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Man, I've been stuck in this place where I really want to read those books (somehow I missed them), but I write SFF too and have some near-future thoughts that I don't want to get tangled up with his stuff. (Part of the reason I went back and read the Chronicles of Amber was to keep my mind away from modern SFF while I work on projects.)
Some day I think I'll just have to give in and read it and my own stuff is too close to his...oh well. I feel like I'd enjoy his work based on what everyone says about it.
Oh don't worry, The Culture is anything but near-future. Some concepts are so out there that they border surreal existentialist philosophy.
And some are set in the past! A large period of time is covered.
I think that it is an influence worth risking.
The settings themselves vary wildly, and technically the books occur before, during, and after the present. The level of technology varies wildly.
The one thing in common is the examination of the content of the character of the "human" being, and how we are the same or different, adapt or don't, expand or hide.
It's truly masterful work that, yes has cool gizmos and concepts but worries more about how the gizmos make you feel.