The Player of Games (Culture)
by Iain M. Banks
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Book Reviews of The Player of Games (Culture)
Book Review: Best of Banks, ONe of the best Scifi I've read
Summary: 5 Stars
Of all the Iain Banks scifi books I found this one of the most compelling. There was a sense of deep irony throughout the book as the master game player pits himself against a game that has consequences for an Empire. How he emerged from a low point of ennui, when he felt the the need to cheat in a board game to a master player in terms of life and death stakes was well drawn. The need to find a new sense of meaning was strongly presented here. I have read about 8 of Iain Banks scifi books and i felt this was his best, along with Use of Weapons.
I judge a good scifi book by how it makes me feel and think, and Player of Games gave me much to think about, that is why i rate it as one of the best i havev read.
Book Review: Occasionally gripping, slight letdown at the end
Summary: 4 Stars
Hadn't read Banks before, and read (here on amazon) that this was a good place to start. I enjoyed the book, and will read more of Banks' work (I have Use of Weapons queued up). A few quick points:
+ Well-written, clear prose
+ Solid, interesting "world building"
+ Good pacing
+ Didn't tip his hand too soon, which kept the pages turning
= Pretty dumb/annoying "sci fi" names
= Would have liked more detail/texture on the game itself
- Rushed and incomplete climax and denouement
- Underdeveloped view of the antagonists
- Weak characterization; never felt much empathy or distinctness of voices
Book Review: Another solid entry in the opus
Summary: 5 Stars
I never thought I was a fan of space opera until I read Iain Banks. I bought my first Banks' novel by accident (thought it was something else) and was appalled when I saw it was 600+ pages and full of really strange names. 50 pages in I was hooked, 300 pages in I was still up, and then when it was 3:00 a.m. and I couldn't keep my eyes open any more to follow along I finally fell into a coma and dreamt about drones and AI and the Culture. Banks is actually a much better writer than he gets credit for, and he doesn't get enough credit for his inventiveness and ability to string a plot together and keep it together for 600 pages.Book Review: Player of Games
Summary: 5 Stars
I would not have thought that a book about a guy who plays games could be so intoxicating but, that's just how I felt while I was reading it. The story has a lot in common with what is going on with humankind on many levels (a bit to close to home). The story struck me more as reality disguised as Sci-Fi, I found it both ugly and beautiful at the same time. Of course I still feel a little intoxicated (as you maybe able to tell from this review) with no signs of becoming sober anytime soon.
Iain M. Banks is by far one of the best Sci-Fi writers, that I have come across. I highly recommend him to everyone.
Book Review: Detailed & pitfall-ridden games, lacking tech.
Summary: 4 Stars
Very original idea- games of an alien culture and games of the future human society. The depth and rules of the alien game are hugely captivating, as is the plot involving human/alien relationships. Twists and turns in the plot provide entertainment outside of the entertainment of the game itself (not that the game would be fun for the loser). Player of Games is amongst the best of what Banks' offers, yet there's a lack of technology which is predominent in early Banks' novels, such as Consider Phlebas and Use of Weapons. Satisfied to a high degree, yet expectation was met short considering technology.