When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.

Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

For the avoidance of doubt, this is a work of Fan Fiction. This story is set in the Culture universe, invented by the late Iain M. Banks as a setting for many of his wonderfully evocative stories.

This story was partially inspired by this discussion on Reddit, specifically concerned with the reasons why the Culture had not explored much beyond our galaxy, or at least a few close galactic neighbours.

Recession, n,

(1) The action of receding; motion away from an observer.

(2) A departing procession.

As always, this work represents my own interpretation of the nature of Mr. Banks' universe and the individuals to be found therein; any errors of commission or omission are, of course, entirely my own.

Please feel free to read and comment on this particular story.

My now nearly complete Culture novel is called Impact Analysis.

Apart from being set in the same fictional universe, this book shares no characters or plot with Dark Matter, so the two works can be read independently.

I have started work on a second novel set in the Culture universe created by Iain M. Banks. This one is called Dark Matter.

This is still very much a work in progress. Again, apart from being set in the Culture universe, this book shares no characters or plot with Impact Analysis.

I have also written several short stories set in Mr. Banks' Culture universe.

Phrontisterion explores the fate of a Group Mind composed mainly of rather grumpy retired Drones.

Butterfly Happiness explores the attitude of the Culture to the Sublime.

Unusual Circumstances examines a time towards the very beginning of the Culture, and explores some of the politics and personalities involved.

Door Bell explores a meeting between a well-known author and an enigmatic visitor who seems to know more about the author's fiction than he does himself.

On a Pale Horse, Darkly explores what happens when a deep sea diver is asked to help resolve a conflict of desires between Minds.

Never a Coincidence is a sequel to Unusual Circumstances and further investigates events at the very beginning of The Culture's existence.

A new story provisionally entitled Mind in the Making is still in the early stages of development.

Take a look at my series of hard-boiled fantasy novels featuring the eponymous underworld detective: Findo Gask: Goblin Detective, Findo Gask: Gumshoe Glamours and Findo Gask: Dragon Sleuth.

You may also like my collection of fifteen interlinked science fiction and fantasy short stories under the title Four Square Less One. Can you work out the connection between the stories?

Also, look at my Lyndesfarne Bridge series of novels: New Bridge to Lyndesfarne, Bridge at War, Death on the New Bridge and Bridge of Stone and Magic.

I am now working on a second (and still growing) collection of short stories under the title ...Then a Miracle Occurs. An eclectic collection of science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance and ghost stories - often more than one at a time. Includes my all-time favourite short-short story Hearts and Flowers.