Iain M. Banks' _Consider Phlebas_, is a typical space opera. A hedonistic civilization called the Culture is at war with the Idrians, a three-legged species quite unlike humans. An independently thinking device that belongs to the Culture called a Mind is lost, and a mottley crew of mercenary pirates tries to retrieve it. Although Banks' superb writing skills are evident throughout the book, I'd say that it doesn't hold a candle to Banks' non-scifi works. It's a pretty good story and full of action, but really only for people who like hardcore SF.