Surface Detail by Iain Banks

In a universe where virtual hells are used as a form of punishment, a war is brewing between those who support their existence and those who oppose them. The story follows several characters, including a woman seeking revenge against her murderer, a Culture agent tasked with influencing the outcome of the conflict, and an artificial intelligence with its own agenda. As their paths intertwine, they navigate a complex web of politics, morality, and technology, ultimately questioning the very nature of justice and the afterlife in a vividly imagined interstellar society.

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