The Hydrogen Sonata is a science fiction novel by Scottish author Iain M. Banks, set in his techno-utopian Culture universe.

One of the novel’s protagonists, Vyr Cossont, has undergone body enhancement to grow the two extra arms needed, ideally, to play it.

[6][7] At a book signing at Foyles in London, England, on 11 April 2012, Banks briefly described The Hydrogen Sonata as being "about the whole Subliming business".

[6] The Gzilt, a civilisation that almost joined the Culture 10,000 years before the novel, have decided to Sublime, leaving behind “the Real” to take up residence in higher dimensions.

Cossont and the Mistake Not... successfully retrieve QiRia’s mind-state, but only after being attacked in the storage facility on Banstegeyn’s orders.

After finding this out and deciding it would not affect the ability of the Gzilt to join the Culture being formed, their minds had been wiped of these memories.

She leaves behind her elevenstring instrument, and considers rejoining the Mistake Not... to visit QiRia at the planet where he is on retreat, and returning his memories.

[8] Stuart Kelly of The Guardian gave the novel a positive review, praising Banks' "gloriously baroque and silly" ideas and the "keen satire and... keener anger" of his political themes.