The State Of The Art

by Iain M. Banks

Interesting book of short stories, including one by the same name about the Culture observing Earth in the 70s. They decide to leave it in peace, as a "control" to better understand what happens to planets apparently intent on destroying themselves!

Overall I enjoyed the stories. They are far easier to follow than his larger novels. Except for the last one, which was incomprehensible and appropriately named "Scratch".