I haven’t read all of Iain M. Banks The Culture series, but I highly recommend Use of Weapons. I’ve read it three times, and it gets better each time.
It’s not a bad introduction to The Culture, but please feel free to recommend another novel to start with, or your favourite. I’ve read this, Look to Windward, Consider Phlebas, and The Player of Games. As I recall, Look to Windward has some good descriptions of a large Culture ship.
I’d also love to hear your favourite ship name.
Edit: I see I added The to the title…
Most places recommend The Player of Games for the first novel to read.
But go on take up a nice white chair and read Use of Weapons.
I think both recommendations ignore why Banks wrote from Horza’s point of view to introduce the series in Consider Phlebas.