The Hydrogen Sonata
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| Author | Iain M. Banks |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Language | English |
| Series | Culture |
| Genre | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Orbit |
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Publication date
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4 October 2012 (UK) 9 October 2012 (USA) |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 528 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | |
| Preceded by | Surface Detail |
The Hydrogen Sonata is a science fiction novel by Scottish author Iain M. Banks, set in his techno-utopian Culture universe. The hardcover edition was released on 4 October 2012 in the United Kingdom, and on 9 October in the United States. The book's release marked 25 years since the publication of Banks' first Culture novel. A paperback edition of the book was released on 5 September 2013 in the United Kingdom, and on 10 September in the United States.The Hydrogen Sonata was Banks' last science fiction novel, as he died of gall bladder cancer in June 2013.
An official synopsis and preliminary cover art were released in February 2012. The novel's final cover art, which differed significantly from the preliminary art, was unveiled on 28 June 2012. At a book signing at Foyles in London, England, on 11 April 2012, Banks briefly described The Hydrogen Sonata as being "about the whole Subliming business". The first four chapters of the book were read by Banks and Kim Stanley Robinson at an event in the British Library on 9 June 2012. The sonata of the title was revealed to be an almost impossible-to-play musical piece.
The Gzilt, a civilisation that almost joined the Culture 10,000 years before the novel, have decided to Sublime, leaving behind “the Real” to take up residence in higher dimensions. The Zihdren-Remnant, what is left of an older species that Sublimed before the Culture was formed, send an envoy to confess a long-kept secret before the Gzilt depart but a Gzilt warship intercepts and destroys their ship several weeks before the Sublimation is due to take place in order to preserve that secret.
The Culture sends ships both to wish the Gzilt well, as they have always been on good terms with the Gzilt, and to keep an eye on the younger species arriving to scavenge the technology and infrastructure the Gzilt leave behind. Two of these, the Liseiden (an eel-like species) and the Ronte (a hive insect-like species) are jockeying in negotiations with the Gzilt for official permission and preferred status.
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