I didn't find Banks' writing to be particularly boring. The plot in Consider Phlebas was interesting enough for me to finish the book, at least.
The Player of Games was a big letdown, though. Similarly to the first book, the plot was interesting enough. But by time I got to the end, I realized: I just wasn't having fun. I didn't particularly care about the protagonist, and I wasn't impressed with the way he was characterized. Just, overall...meh. It doesn't resonate for me.