Consider Phlebas by Iain Banks

Point by S about unlovable characters is well made. The main character is neither The Good Guy nor A Good Guy and other more emotionally attractive characters get far less air time, I'm thinking it's deliberate.

I think the structure of the writing reflects the state Banks is trying to express. If this story had been told primarily from the perspective of a Culture character it would have been very hard to avoid getting caught up in the whole 'win/lose', 'us/them' dynamic.

Instead I am distanced from people I want to identify with and forced into a relationship with a character I don't really like and whose alliances are.. unwise. I do my best to understand and relate to him - which is exactly what the Culture agent opposing him is doing at the same time. This is in turn paralleled by the Culture's relationship with the entire war - the multiple layers of the story resonate.

Best moment for me was an AI reflecting on his potential death by embarrassment if his favourite human discovers he has a collection of recordings of her laugh.