SUMMARY:
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
Enter Series Index : 02 of 10
Record Notes : Found Part of Series
ES Group : Serified_E
Number of Words in Auth: 3
Formats : EPUB
ES Cover Quality : ICBF
Quick Search : Iain M. Banks Culture
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Has Cover : Yes
All Identifiers : isbn:9780316005401, mobi-asin:451cf254-7e1f-4f75-81b5-e0e79386c1aa
Test Text Series Index: 2
Single Author : Iain M. Banks
Raw Title : Player of Games
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Sorted Author by LN, FN: Banks, Iain M.
Calc Series Group : Culture
Title Length : 15
Num of Aut : 1
Calc ESI Combined : 02 of 190
Record ID : 2248
Enter New Series (Calced): Serified_E.Culture.Scifan.02 of 10..ICBF
ES Name : Culture
EBook : Have
Custom Series : SIPY.Culture.Scifan.02 of 10..ICBF
Uncomma Author : Iain M. Banks
ES Genre : Scifan
Calc New Series : Culture....
Calc ESI Part 3 : 10
Calc ESI Part 2 : of
Calc ESI Part 1 : 02
ABook : E_Only
Test Search : Player of Games / Iain M. Banks
Title Parm A : Player of Games