The last great work of science fiction to my mind was, as the the person said above, the Culture series by Iain M Banks.

A similar concept is the basis of Iain M. Banks' Culture series (1987-); the organization carrying out the work is named Special Circumstances.

It's very hard to choose one particular book from Ian M Banks' Culture series because those I have read have all been outstanding.

I love his "Culture" series of novels, but "The Algebraist" story is his most complete.

Matter is a science fiction novel from Iain Banks, under the name Iain M. Banks in his Culture series.

Orbitals from the Culture series by Iain M. Banks.

Marain, in Iain M. Banks's Culture series.

The Culture series, by Iain M. Banks, represents a blend in which a transhuman society is guarded by godlike machine intelligences.

Iain M. Banks's Culture series (1987-) make extensive reference to the transfer of mind-states.