The Player of Games (1988) by Iain M. Banks

From the incredible genius that is Iain M. Banks, comes his first Culture novel: a science-fiction adrenaline rush about a talented board-game player, who travels to another planet whose inhabitants base their entire infrastructure upon the outcome of one board game called Azad.

Jernau Morat Gurgeh, lives amongst the Culture: a sophisticated and advanced civilisation, who have mastered many technological and social developments, and created a world that is far less barbaric than those of its ancestors. Gurgeh’s role amongst the Culture is a player of games: his abilities within board, and other, games is unrivalled, allowing him a semi-celebrity status. However, bored with his board-games, Gurgeh longs for something new, something challenging, and is soon offered a game unlike any other.

The Empire of Azad is a tough and archaic civilisation, that base the most important aspects of their world on the game of Azad. A game so complex and meaningful, that Azadians learn their whole lives how to play it, and use it in order to establish political and social power. The emperor of Azad, is the one who can prevail amongst all others, in an Azad tournament, which takes place every six years.

Gurgeh is offered the special honour of attending the Azad tournament as a guest participant, which, at first, seems to be an attempt by the Culture to broker some kind of peaceful relationship with the Empire. With only the two year journey it takes to get to Azad to learn the game, the player of games must understand a game that takes others most of their lives to comprehend.

A compelling and forceful story, The Player of Games offers some of the best science fiction themes to work parallel with the fast tempo of the book. A clash of civilisations always provides for an entertaining journey, however, Banks gives us two worlds that seem incomparable, making the result fascinating. Whilst the Culture is peaceful, technologically advanced, and superior, the Empire is a brutal world, that seems to digress into the most sordid of behaviour, whilst engaging in a social structure that is based upon servitude and repression. The ulterior meaning behind this comparison of cultures is evident, allowing for some great moments of poignancy.

Characters are vivid, deep, and interesting, and the complicated web of deceit which inevitably traps Gurgeh is the most engrossing aspect of Banks’ writing. The book is like a game within a game, as Gurgeh discovers he is being played, magnificently, by both sides, and the plot becomes a complex affair of betrayal and power.

Brilliantly imaginative throughout, and thrilling as the story unfolds.