(T) Morat (The Player of Games - Iain M. Banks)

Member Name: Xamis

Product:	The Player of Games - Iain M. Banks
Date:	15/05/01 (130 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting story, Great characters, Amazing relevence

Disadvantages: May seem too long-winded, Plot not immediately obvious

Morat is both a name and a description. In the Culture, each individual chooses how to complete their name, and the man known as Jernau Gurgeh chose to be known as the Player of Games, or Morat. This player will use any of the many complex boards created by members of the Culture, the society in which he lives. The unique nature of the Culture throws Gurgeh his biggest challenge, a game that is life itself to an entire race of people. He travels across space, almost alone, for two years to compete in the game of Azad, which determines position within a society much more reminiscent of our own than the Culture.

This book is hard for me to explain. The concept seems simple enough, hell, I probably explained it all in my opening paragraph. But there's so much more to it than the simple plot, which is why I love it so much. I can only say that the book has an atmosphere. I think of Gurgeh in his house, Ikroh, and I can almost feel what it is like. I've only read the book twice, and the last time was a good month ago now, but I can see his house in my mind. Perhaps it's because I want to live there myself, but I think it's more Banks' remarkable descriptive talent. The key to the success of this book is how Banks applies this talent to a wide range of items and events, from the mundanity of Gurgeh's life to the state of cities and the nature of the Culture itself.

Gurgeh is, essentially, bored. We start the novel exploring his life; the endless papers, parties, gaming tournaments and recreational events he takes part in. We learn about his friends, from the robot Chamlis Amalk-Nay to his mentee Yay Meristinoux, including many others on the way. Throughout the first hundred pages or so, we learn about the operational realities of the Culture through Gurgeh's eyes. We get examples of the advanced technology they use, both in the form of intelligent Minds (who run ships, planets or are simply autonomous drones) and more co
nventional systems like transport tubes and replicators. We also see the darker side of this system, the administration, and more specifically an intelligence agency-like organisation called Special Circumstances (or SC). Gurgeh has a friendship with a drone who was decommissioned from SC, and it is this drone's blackmail coupled with his growing boredom that leads Gurgeh to seek out SC and ask for some kind of mission. After a few entertaining meetings, they send Gurgeh to the Empire of Azad to play the game of Azad as a representative of the Culture. This is where Banks shifts to exploring different ideas whilst still maintaining the effective storytelling we expect from him.

Azad is ruled (as empires tend to be) by one man. This man is the winner of the yearly tournament of Azad, so chosen because the skills he puts to use to win the game are respected as the skills needed to lead the empire. The fact that I have used the word "man" in every case is important, before the year we observe with Gurgeh, no woman has ever got passed the first round of the tournament, and very few enter in the first place. This is just one of many similarities to our recent past and present. The race has three "sexes", and only one of them holds any position of power. Alien races contacted more often than not are subjugated, and the Culture has only escaped war by placating them and keeping their true figures and location carefully hidden. Gurgeh learns more about the Empire through it's TV broadcasts, by interacting with various people at various receptions and during the game itself, and through nocturnal trips with his personal drone (and once the Culture ambassador) to the less affluent areas of the cities. We share in Gurgeh's surprise and disgust at the state of this planet because of the excellent groundwork laid in the first 100 pages of a fair and equal society.

Gurgeh surprises everyone when he actually manages to win his
first round game, embarrassing a promising young up-and-coming priest in the process. From then on, he is in much more danger, facing threats from other players, citizens amazed that an alien could win a game of Azad, and the establishment of the Empire trying to protect itself. Gurgeh's surprise at these reactions may appear naïve to an outsider, but to some extent we as readers share in it, again because of the background explained in the beginning of the book. The book is not entirely serious, however, and a wonderful faux pas where a porn song is played as the 'national anthem' of the Culture is one of many comedy moments that are so much funnier in the context of the novel. The crux of the entire novel, however, even more important than the plot itself, is a crucial comparison.

The Culture, in all it's Utopian glory, or the Empire, with it's ruthless 'efficiency'. Which would you chose? The wonderful thing about The Player of Games is that it is written from Gurgeh's perspective, so even the most cynical reader can see how the Culture works and understand the barbarity of the Empire. It is a real eye opener, and manages to make people think about our current society too. I guess now it comes as no surprise that I am a big fan of the Culture, after the whole Mayday ruckus, but reading The Player of Games without worrying about being converted, and there's every chance you will have more sympathy with that cause. Believe it or not, I wasn't always some mad, idealistic crusader. This novel suggests you think more carefully about the society we live in, something that can never be wrong. Plus it is a wonderful story in itself. Gurgeh is a believable character, we sympathise with him throughout, and his reaction to the Empire is one we can all understand.

There are plans afoot to make this book a film. If it happens, see the film first. Nothing can measure up to the book, but I'm sure if you've n
ot read the book the film will be great, because it is a good, solid story with plenty of scope for special effects. But most of all, read the book. This story is probably my favourite ever read, I enjoy it even more than American Beauty. I've had to be pretty restrained to write less about it than I did about that film, and I've managed to keep some of the plot hidden, but don't think I'm any less passionate about this book than I am about that film. Utopia - one day we'll make it.

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