started reading the new culture novel from iain banks, he's been writing science fiction for 25 years now, and i still remember reading the first culture novel 'consider pleabeas' all those years ago. i've always enjoyed bank's work starting with 'the wasp factory' and was quite impressed when he dived into science fiction and created the world of the culture.
it's a well thought out, impressive universe, and the special circumstances stories are brilliant. i like his invention and humour, 'the hydrogen sonata' starts with banks, trademark conversations between two ships, both different races, it's brilliant, dark and hilarious and i've turning the pages with gusto. the novels in the series are all stand alone and i think if your new this may be the good place to start, or maybe alternatively read them all chronologically.
his non culture science fiction is hard going and slightly dry, if you're up for a challenge 'the algerbraist' or 'feersum endjinn' are stand alone books outside the culture series that are seriously demanding but the culture novels are a fantastic introduction into a classic science fiction universe that combines imagination with plot. 
banks is a very good writer, he alternates between one science fiction novel and then will publish a conventional novel, i'd really recommend some of those as well particularly, 'complicity' and 'dead air'.