Consider Phlebas

Juboal-Rabaroansa Perosteck Alseyn Balveda dam T’seif, commonly known as Balveda, is technically Horza’s antagonist. As a Special Circumstances agent, she exemplifies the Culture’s ideals of empathy, intelligence, and restraint. Her character arc delves into the complexities of war, morality, and the psychological toll of deeply understanding one’s enemies.

Balveda is a handsome woman with short dark hair. Her role as a Special Circumstances agent is fraught with challenges, and she remains dedicated even though receives neither gratitude nor admiration for her efforts. Her commitment illustrates her sense of duty, which drives her to undertake morally complex tasks. Her journey highlights the often-unacknowledged sacrifices made by those who uphold their ideals at great personal expense.

Balveda’s commitment and intellectual acumen distinguish her and often put her at odds with her own emotions. This internal conflict is evident in her interactions with Horza, whom she respects as a worthy adversary yet must oppose to complete her mission. Much to her frustration, she understands Horza’s ideals: “Empathize with stupidity and you’re halfway to thinking like an idiot” (26). Her commitment to the Culture’s principles often clashes with the brutal realities of war, creating inner turmoil as she strives to reconcile compassion with the ruthlessness required in conflict. In the end, she tries to save Horza, showing her choice to honor her morals rather than her duty.

Balveda’s experiences and the evolving nature of her mission shape her character. She grapples with the moral ambiguities of the Culture’s approach to warfare, which emphasizes understanding and empathy over outright hatred. While this ideological stance is noble, it leaves her vulnerable to the emotional strain of witnessing and participating in the war’s brutalities. Balveda’s struggles highlight the emotional cost of maintaining humanity amid relentless conflict.

By the novel’s end, Balveda becomes disillusioned. Despite surviving the war and the horrors of Schar’s World, she opts for long-term storage, unable to reconcile the trauma she has endured with her pre-war ideals. Her decision to choose euthanasia after waking from stasis highlights the impact of the war on her psyche. Balveda’s journey reflects the novel’s exploration of war’s futility and moral complexity, questioning the cost of even the most justified conflicts.

Yalson, a central figure in Consider Phlebas, defies easy categorization. As a member of the pirate crew aboard the Clear Air Turbulence, she exists in a world far removed from the structured order of the Culture or the fanatical fervor of the Idirans. Her character offers a unique perspective on the novel’s exploration of morality, survival, and the human condition.

Yalson is half-Culture, half-unknown species. She has “a small, hard-looking face. Her skin was dark, and she had spiky hair. Her whole body looked slim and hard…she was lightly furred on her face, legs, and arms” (43). Unlike the more overtly defined roles of Horza or Balveda, the harsh realities of Yalson’s existence shape her character. As a pirate, she confronts the moral complexities of a life built on violence and exploitation. However, she is also portrayed as a survivor, displaying resilience, adaptability, and camaraderie. Yalson’s pregnancy in particular contrasts sharply with the violent world she inhabits, highlighting the fragility of life amid the brutality of piracy.

Yalson’s resilience and pragmatism make her a formidable opponent and a valuable asset to the crew. Beneath her tough exterior lies a more vulnerable side that is revealed through her relationships, particularly with Horza. Their romance underscores her longing for connection and stability in a world ravaged by war. This relationship enriches her character, highlighting her capacity for love and her struggle to uphold personal values amid turmoil. Unlike Horza, Yalson is focused on immediate concerns and personal desires, positioning her as both a catalyst and a grounding force in the narrative.

Ultimately, Yalson’s character represents the human cost of war and the complexities of moral choice. She is a product of a world that offers few alternatives to violence, and her survival depends on her ability to adapt to its harsh realities. Through her character, Banks explores the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator, questioning assumptions about morality and agency.

Kraiklyn, the ruthless captain of the pirate ship Clear Air Turbulence (CAT), embodies the novel’s explorations of war, piracy, and moral ambiguity. His character is a complex blend of charisma and menace, ideally suited to the chaotic fringes of interstellar conflict.

With his imposing physicality and a mind divided by surgical alteration, Kraiklyn is a formidable figure. His perpetual alertness, a result of a procedure designed to enhance his focus, underscores his deep-seated mistrust and the high-stakes world he inhabits. Power and control are Kraiklyn’s currency. He wields these ruthlessly, manipulating his crew and exploiting opportunities with a cold pragmatism. Kraiklyn pushes his crew into missions without reconnaissance, ultimately sacrificing most of their lives. He shows no concern over losing any crew member; rather he goes so far as to insist Horza kill a crew member, even though it is not necessary. This strategic mindset, coupled with his physical dominance, makes him a formidable opponent.

However, beneath the hardened exterior lies a character defined by a nihilistic worldview. His enjoyment of the brutal card game, Damage, and his manipulative tactics reveal a man who sees the universe as a harsh, unforgiving place where only the strongest survive. His existence on the margins of society, dictated by survival rather than morality, shapes this perspective. Kraiklyn’s fate—his death in a violent confrontation with Horza--is a dramatic end to his character arc. His demise underscores the novel’s exploration of the cyclical nature of violence and the fragility of power. In the end, Kraiklyn remains a testament to the human capacity for cruelty and survival in adversity.

Kraiklyn’s Free Company, the pirate crew aboard the Clear Air Turbulence, starkly contrasts the Culture and the Idirans in Consider Phlebas. This ragtag band of misfits and opportunists inhabits the galaxy’s fringes, exemplifying the novel’s exploration of survival, chaos, and morality of war and conflict. Led by the enigmatic and ruthless Kraiklyn, the Free Company mirrors its captain’s unpredictable and violent nature. His ruthless pragmatism permeates the crew, fostering an environment where loyalty is tenuous, and survival is paramount. A diverse group bound by circumstance rather than ideology, the crew members exhibit a complex interplay of personalities and motivations. Wubslin, the ship’s mechanic; Lamm, the soldier who carries a nuclear bomb in his suit; Gow, the crewmate who dies by suicide after losing her partner; Dorolow, the religious crewmate; Mipp, a pilot; and Aviger, the old man who guards Xoxarle after his capture, are key members of Kraiklyn’s Free Company.

Each member brings unique skills and perspectives, contributing to the Free Company’s chaotic and often brutal operations. Their involvement in piracy, looting, and exploitation underscores the moral complexities of their existence. Operating outside the Culture and Idiran structures, the Free Company offers a gritty, ground-level perspective on the war’s impact. Their actions highlight the novel’s exploration of the futility of war and the blurred lines of morality in a chaotic universe.

Loyalty, or its absence, is a central theme within the crew. While some members display a degree of loyalty, others are driven primarily by self-interest. This internal tension mirrors the broader uncertainties of their violent world. Ultimately, the Free Company’s demise underscores the novel’s exploration of the high costs of such a lifestyle. Through the diverse characters within the crew, Banks explores the darker aspects of human (and post-human) nature, highlighting the personal costs and ethical compromises inherent in a life of piracy and conflict. Their story comments on loyalty, leadership, and the often murky line between right and wrong in a universe at war.

The Culture is a conceptual character that embodies the themes of Technology Versus Biology, The Pursuit of Purpose, and The Morality of War and Conflict. The Culture represents an advanced, post-scarcity society that is characterized by its reliance on highly sophisticated technology and emphasis on individual freedom and intellectual autonomy. It embodies an idealized future where artificial intelligence and biological entities coexist in harmony, guided by principles of empathy, rationality, and self-determination. The Culture operates under the oversight of its Artificial Intelligences (AIs), known as Minds, which manage society with a seemingly benevolent efficiency. Factories and General Systems Vehicles can also produce anything the Culture needs—from resources to space—without limitations. Despite the Culture’s reliance on the Minds for evaluating statistics, strategy, and tactics, it values its members, particularly the rare individuals who exhibit precognitive or clairvoyant abilities. Fal ‘Ngeestra, one such Culture member, provides a unique perspective that colors the novel’s Interludes. This advanced state of civilization sharply contrasts with the Idirans’ more rigid and dogmatic worldview, creating a significant ideological divide between the two enemy cultures.

The Culture’s motives for entering the war remain enigmatic to outsiders. As noted in the novel:

The Culture went to war to safeguard its own peace of mind: no more. But that peace was the Culture’s most precious quality, perhaps its only true and treasured possession...the only desire the Culture could not satisfy from within itself was...the urge not to feel useless (499).

The Culture seeks purpose by “finding, cataloguing, investigating and analyzing less advanced civilizations...[and] interfering (overtly or covertly) in the historical processes of those other cultures” (499). With the Idirans’ religious crusade threatening to reduce the number of societies available for intervention, the Culture engages in a war that results in significant loss of life.

Banks portrays the Culture as a multifaceted entity rather than a monolithic good or evil society. Through characters such as Balveda, the novel delves into the internal contradictions and challenges faced by a society that, while advanced and seemingly perfect, grapples with the same moral and ethical dilemmas as any other civilization. The Culture’s commitment to its ideals is tested by the harsh realities of interstellar conflict, highlighting the difficulties of maintaining one’s principles amid widespread chaos and strife. The Culture’s struggle to balance its utopian ideals with the practical demands of war highlights the novel’s exploration of the costs of war.