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Iain M. Banks’ second culture novel (after Consider Phlebas) shows a considerable extent of learning on the part of the author. The basic elements are still all in place, but the writing is better – more taut, more cohesive, and less reliant on impenetrability and shock tactics.
The core story surrounds Jernau Gurgeh, who is the games player referred to in the title. He has mastered all of the games, of all kinds, in the Culture civilisation, and is thus on the cusp of irredeemable boredom. He is caught between the knowledge that he may at any moment be beaten, and the knowledge that winning yet again will be a somehow unsatisfactory experience.
Somehow, Gurgeh allows himself to become tricked, and thus a target for blackmail. In avoiding the shame that would be associated with being found out to be a cheat, Gurgeh joins the Culture’s Special Circumstances unit, and travels to the Empire of Azad to play in their game.
The Culture has been struggling to understand the empire, which seems driven by a game so complex that the winner will find himself the Emporer of the land. Partly motivated by boredom, curiosity and a desire to escape the blackmail, Gurgeh takes on the challenge and plays the game.
The story allows Banks to almost combine his science-fiction style with his contemporary writing style, since the Empire of Azad is more like modern day, or recently historical life. It’s an interesting juxtaposition, and much credit must go to the author for keeping all the balls in the air and retaining control of the story and its multitudinous complex elements. But there are other influences at hand, including the great William Gibson, for the sheer power and speed of the ending is a reflection of Gibson at his best, and for that Banks deserves praise.
Insofar as The Player of Games is part of a series, it advances our understanding of the Culture’s Special Circumstances unit, and helps to flesh out some of the menace of the unit implied in Look to Windward, which this reviewer read out of sequence.
So Iain M. Banks has come out with another instalment in the Culture series, which is a significant improvement on its predecessor. It’s a well constructed and well executed story in its own right, and thoroughly deserves to sit in this series. Enjoyable to read, I was sad when it finished.
8/10
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