Banks' Culture series has a not-insignificant place amongst the debaters of future societal models as a post-scarcity society. It's given as a utopian example of how people live and find meaning in a benign, tolerant society where no wants for anything.

However, in all the Culture novels I've read the narrative is concentrated amongst the movers and shakers, the jet-set 1% of human overachievers.

For example, IIRC, Diziet Sma is important enough to warrant flying around on a special mission by a ship. Ditto the protagonist in The Player of Games. These are special people, with special skills.

We know that the Culture is rich and that no one wants for anything. But does the Culture ever explore the theme of how the masses live? What do the folk that are not in special circumstances, recognized top end artists, etc... actually do? Is that ever alluded to in the depiction of Culture?

Or is it just handwavium what everyone is fully engaged and fulfilled in their life, with none of the drudgery or boredom that a cynic might expect from some of our current implementations of extensive welfare states?

(The above sentence is key to my question. Don't like it? downvote or vote to close, don't edit it out. Without it, there is no need for this question).

i.e. is the life of the "common person" ever explored in detail, in-universe, with respect to how they find engagement and meaning in their life?

Banks' Culture series has a not-insignificant place amongst the debaters of future societal models as a post-scarcity society. It's given as a utopian example of how people live and find meaning in a benign, tolerant society where no wants for anything.

However, in all the Culture novels I've read the narrative is concentrated amongst the movers and shakers, the jet-set 1% of human overachievers.

For example, IIRC, Diziet Sma is important enough to warrant flying around on a special mission by a Ship. Ditto the protagonist in The Player of Games. These are special people, with special skills.

We know that the Culture is rich and that no one wants for anything. But does the Culture ever explore the theme of how the masses live? What do the folk that are not in Special Circumstances, recognized top-end artists, etc... actually do? Is that ever alluded to in the depiction of Culture?

Or is it just handwavium that everyone is fully engaged and fulfilled in their life, with none of the drudgery or boredom that a cynic might expect from some of our current implementations of extensive welfare states?

(The above sentence is key to my question. Don't like it? downvote or vote to close, don't edit it out. Without it, there is no need for this question).

i.e. Is the life of the "common person" ever explored in detail, in-universe, with respect to how they find engagement and meaning in their life?

Banks' Culture series has a not-insignificant place amongst the debaters of future societal models as a Post Scarcity society. It's given as an Utopian example of how people live and find meaning in a benign, tolerant society where no wants for anything.

However, in all the culture novels I've read the narrative is concentrated amongst the movers and shakers, the jet set 1% of human overachievers.

For example, IIRC, Diziet Sma is important enough to warrant flying around on a special mission by a Ship. Ditto the protagonist in the Player of Games. These are special people, with special skills.

We know that the Culture is rich and that no one wants for anything. But does the Culture ever explore the theme of how the masses live? What do the folk that are not in Special Circumstances, recognized top end artists, etc... actually do? Is that ever alluded to in the depiction of Culture?

Or is it just handwavium what everyone is fully engaged and fulfilled in their life, with none of the drudgery or boredom that a cynic might expect from some of our current implementations of extensive welfare states?

(The above sentence is key to my question. Don't like it? downvote or vote to close, don't edit it out. Without it, there is no need for this question).

i.e. is the life of the "common person" ever explored in detail, in-universe, with respect to how they find engagement and meaning in their life?

Banks' Culture series has a not-insignificant place amongst the debaters of future societal models as a post-scarcity society. It's given as a utopian example of how people live and find meaning in a benign, tolerant society where no wants for anything.

However, in all the Culture novels I've read the narrative is concentrated amongst the movers and shakers, the jet-set 1% of human overachievers.

For example, IIRC, Diziet Sma is important enough to warrant flying around on a special mission by a ship. Ditto the protagonist in The Player of Games. These are special people, with special skills.

We know that the Culture is rich and that no one wants for anything. But does the Culture ever explore the theme of how the masses live? What do the folk that are not in special circumstances, recognized top end artists, etc... actually do? Is that ever alluded to in the depiction of Culture?

Or is it just handwavium what everyone is fully engaged and fulfilled in their life, with none of the drudgery or boredom that a cynic might expect from some of our current implementations of extensive welfare states?

(The above sentence is key to my question. Don't like it? downvote or vote to close, don't edit it out. Without it, there is no need for this question).

i.e. is the life of the "common person" ever explored in detail, in-universe, with respect to how they find engagement and meaning in their life?

Banks' Culture series has a not-insignificant place amongst the debaters of future societal models as a Post Scarcity society. It's given as an Utopian example of how people live and find meaning in a benign, tolerant society where no wants for anything.

However, in all the culture novels I've read the narrative is concentrated amongst the movers and shakers, the jet set 1% of human overachievers.

For example, IIRC, Diziet Sma is important enough to warrant flying around on a special mission by a Ship. Ditto the protagonist in the Player of Games. These are special people, with special skills.

We know that the Culture is rich and that no one wants for anything. But does the Culture ever explore the theme of how the masses live? What do the folk that are not in Special Circumstances, recognized top end artists, etc... actually do? Is that ever alluded to in the depiction of Culture?

i.e. is the life of the "common person" ever explored in detail, in-universe, with respect to how they find engagement and meaning in their life?

Banks' Culture series has a not-insignificant place amongst the debaters of future societal models as a Post Scarcity society. It's given as an Utopian example of how people live and find meaning in a benign, tolerant society where no wants for anything.

However, in all the culture novels I've read the narrative is concentrated amongst the movers and shakers, the jet set 1% of human overachievers.

For example, IIRC, Diziet Sma is important enough to warrant flying around on a special mission by a Ship. Ditto the protagonist in the Player of Games. These are special people, with special skills.

We know that the Culture is rich and that no one wants for anything. But does the Culture ever explore the theme of how the masses live? What do the folk that are not in Special Circumstances, recognized top end artists, etc... actually do? Is that ever alluded to in the depiction of Culture?

Or is it just handwavium what everyone is fully engaged and fulfilled in their life, with none of the drudgery or boredom that a cynic might expect from some of our current implementations of extensive welfare states?

(The above sentence is key to my question. Don't like it? downvote or vote to close, don't edit it out. Without it, there is no need for this question).

i.e. is the life of the "common person" ever explored in detail, in-universe, with respect to how they find engagement and meaning in their life?