I started Banks with Excession and don't seem to have been harmed by it. I think the only Culture book you really should not start with is Look to Windward, since half of what's going on is pointless without the background. But there are probably two choices that are better than the others: Consider Phlebas if you like to start things at the very beginning, and Player of Games if you want to start with one of the best. Be warned that Consider Phlebas, while fun and containing some nice set pieces, has some issues and isn't as good as the books that follow.
For Charles de Lint, I started with Someplace to Be Flying and that worked well for me. I think it's one of his best. Waifs and Strays is an interesting option if you want to start with short stories instead. I've not read as much of him as many others, though.
For Gene Wolfe, definitely start with the Book of the New Sun, specifically with The Shadow of the Torturer. The first four books of the Book of the New Sun (The Urth of the New Sun was tacked on much later and is missable) are a great example of what Wolfe does, and work well on the multiple levels that the best of Wolfe works on.
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momijizukamori and
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Date: 2011-07-25 04:45 am (UTC)For Charles de Lint, I started with Someplace to Be Flying and that worked well for me. I think it's one of his best. Waifs and Strays is an interesting option if you want to start with short stories instead. I've not read as much of him as many others, though.
For Gene Wolfe, definitely start with the Book of the New Sun, specifically with The Shadow of the Torturer. The first four books of the Book of the New Sun (The Urth of the New Sun was tacked on much later and is missable) are a great example of what Wolfe does, and work well on the multiple levels that the best of Wolfe works on.