You mean, if you lose a game… you have… these things done to you?" "Exactly. One might bet, say, the loss of a finger against aggravated male-to-apex rectal rape." Gurgeh looked levelly at the machine for a few seconds, then said slowly, nodding, "Well… that is barbaric." "Actually it's a later development in the game, and seen as a rather liberal concession by the ruling class, as in theory it allows a poor person to keep up in the bidding with a rich person. Before the introduction of the physical license option, the latter could always outbid the former.
In this excerpt from "The Player of Games" by Iain M. Banks, the topic of a brutal game mechanic is introduced. A character describes a game where stakes can escalate to shocking consequences, such as the loss of a finger or severe humiliation, depending on the outcome of the game. This revelation highlights the extreme nature of the gambling culture within the game's society, demonstrating a stark contrast to conventional views...
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
