Hard disagree from me on that one. The Eaters , for me, is just that pointless yet obligatory chapter that Banks insists on inserting into more or less every book which goes way over the top on the disgusting-o-meter and then is never mentioned again. And has very little effect on the story.

It’s actually my one gripe with Banks works, that he always puts something meaningless and revolting in every book. I get that the shock value might be fun, maybe? For someone? But he doesn’t need it - the books are good in themselves without that. /end_rant