So this is fun so far. I'm writing this review as I go since it's a fairly long story, I'm not sure how long it will be interesting for, and we really needed another review in here so I can't let myself just read and then not review.

I haven't read any of the Culture books but I am familiar with them. Not just because of Culture Shock (the fanfic mentioned in the OP) which I read and enjoyed but because they're relatively well known books. It helped knowing a little of what to expect from a crossover but I think you could dive straight into this. The oversimplified explanation is that the culture is a very advanced society with very few taboos. This is shown in a fun way in the story - with Harry flying - and then promptly gets to Harry's letter arriving without wasting a bunch of time.

You've heard the phrase that sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic? That might not be the case in-story, since magic still screws with tech, but the sentiment is accurate as regards the society Harry hails from.

The initial set-up is that instead of Lily's magic saving Harry it saved him and sent him 'somewhere safe' which just so happened to be a Culture ship in orbit. Fair enough - these initial premises to set up a story I typically just go with.

Here's a snippet that made me grin, gives you a sample of the writing style, and shows a bit of characterization as well:

Spoiler

The first thing Harry noticed about the wizard was that he was very old. The Culture had its share of the elderly, but with the exception of the occasional artist or provocateur, citizens of the Culture aged with grace and dignity. Dumbledore, on the other hand, was wizened and ancient looking, wore his silver beard down to his waist, had a nose that looked to have been broken and then not set properly twice, and…

“What’s that on his face?” Harry whispered to his mom.

“Special lenses called glasses. He needs them because his eyes don’t work.”

Harry, who had never met anyone with a dysfunctional body before, couldn’t help but gawk. And yet, despite all his decrepitude, the ancient wizard noticed Harry immediately and gave him a friendly wave, as though he were merely meeting a good friend for tea. Dumbledore checked the small golden watch he was holding, then put it away and strode confidently towards Harry and his parents, a rather severe-looking woman dressed all in black with a tall, pointy hat following behind him.

“The name’s Dumbledore,” the old wizard said as he took them in. “Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. And this is my Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.”

“Good to meet you,” Gaiane said, busily shaking hands. “I’m Gaiane Hersitoffen, this, of course is Harry Potter, and this is my husband Pat-”

“Supertoys Last All Summer Long,” the ship said firmly. “That’s my name.”

“An interesting name,” Albus said, his eyes twinkling. “Did you pick it yourself?”

Regardless it doesn't take long to get Harry back to England in terms of word count, so it's worth reading at least through Chapter 3 or so to see if it tickles your fancy. That's where I am now when I decided to write this, and now I'm going to keep reading.

It's not perfect and has some minor issues that I'd harp on more in WbA ("Hermione" instead of "Miss Granger" used by a Professor, an analogy that someone wouldn't have known to make, etc.). Minor things.

Around Chapter 8 or 9 I started to lose a little interest. It's not that it got boring or the writing quality went down, but rather that I am ready for more to happen. The setting and worldbuilding have been established, characters have been established, and I want to have a bit more plot to go with the 'cool crossover' aspects that keep coming.

It's not a canon-rehash but Harry is mostly going to school right now and I want him to have some sort of goal. In canon it was investigating the stone. That's what's lacking, something for Harry to work towards. Even all the cool added shit is... cool added shit, whether it's from the crossover or not, and not something Harry is actively trying to make happen.

I've read enough to review. Fairly standard 3.5/5 I think, where many would round up if they're into the crossover aspects and round down otherwise. I'll finish reading it but I doubt I'll want to revisit it, and probably won't follow updates.

 

Its sad that fics like these don't ever get much traction. Its not great, but its not bad. Its also funny just to see a character you like and know a lot about interact with The Culture. That super advanced society raising him and then bringing him back to his own time/planet/ reads like an absurd piece of comedy.

They are automatically going to look at world building, because more than anything, that's what The Culture is. 4/5 for now.