The Player of Games (Culture)

Utopian sci fi - it held my interest sufficiently that I will purchase another - I did not consider the characterizations to be very deep - that is ok though - it is enough to create a world to ponder -

Fascinating look into a future where humans made it first to be a galactic species. But is a also a kind of dark future because the human lives as well as alien species are manipulated by super advanced AI Minds that pull the strings from behind.
Highly recommended.

Iain.M.Banks second Culture novel expands our knowledge of his universe. Engaging & most intriguing, The Player of Games is chockablock with unique personalities (many of them machines) and concepts that are jaw-droppingly surprising.

A great big wonderfilled universe as experienced by a player of games. This was my first culture novel and I've had to start another just to keep immersed in Banks' universe. It is a charming novel full of strange new places and things which is thoroughly grounded as a critique of contemporary culture. Great Read.

Mr. Banks seems to be writing straightforward science fiction, but then you realize that it's going much deeper than that. Just as satisfying and thought-provoking as the first one in the series, 'Consider Phlebas'. Can't wait to read the next Culture book.

Very interesting universe (background), but lacking plot. The main characters are kind of bleak. Storytelling is OK, but one may make so much more in this setup (background). As if the author has exhausted himself creating this amazing universe. Good book, but will not read it again. Not on my best books list.

The story takes place in an alternate reality (certainly alternate to where I live) far more scientifically and genetically advanced from what I see around me. These (largely unexplained) advancements are used as character set ups and plot tools to good affect, adding interest and novel twists to the basically human stories. When I say human, I'm referring to both organic and artificial characters.
The various sub plots relate to power and control, cruelty, game playing, complex civilizations, sexual fantasies, and human-AI interactions ... to name a few.

Great story that starts off well and truly mired I'm the utopian but soon takes you away to something disorders much better. Never has alien and primitive been so much fun. And just a little bit on the edge of your seat.

Ian Banks is a very good story teller. His vivid sci-fi imagination and plot development kept me turning the pages. I would have liked more supporting character development and plot twists but the protagonist kept eliminating his competition too quickly.

A very good mix of the human and technological elements that make up the Culture. The usual whizz-bang stuff satisfies, and this is perhaps the only work of Banks in which a citizen of the Culture is contrasted in depth to other lower level civs.

Intriguing concept. A very well written book. Certainly keeps you interested all the way. The characters are real and the descriptions and emotions hold your attention. I am not usually a reader of scifi but I would certainly recommend this book.

I am now officially hooked on the culture series. The characters are quirky and weird, and the story is amazing. I love the fact that many of the characters never really like each other. I'd love to write a long review, but I'm writing an AI for a game...

This book reminds us that we are going to greatly miss Iain Banks. A story
well told with lots of detail, fresh ideas and concepts. I wish we had heard
more from the girl Gurgeh meets at the beginning of the games; not too
enthusiastic about his ultimate reunion with the multiply transgendered Yay.
Could have used more detail about the game Azad itself; no doubt some
enterprising gamester or game company will provide us with versions of that.
Also need more compelling reasons for staging this in the Magellanic Cloud
without much background thereon. Nevertheless, highly recommended.

I have only recently begun reading the works of the late Iain M. Banks. My first book was "The Algebraist" which I was really impressed with. So much so that I decided to read the Culture series from the beginning. While I enjoyed "Consider Phlebas" I felt that it was a bit too long. Towards the end it just seems to drag a little. But not so with "The Player of Games". This book manages to grow pretty large in scope (dealing with an Empire) while still keeping a small feel to it. Whereas the other two Banks books that I have read had a more epic scope, this one seems almost like a short story that was fleshed out to a novel. But fleshed out exceptionally well. One of the things I really enjoy so far about Banks' books are the set pieces that he puts in them. In each of the books there are scenes that stick with me. I don't want to give away any plot details...but suffice to say that there are several vivid and wonderfully displayed scenes in this novel that are a tribute to the authors obvious talents.