Consider Phlebas Site

Horza is recruited by the Idirans to retrieve a "Mind" that has escaped a dying ship and hidden on Schar’s World—a holy planet that is part of a "Planet of the Dead" system. The plot is a fast-paced, sometimes episodic adventure that sees Horza manipulating his way through various dangerous situations, accompanied by a crew of mercenaries. Key Themes and Tone

The story is set during the Idiran-Culture War, a defining conflict in the Culture's history. It explores the collision between: Consider Phlebas

A religious, tripedal race bent on galactic conquest and biological purity, who see the Culture's AI-led society as soulless and heretical. Horza is recruited by the Idirans to retrieve