Iain M. Banks

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The war raged across the galaxy, resulting in billions of deaths and the destruction of moons, planets, and stars. The Idirans fought for their Faith, while the Culture defended its moral right to exist. Amid this cosmic conflict, an individual crusade unfolds. Deep within a labyrinth on a barren world lies a fugitive Mind sought by both the Culture and the Idirans. Horza, the Changer, and his unpredictable crew of mercenaries, human and machine, embark on a quest to find it, leading to their own potential destruction. Cheradenine Zakalwe, a top agent for Special Circumstances, alters planetary destinies through intrigue and military action. Diziet Sma, who elevated him from obscurity, realizes she doesn’t know him as well as she believed. Skaffen-Amtiskaw, a drone that once saved Sma's life, views Zakalwe as a burnt-out case, yet it cannot fathom the horrors of his past. In a symbiotic society of humans and machines, Gurgeh, known as the Player of Games, excels in every strategy and board game. Bored with his success, he travels to the Empire of Azad to engage in a game so complex that the winner becomes emperor. Faced with mockery, blackmail, and near-death experiences, Gurgeh accepts the challenge of a lifetime, which may also lead to his demise.