"The Player of Games" is a science fiction novel by Iain M. Banks, part of the Culture series. The story follows Jernau Morat Gurgeh, a skilled game player who becomes disillusioned with his life in the utopian Culture. He is recruited to participate in a complex game that determines the fate of an alien empire, the Esenin. As Gurgeh navigates the challenges of the game, he confronts themes of power, control, and the nature of competition. The novel explores the contrast between the Culture's values and those of the Esenin, ultimately questioning what it means to win and lose in both games and life.