The Player of Games

309 pages

Published June 29, 2001 by Orion Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-84149-095-3

(1 review)

When Jernau Morat Gurgeh, a skilled board game player begins to experience ennui and asks a friend for help, he is recruited by the mysterious "Special Circumstances" organization to travel to a distant empire and play a "game that is not a game". The clash of cultures, and the political consequences of his participation, turn out to be more than he bargained for.

1 edition

Korora reviewed The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks

Expanding the 'Culture' universe

5 stars

The first book in the Culture universe, 'Consider Phlebas' is written from the perspective of an outsider looking into the Culture. 'Player of Games' is written from the perspective of the Jernau Gurgeh who has lived their life entirely within the civilisation and we find out more about how the society works, it's politics, and the day to day lives of it's citizens.