The Player of Games

The Player of Games is the second Culture novel, and came recommended to as being better that the first (Consider Phlebas). I would have to agree. Our lead character here is a player of games, and this is what he does for a living. He is kind of bored with this life, and due to circumstances takes up a job to play a game that rules a word.

The descriptions are great, and you can really get into the world that Iain M. Banks has created. It is a very detailed world, and a great story that takes place in it.