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Iain M. Banks
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The Player of Games (Culture Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Iain M. Banks (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 9,229 ratings
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The Culture — a human/machine symbiotic society — has thrown up many great Game Players, and one of the greatest is Gurgeh Jernau Morat Gurgeh. The Player of Games. Master of every board, computer and strategy.

Bored with success, Gurgeh travels to the Empire of Azad, cruel and incredibly wealthy, to try their fabulous game. . . a game so complex, so like life itself, that the winner becomes emperor. Mocked, blackmailed, almost murdered, Gurgeh accepts the game, and with it the challenge of his life — and very possibly his death.

The Culture Series
Consider Phlebas
The Player of Games
Use of Weapons
The State of the Art
Excession
Inversions
Look to Windward
Matter
Surface Detail
The Hydrogen Sonata
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  1. Book 2 of 9
    Culture
  2. Print length
    417 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Orbit
  5. Publication date
    November 13, 2009
  6. File size
    1587 KB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Culture Book 1 - Book 9
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$73.93
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  1. That intelligence could surpass and excel the blind force of evolution, with its emphasis on mutation, struggle and death? That conscious cooperation was more efficient than feral competition?
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  2. You cannot choose not to have the politics you do; they are not some separate set of entities somehow detachable from the rest of your being; they are a function of your existence.
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In The Player of Games, Iain M. Banks presents a distant future that could almost be called the end of history. Humanity has filled the galaxy, and thanks to ultra-high technology everyone has everything they want, no one gets sick, and no one dies. It's a playground society of sports, stellar cruises, parties, and festivals. Jernau Gurgeh, a famed master game player, is looking for something more and finds it when he's invited to a game tournament at a small alien empire. Abruptly Banks veers into different territory. The Empire of Azad is exotic, sensual, and vibrant. It has space battle cruisers, a glowing court--all the stuff of good old science fiction--which appears old-fashioned in contrast to Gurgeh's home. At first it's a relief, but further exploration reveals the empire to be depraved and terrifically unjust. Its defects are gross exaggerations of our own, yet they indict us all the same. Clearly Banks is interested in the idea of a future where everyone can be mature and happy. Yet it's interesting to note that in order to give us this compelling adventure story, he has to return to a more traditional setting. Thoughtful science fiction readers will appreciate the cultural comparisons, and fans of big ideas and action will also be rewarded. --Brooks Peck

From Library Journal

The Culture's greatest game player travels to the Empire of Azad to participate in a complex competition that could settle the fates of two civilizations. Theauthor of Consider Phlebas vividlyportrays an empire ruled by arcane conventions and sophisticated brutality in an ambitious novel of gamesmanship and intrigue. Supple prose and subtle manipulations of plot produce a thought-provoking story which is highly recommended.-- JC
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002WM3HC2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orbit (November 13, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 13, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1587 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 417 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 9,229 ratings

About the author

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Iain M. Banks

Iain M. Banks

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Iain Banks (1954-2013) came to widespread and controversial public notice with the publication of his first novel, The Wasp Factory, in 1984. Consider Phlebas, his first science fiction novel, was published under the name Iain M. Banks in 1987 and began his celebrated ten-book Culture series. He is acclaimed as one of the most powerful, innovative and exciting writers of his generation.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
9,229 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the storyline intriguing and captivating. They praise the writing style as brilliant and easy to read. The book explores culture, artistry, and games with interesting world-building and societal details. Readers appreciate the well-developed characters with distinct personalities. The ideas are clever, fun, and intriguing.

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Story qualityReadabilityWriting qualityCultureCharacter developmentIdeaGaming contentPacing
198 customers mention "Story quality"168 positive30 negative

Customers find the story engaging and well-crafted. They describe it as a better story than Consider Phlebas, with an intriguing storyline that keeps things interesting at both small and large scales. The writing is excellent, with a satisfying twist at the end. The plot is tightly paced, with a dramatic second half.

"...Even he doesn't know for sure. The characters are great, the story is complex yet very fast paced and highly entertaining...." Read more

"...That said, the book fascinates and titillates on many levels and is well worth your time...." Read more

"...Everyone sucks in one way or another. But the story is *EXCELLENT*...." Read more

"...An engaging read for any person, science-fiction fan or no, looking for a novel of substance whose plot and characters remain alive and vibrant...." Read more

161 customers mention "Readability"161 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and well-written. They say it's compelling and well-balanced. The book is proofread with minimal typos and grammar errors. Readers also mention it's amusing.

"...to our real world issues, which ultimately makes the book worth reading; more than just a ripping good yarn...." Read more

"...said, the book fascinates and titillates on many levels and is well worth your time...." Read more

""The Player of Games" (1988) is another amusing, easy-to-read tale from Iain M. Banks (1954-2013)...." Read more

"...Yet the background of the Culture makes this book as compelling as the first novel in spite or maybe because of these differences...." Read more

94 customers mention "Writing quality"94 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's writing style. They find the story well-told with lots of detail and fresh ideas. The author shows great imagination in constructing and describing these places. The book is easy to read, with subtle subtext and no slow spots. Readers consider the author one of the best Sci-Fi writers they have come across.

"...There are no slow spots - just taught story telling of the highest caliber...." Read more

"...from current day technologies, along with the author’s powerhouse imagination (for when mere extrapolation is not enough) for pulling rather..." Read more

""The Player of Games" (1988) is another amusing, easy-to-read tale from Iain M. Banks (1954-2013)...." Read more

"...And sci-fi to boot. Arrrr! So I began with the novel consider phlebas which was Bank’s first Culture novel...." Read more

83 customers mention "Culture"80 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's culture exploration. They find the world-building interesting with good pacing. The societal details are intriguing and relatable, with plenty of allusions to real-world issues. Readers appreciate the fresh ideas and concepts presented in the story. Overall, they describe the book as a gripping tale of an idyllic society that manipulates its members.

"...science fiction, there are plenty of corollaries and allusions to our real world issues, which ultimately makes the book worth reading; more than..." Read more

"...novel where technology is sufficiently advanced that the human drama isn’t nearly so mean and life is basically good...." Read more

"...The novel tells the powerful and compelling story of the game player, Gurgeh, journeying to the Empire of Azad to play the great game of Azad,..." Read more

"...The game powerfully shapes the society, and is the basis of leader selection and promotion in the hierarchy...." Read more

58 customers mention "Character development"49 positive9 negative

Customers find the characters interesting and imaginative. They are fully developed personalities in their own right, easy to follow, and with less characters and systems to keep track of than some of his other books. The story is well told with lots of detail, fresh ideas, and concepts.

"...As for the actual story, "Player Of Games" is a tightly structured examination of one individual, the ultimate strategist and grand wizard of gaming..." Read more

"...or no, looking for a novel of substance whose plot and characters remain alive and vibrant...." Read more

"...Basically all the machines in this novel have fantastic and distinct personalities. They were nice contrasts to Gurgeh’s own personality...." Read more

"...Don’t miss this complex and thought provoking read!" Read more

33 customers mention "Idea"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's idea clever and exciting. They describe it as a fascinating look into a future where humans become a galactic species. The novels take place in a cool universe with lots of detail. Readers appreciate the fresh ideas and concepts, and consider the philosophy a great read.

"...Read it if you'd like to consider and inspiring, not doom and gloom AI-enriched future." Read more

"...want to like this series, the Culture novels take place in such a cool universe which sound really fun to scifi nerds like myself...." Read more

"...He has the protagonist order a mixed drink that is totally magnificent... so much so that I intend to memorize that and, next time I'm in a bar,..." Read more

"...There are robots with great AI's and fun personalities, there is genetic engineering, technology seems to know no bounds...." Read more

13 customers mention "Gaming content"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the gaming content of the book. They say it explores the concepts and practice of gaming and gamesmanship in the usual series context. The game within a game, multiple plot twists, and obsessive immersion are mentioned as enjoyable aspects. The sophisticated board game is well-described, with cool parts like space-sexuality and fanciful discussions of board games. Overall, the gaming content captivates readers and improves their chess skills.

"...of one individual, the ultimate strategist and grand wizard of gaming in the galaxy...." Read more

"...be made to secrete a wide variety of chemicals as needed, very useful for game playing, and the capacity to change sex...." Read more

"...In this one, Gurgeh is a thinker and philosopher of games. He likes his routine and current lifestyle...." Read more

"...This book is about playing games, not the Culture...." Read more

50 customers mention "Pacing"32 positive18 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it fast-paced and engaging, with a slow buildup and a whirlwind finish. Others feel it starts out slowly and lacks purpose before building up to a gripping conclusion.

"...The characters are great, the story is complex yet very fast paced and highly entertaining...." Read more

"...That said, the book fascinates and titillates on many levels and is well worth your time...." Read more

"I liked this book, but it was just okay sci-fi to me. It took about 100 pages to get in to but after that was pretty enjoyable, if a bit too straight..." Read more

"...as Gurgeh leaves the Culture, the novel proceeds at a brisk, often breakneck pace sure to engage any reader as we explore the decadent, dangerous,..." Read more

Thought provoking fast read!
4 out of 5 stars
Thought provoking fast read!
This is an unusual book, more on social/society questions than space technology. Several sub-cultures and their interactions are the main thrust of the story line. I found it interesting and at times disturbing. Be careful what you wish for; there will be consequences.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • G-Dexter
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Place To Start Your Culture Journey
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    About six months ago I decided to finally dip my toes into the big pond that is "The Culture," a series of ten books set in a vast galactic civilization. I started with Banks' first book in the series, "Consider Phlebas" - an entertaining if somewhat improbable adventure in which the main character is actually an enemy of The Culture. While I enjoyed that book, I never really got a very thorough understanding of what the Culture itself was all about, who they were, how they were structured, or reasons behind the war in which they were engaged.

    After a short interval to reflect, I've now read the second book in the series: "The Player Of Games," in which Banks has done a great job of laying out the basic precepts of his universe. I now have a much better understanding and appreciation for the complexity and scale of his vision. Indeed, I can now grasp some of the actions taken by various characters in "Consider Phlebas" and the story makes better sense to me in reflection. While the first book had autonomous "Minds" and petulant "Drones," they all seemed fanciful and somewhat nonsensical. Now I more clearly understand their actions and motives.

    As for the actual story, "Player Of Games" is a tightly structured examination of one individual, the ultimate strategist and grand wizard of gaming in the galaxy. This is his story as he is inserted into a barbaric and backward empire whose social structures, religions and politics all center around a complex series of games (or one large game) from which all wealth, privilege and power is derived. Is he there as an ambassador, a subversive spy for The Culture, or just to play the game? Even he doesn't know for sure. The characters are great, the story is complex yet very fast paced and highly entertaining. There are no slow spots - just taught story telling of the highest caliber.

    As with all great science fiction, there are plenty of corollaries and allusions to our real world issues, which ultimately makes the book worth reading; more than just a ripping good yarn. If you're like me, a relative newcomer to The Culture books, I cannot imagine there is a better place to start than with "The Player Of Games." I wish I had read it first, as it has given me a greater appreciation for Phlebas. I'm well an truly hooked now, and will plow on through the rest of the series with great anticipation.
    83 people found this helpful
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  • Dean
    4.0 out of 5 stars Age of Abundance Sci-Fi At Its Best
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This was the first Culture novel I read, and based on its strengths I picked up a few other Iain M. Banks titles in the series. I was googling “positive sci-fi” when I came upon his name and a handful of other authors. This is an “age of abundance” novel where technology is sufficiently advanced that the human drama isn’t nearly so mean and life is basically good. You might think it’s hard to make drama out of virtual utopias relative to our own humble struggles in the here and now, and you’d be right. That’s a weakness of this series that’s frequently pointed out among critics, and I’m inclined to agree. That said, the book fascinates and titillates on many levels and is well worth your time. Diehard scifi fans will enjoy the realistic extrapolations from current day technologies, along with the author’s powerhouse imagination (for when mere extrapolation is not enough) for pulling rather believable worlds out of the void which are very unhinged from today’s reality and far more speculative, but just as believable. Worlds what’s more, you rather enjoy spending some time in, whether as exercise for the mind, or as pure escape.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars I don’t like the protagonist, but I love the book!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I actively *dislike* most of the characters in this book. They’re whiny, or jerks, gross-evil, or polite-evil. Everyone sucks in one way or another.

    But the story is *EXCELLENT*. I enjoyed it so much… hours of sleep were lost drinking in the actions and thoughts of these fundamentally unlikeable beings.

    You should read it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • AlphaTheRed
    5.0 out of 5 stars Darkly powerful
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    "Player of Games" was the first of Mr. Banks Culture novels that I read, and it did not disappoint. The novel tells the powerful and compelling story of the game player, Gurgeh, journeying to the Empire of Azad to play the great game of Azad, around which the entire Azadian culture is based.

    The novel starts slowly, but this is necessary to establish the character of Gurgeh and the society of the Culture, which are vital to Gurgeh's character development later on. As soon as Gurgeh leaves the Culture, the novel proceeds at a brisk, often breakneck pace sure to engage any reader as we explore the decadent, dangerous, triple-gendered society of Azad.

    The substance of the novel is found in its subtlety. The narrative itself makes no judgments about the actions of Azadians or Gurgeh. We see only their actions and the results. Banks often masks Gurgeh's inner thoughts on motivations, leaving the reader guessing, only to reveal in a single dagger-like moment of clarity a part of Gurgeh that we haven't previously seen.

    Banks does not dwell on long explanations of technology or spend pages upon pages exploring their implications. He simply presents the societies of Azad and the Culture to you - living and breathing and so alive you have no choice but to accept them as real as he continues his story.

    An engaging read for any person, science-fiction fan or no, looking for a novel of substance whose plot and characters remain alive and vibrant.

    (One word of warning - this novel is not for children or readers who are easily upset. The content of the novel is at points disturbing, violent, and sexual - usually all three together in a way not meant to titillate. Banks pulls no punches in exploring certain implications, and readers should be aware that the novel is quite explicit.)
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Andrew
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, fun read
    Reviewed in Canada on January 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Entertaining read, and I'm looking forward to the next one. Iain has a fun writing style that makes it easy to keep going.
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  • DavidD
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read.
    Reviewed in France on October 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Starts slow and builds up and up. Iain Banks writes so well with such intricate plots. I will read another soon.
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  • Mirela Mus
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best Intro into to The Culture
    Reviewed in Germany on July 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The first 100 pages are a bit slow, you won't be able to put it down after. If you want a quicker intro book into The Culture Series, try Use of Weapons (Memento Style, lots of small stories from various missions and time in the life of the main character)
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
    Reviewed in India on May 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I love the immersive, vivid worlds Banks creates. This book is the second in the series of Culture novels (and the second Banks novel I've read after Consider Phlebas, also excellent) and follows a jaded game player who becomes involved in the most important game of the known universe where his own life and much more is at stake. Like Consider Phlebas, it portrays the clash of civilizations with very different philosophies towards life. The alien worlds and Orbitals are beautifully described, a visual treat for the plot in which it is set.
    Definitely recommended!
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  • Felipe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Top
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 4, 2021
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