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Player of Games Discussion

"I just wanted to let you know that I just finished "The Player of Games" and loved it! Im so glad I found your site as I probably never would have known about or read this book otherwise. Really good. Good writing, good character development, really interesting premises. Have you read anything else by Banks?" - Bob Clark 2/15/98

I haven't read any of his other books yet but I just saw the results of a recent British readers' poll voting on the top SF and Fantasy books of all time. Two of Banks' books were in the top 10 ­ "Consider Phlebas" and "Use of Weapons" - Steve 2/15/98

"I can't remember the last time I read a book where I ended it thinking about how great it would be to live there! Unfortunately I cant help nit picking. One of the things that seperates a Great speclulative fiction book from a very good one is that the alternate reality it portrays is completely, almost effortlessly, internally consistent with NO loose ends. Dune is good example of this. Larry Niven wrote a really good essay on this topic somewhere. I dont think Banks really deals with the implications of the technologies he comes up with. A small example: all the sentient machines (drones) have some kind of anti gravity ability as their main (only?) form of locomation. And he has a human culture that has permanently redesigned human plumbing to allow for "glanding", seperation of waste and reproductive systems etc.. I find it hard to believe that the flying ability wouldn't be so overwhelmingly useful and fun that humans wouldnt have incorporated it into themselves in some way (not neccasarily geneticly). Not to mention all the other implications of cheap anti-gravity on society in general. Anyway thanks again for the reccomendation I hope your having better luck with the Mars trilogy." ­ Bob 2/16/98

Do you think the point about "internally consistent with NO loose ends" favors the "Hard Science Fiction" style? At least it seems easier to accomplish with that approach. The Mars Trilogy for example definitely has that feeling about it but to me seems to have accomplished it by sacrificing a good amount of suspense, action, and excitement. Dune has both but it's a rare find and unusual accomplishment unfortunately. I've plodded through about half of Red Mars and like it but miss the hard-to-stop reading quality. It's actually a good book for me to read right now because I'm think in the middle of our '98 catalog production. (Did you ever check out my main-time occupation <www.jademountain.com>?) It's easy to stop reading and get back to work. It also doesn't keep me awake reading in bed - I go right to sleep. - Steve 2/18/98

"I agree with your "seems easier" comment. It shows you what an achievement Middle Earth was. I also think there is a window of time into the future that its easier for to. Not to close to now and not too far into the future. The Diamond Age got it right I think. I know what you mean. The Mars books probably would have been just as good after some SERIOUS editing. The size of the story really gives the characters room to breath however, and thereby become more real. (at least to me.) Thats what I liked most about it." ­ Bob 2/19/98x

True, the characters seem very real and the entire story is completely believable - it's like really being on Mars. I just miss not having more excitement and suspence. - Steve 2/19/98

Please email comments about this book or review to stroy@jade-mtn.com.

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