Has anyone read the Culture series?
Yes, I'm a big fan. I am of the opinion that Banks saved science fiction (or space opera, maybe). Imaginative, sometimes dark, but also fun.
I started with the second-published, Player of Games, which is probably still my favourite. Maybe just because I read it first. I know people struggle with Consider Phlebas and it is a bit of an outlier. Every book is pretty much standalone, but I think they occasionally reference events from earlier books.
I feel that Al Reynolds is the most obvious heir, so maybe the Culture is not for Nora.
And I should maybe add that I've also read everything else Banks wrote, SF and non-SF - except for the last couple of books, which I'm rationing - and there's plenty of other stuff there which is great.