The Player of Games

Rating:
Summary: Why Not Here?
Review: Strangely enough, I first found Banks' books in used bookstores while I was travelling in Asia. But to find him here is on par with finding the Grail. This was the first Banks book I read, and the scope and concept was impressive to the point of overwhelming. This is big-concept space opera, with a far-future galaxy spanning near-utopia where the inhabitants, their needs taken care of, play games and design planets. So what happens when the best player of games is invited to a distant empire to play their 'game'? He's an innocent abroad in a degenerate, yet vibrant, society, who has to learn on the fly, for both his own success, and his life. The story is intricate, and compelling. Somehow, though, the Culture, and its ruling 'Minds' are just too powerful, too perfect, and I wanted to see a bit more of a struggle than that of one exceptional, human, character. Off to get more Culture...