, just as a vicious warlord is heading his way.
How long does it take to read The Algebraist?
About 12 hours (490 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Algebraist?
If you liked it, try A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge, Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie or Hyperion by Dan Simmons.