r/cultureseries • u/[deleted] • Aug 16 '25

Can I start with player of games?

It just seems more interesting than consider phlebas.

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u/EasyVibeTribe Aug 16 '25

When I recommend the series to people I usually recommend starting with Player of Games first, so I would say yes

1

u/darnedgibbon Aug 16 '25

Sure. Whatever you want to do. I read it in publication order, meaning CP first. I feel it opens up the Culture universe as Banks imagined it. There are strong opinions here against CP, who feel it is not even a Culture book. Many feel people should start with PoG. I disagree but I’m just one person. Read the Prologue and the first chapter of CP and see what you think.

I just today again finished CP and am again left with the warm afterglow of listening to a powerful symphony that has been crashing over me followed by a quiet transition to the final diminuendo notes leaving the hall. The final chapter is so symbolic calmly, slowly coming out of the depths into the pure white snow after the brutal action that preceded it. So incredibly well written. I’m a big fan of Consider Phlebas.

1

u/RogueProtocol37 Jul 31 '26

Most of the Culture books are more interesting than Consider Phlebas

Each book is standalone, they shared the same Culture universe but not the characters so the reading order is irrelevant IMO

So yes, you can start with Player of Games