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Read an extract from The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks

Space

Read an extract from The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks

The 51�� Book Club is currently reading Iain M. Banks's classic sci-fi novel The Player of Games. In this extract, we meet protagonist Gurgeh for the first time

Culture

Why sci-fi novelist Iain M. Banks was an ‘astounding’ world-builder

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Why sci-fi novelist Iain M. Banks was an ‘astounding’ world-builder

Culture

Astronaut sits in a window frame inside a space ship and reads a book about science. Concept of exploring space.

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The 12 best science fiction books of 2025

Culture

Young woman, wearing a orange jacket, is reading a book on an ebook reader during sunset over Himalayas. She is sitting on the top of a mountain and holding the e-reader.The afternoon sun on the background. Mount Everest National Park. This is the highest national park in the world, with the entire park located above 3,000 m ( 9,700 ft). This park includes three peaks higher than 8,000 m, including Mt Everest. Therefore, most of the park area is very rugged and steep, with its terrain cut by deep rivers and glaciers. Unlike other parks in the plain areas, this park can be divided into four climate zones because of the rising altitude. The climatic zones include a forested lower zone, a zone of alpine scrub, the upper alpine zone which includes upper limit of vegetation growth, and the Arctic zone where no plants can grow.

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The 13 best popular science books of 2025

Culture

Extinct animals in Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age make it a must-watch

Life

Extinct animals in Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age make it a must-watch

Culture

Quantum computer core. Light rays passing through the nanoscale crystal core of a quantum computer. Quantum computers, which are under development, are based on quantum mechanics and the principle of representing information in quantum bits (qubits) using quantum properties. This could involve optical properties of chemically doped crystals, like the one shown here. Quantum computing has the potential to massively increase computing power.

Physics

An ambitious look at quantum physics is fun – but overdoes it a little

Culture

Brian and Beatie - by Cecily Eno

Physics

Brian Eno and Beatie Wolfe discuss their new spacebound album, Liminal

Culture

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: 3D printed organ scaffolds by Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine is displayed as part of the 'AI: More than Human' exhibition at the Barbican Curve Gallery on May 15, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Barbican Centre)

Health

A fascinatingly grisly guide to replacing and repairing body parts

Culture

Artist: Dean Patman 229 - Red Underwing Moth Medium: Found object sculpture Size: 47x67x14cm

Life

51�� recommends the Society of Wildlife Artists' annual expo

Culture

The 19 best Christmas gifts for science lovers (and nerds)

Technology

The 19 best Christmas gifts for science lovers (and nerds)

From microscopes to geodes, 51�� staff share their top Christmas present ideas in a gift guide unlike any you’ve seen before

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Life

Smart new book takes an axe to the myth of human exceptionalism

Culture

Life

51�� recommends this extreme birdwatching documentary

Culture

Life

Surprising new biography of Francis Crick unravels the story of DNA

Culture

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Breaking Bad showrunner uses sci-fi for smart dive into happiness

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