THE PLAYER OF GAMES: roll call and initial impressions (*no spoilers*)

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Please let us know if you've read, are reading or still planning to read The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks, and any initial impressions.

No spoilers in this topic please!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Planning to read but not soon.

[[deleted user]]

Planning to read, but have to read Consider Phlebas first.

[Paul]

this and Phlebas are the only two i don't own, although i have read them - and all the others (with Surface Detail waiting in my TBR mountain). hopefully able to find a copy, but plan to jump into the discussion with my memories.

hope everyone enjoys it as much as i did!

[Hélène]

I finished it a few days ago. It was my first book from Banks. I see Ala and Nicki read Consider Phlebas, did I miss something starting directly on The Player ?

[Stuart]

Iread it some time back quite enjoyed it.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Hélène wrote: "I finished it a few days ago. It was my first book from Banks. I see Ala and Nicki read Consider Phlebas, did I miss something starting directly on The Player ?"

The books are set in the same universe but don't share characters or much of a story line, so I think you should be fine.

I really wanted to reread this book for the discussion, but right now I don't think I'll get to it before the end of the month, unfortunately.

[Jeff]

I'm reading now and finding that it alternates between movingly along nicely and a slog fest.

[Ken]

I am horrible. I have the book on the shelf but have yet gotten around to reading it.

Sometime, but not this month

[Nick]

I've read the book recently. Previously I had read Consider Phlebas and then I read Matter which is , like, the 6th (?) book in the series. ...but it didn't make any difference; I still consider "Matter" to be one of the best SF's ever! I like "...Phlebas" also, though not as much. "Player..." fell somewhere in between the other two in my preferences. As Stefan says, it s the same universe for all these stories, but at different times and with different characters.

[Marty]

I'm going to start it in the next few days.

[Shel, Moderator]

would like to read it one of these days, but it's not on the schedule anytime soon, alas...

[Deedee]

Ala wrote: "Planning to read, but have to read Consider Phlebas first."
That's how I felt too, but Stefan and Nick both say that reading Phlebas isn't required for this one, so maybe I'll dig out Player and read it with the group.

[Jeff]

I bombed out on this book. It's been added to the 'did not finish' pile.

[Rachel]

This is next on my sci-fi reading list... looking forwards to it, especially as I play a lot of games myself :)