The Player of Games: Culture Series, Book 2

This is a stunning book, that I had not read, since it first came out when I was a kid. But it was good enough to stick with me over the many intervening years. This reading is fantastic. Great interpretations of the characters. Hope the accents don't upset anybody. Highly,highly recommended. If we are lucky Mr.Kenny will be reading the rest of the series too.( He also did a great job with -Consider Phlebas) ps please hurry with the others, I can't wait until -Excession is given this treatment

A bored, disaffected, dilettante game-playing, genius get's twisted by friend who's no friend...

Ian M. Banks' Culture novels are beyond belief in their scope and richness of detail. They are detailed with plots, characters and environments vividly described. That a story of this length can grip you from beginning to end is amazing and I have no hesitation in recommending it.

IMB's Culture stories are a fascinating mix of sociology, solid character development, lavish detail and staggering imagination. The utopian scale of the Culture is beyond anything I have read in 35 years love of sci-fi and each one of IMB's novels adds more and more levels of interest.

If you've heard or read Consider Phelbas, this is different as it's set within the Culture but you'll love it! The action is break-neck and the story is rich!

My only criticism of the audio version is that the character names are so 'out-there' that it can be a problem to remember who's who. It is easier with a hard-copy novel. But that is small criticism and a backhanded compliment to what is a staggeringly good book that is also very, very well read.

An amazing listen! I’ve read the original book and one of advantages of hear the audio version is that you don’t spend ages trying to guess the pronunciation of the insane names.
A brilliant listen. I highly recommend it.

Without giving anything away, this is a masterful demonstration of how wonderful science-fiction can be to illustrate real-world issues, as well as providing insights on such issues and how we could deal with them better. But beside that, this novel is funny, thrilling, exciting and there are very few authors who can match Banks' imaginative power. This is a rich and consistent world, detailed and nuanced. In my view, the ideal starter book to Banks' culture universe novels, i.e. don't worry if you haven't read any of his other books.

A very strong story with twists and turns that keeps you on your toes. It weaves in sci-fi in the story in a very subtle way making you believe in the world described for you. Exceptionally read by Peter Kenny, I truly belive he felt the pain of the main character. A definite worthy read.

Im really enjoying my long car journeys now with the great collection of books offered by audible. Never having read any of Iain Banks books before, so I didnt know what i was getting into. So two books in to the cutlure series "consider Phelbas and player of games" and im VERY VERY much hooked! So enjoying the culture series. Listened to the first book and loved the settings, GSVs, drones, and the characters !!! Peter Kenny is a fantastic narrator, bringing this amazing sci fi world to life with his clever charactor voices and build up to tense moments !!!

Great stories, great narration !!!!

In short..... Brilliant!!!!

Following up Consider Phlebas is The Player of Games, and Peter Kenny's able narration makes the book a joy to listen to. Kenny provides a great variety of voices for the many characters, male, female, drone, mind, apex... without the voices grating. I look forward eagerly to the remainder of Iain Banks's work (with or without the M) reaching audible.

Another brilliant book in the culture series, fantastic settings and characters and brilliantly read. Can't wait for the next books in the series.

The Player of Games is the 2nd Culture novel and represents Iain M. Banks' using his wider narrative tools for the first time in his sci-fi works so rates 5 stars. Peter Kenny's reading is excellent - I love his characterision of the Ships and Drones

I first read this book back when I was a teenager, many years ago and when I saw it in audible I got quite excited. The narrator reads the story well and once you get used to his accents for people's speaking voices it works very well.



A great story revolving around the culture, which requires no prior knowledge of this series of books to enjoy. Highly recommended sci-fi geek romp!