Consider Phlebas - Iain M. Banks

[Tim]

I have not read sci-fi for a long time and only picked up this because I love Banks' general fiction. I found it a little hard to get into but he has an easy flow to his writing and it was well worth the effort by the end. I am looking forward to trying another 'culture' novel.

Five flaming skulls

[Merilyn]

What do you mean by 'culture' novel?

[Tim]

That is the series, The stories revolve around a war between two civilisations The Iridan, who believe in keeping their genetic code pure, and The Culture, who are into modifying their genes and implanting robotics so they can breed between species.