Questions About The Player of Games (Culture, #2)

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Player of Games, please sign up.

Answered Questions (6)

Considering that the descriptions vary wildly... do books one and two actually connect are are they just set in the same universe? Both look good, but I read the preview of this in the back of K.J. Parker's Escapement and I've been itching to find out about this mysterious "Gurgeh"

prcardi You can read book two without having read book one. A lot of facets of Culture in book one are not brought up or particularly relevant in book two. Ba…moreYou can read book two without having read book one. A lot of facets of Culture in book one are not brought up or particularly relevant in book two. Banks explains, in book two, what you need to know about the characters and systems in order to understand that book.(less)

flag

Would anyone be willing to post a character guide or chapter by chapter summary? I'm listening to the audible edition and sometimes miss details or misremember names.

Austin Hennessey

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

flag

Can this book be read on its own or before the other ones in the same universe?

Renato There are some references to book 1 (Consider Phlebas) but not knowing what they refer to will not impact on the understanding of book 2.

flag

Perhaps this will be regarded as a silly or puerile question, but is the language in this book any less vulgar than in Consider Phlebas? I adore the idea of the Culture, and would love to read as much in that world as possible, but my first attempt (Consider Phlebas) had just too much unnecessary vulgarity for my taste. Is that just how Iain Banks writes?

Boy Blue I think that the language is definitely less vulgar. Though it's not so much the language as the going's on that are a little bit more palatable. The …moreI think that the language is definitely less vulgar. Though it's not so much the language as the going's on that are a little bit more palatable. The bit on the island in Consider Phlebas with the rubbish cult was bizarre and grotesque. In Player of Games The Empire that Gurgeh is sent to has some pretty heinous traditions at the top and it's a pretty horrible society but the depictions of it are less graphic. You hear that there's a live stream of torture porn for high ranked officials but it's not described in detail. I hope that answers your question.(less)

flag

Is this book to be considered hard sci-fi, space opera, both? Please, consider the question extended to the whole The Culture series.

Boy Blue The whole culture series is considered space opera. I felt that this one is considerably less opera esque than the first one. This book is similar in …moreThe whole culture series is considered space opera. I felt that this one is considerably less opera esque than the first one. This book is similar in many ways to The Left Hand of Darkness. It's got a more first contact, claustrophobic feel to it. It is less philosophical than Le Guin though and is more interested in a good narrative than making any philosophical points. It's a good story and worth a read. I should also say that Banks does a lot through the withholding of information so if you're looking for exactly how everything works you might be disappointed.(less)

flag

Load 1 more question

Unanswered Questions (1)

This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more