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The Player of Games, by Iain M. Banks In a very silly admission, I started reading this Culture series of books by Banks
because of my fandom of SpaceX, and that their autonomous drone ships, on which the
first stage rocket boosters land out at sea, are named after ships in these books,
and it so happens this one in particular. Specifically, "Of Course I Still Love You"
and "Just Read the Instructions" are indeed two of the name-dropped 'mind' ships in this
novel, and Musk remembered enjoying that when he first read this however many years ago
so named his boats in their honor. What I found, with some measure of disappointment (spoiler?), was that
these two ships had absolutely zero to do in this work and were simply name-dropped as existing
in this universe. Ah well - these books are fantastic, so I'm just as glad that I was pointed
to them in one way or the other.
Specifically, Banks here introduces another interesting 'hero', who serves as a fascinating vehicle through
exotic locals in his universe, as well as a foil for an investigation into various aspects of
human thought and behavior, as he does. It is at times fast-paced, and at other times fittingly ponderous,
and still others a little squirm-inducing which is Banks through-and-through. An excellent entry in
the Culture series, and considered by many to be the most fun.
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