I concur that Consider Phlebas isn't a very good introduction to the Culture setting, but I don't think it should be skipped (or, rather, skipped permanently); it's a very good book, and I read it first... although, to be fair, I knew what I was getting into ahead of time because of TVTropes. If you're completely unfamiliar with the Culture series, The Player of Games is excellent introductory material (and also a very good book). Otherwise, I wholeheartedly recommend reading Consider Phlebas, with a warning that it is a very depressing book.
On a more somber note, I literally bought Use of Weapons the day after Iain Banks died, and didn't know about it until I read about it here (a few days ago). It seemed oddly symbolic, given that it was the first novel he wrote.
I saw the "twist" at the end coming a mile off (given the obvious hint about his name being his own choice early on), and yet it still didn't make much sense to me; if he was really Elethiomel, then... what was the scar over his heart, for example? Unless he was delusional and mixing up himself and the original Cheradenine in the (third-person, no less) flashbacks?
I'm probably going to have to re-read this book, even though I just finished it, to figure out if there was a hidden explanation I missed...
Just finished Consider Phlebas.
And, um. The Red Wedding has nothing on this.
I mean, I saw it all coming a mile away (except for the compressing everyone into a ball (I DID NOT NEED TO READ THAT, THANK YOU)).
It's just, damn.