Um...ok, well, I'm thinking Ringworld here. Large, grandiose technical achievements being just another day-to-day thing. Niven's a bit older so his stuff isn't quite as off-the-wall as Banks gets.

Spatterjay, when dealing with Tech sits more firmly towards Banks, but it has a pretty upbeat ending so that shifts it back towards Niven.

Look, don't try to fathom my author linkage, just go read the book, it's a lot of fun.

Tom