Second Game

Kalin Trobt

by Charles V. De Vet, Katherine MacLean

Mankind's Ten Thousand Worlds has expanded and prospered until they encountered their first aliens. These were people, almost as human as those who had originated on earth, but with some slight differences. One of their differences was that they would never associate with aliens, never surrender, never compromise. They would conquer the Ten Thousand Worlds - or die trying.

Genres: Science Fiction

160 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1981

About the author

Charles Vincent De Vet was a U.S. science fiction writer. The greatest part of his oeuvre consist of of short stories appearing in sf magazines and was written in the fifties and early sixties. After a break, De Vet resumed writing in the late eighties.

Reviews

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second Game by Charles V de Vet & Katherine MacLeanI read this book when I was on the hospital. It's a small Daw book as City Machine. This book is also good but didn't excel in any point. The story passes on a alien planet called Velda that have been discover by humans. After a warning with no contact the Veldians destroy the fleet that Earth sent. The narrator a chess champion learns that Veldians base their society around proficiency on a game called... Game. Basicly is chess but more complicated. This narrator goes to that planet and learns to play the Game and challenge all corners. He then says to anyone challenging him that he Beats him in the Second Game (thus the title) and so as a chess player he loses on the first as he learns he opponents weakness and in the second win. In the end he draws the attention of a high official and a proficient Game player. After the most difficult Game the narrator prevails but the official perceives that he is human and arrests him. Trobt (the High official) places him under house arrest and tells him of the Last Third Game. Trobt and the Narrator becomes friends and the Narrator also learns about the society and even a love interest. The end was not that predictable but was plausible. I read somwehere that this Second Game by Daw is a revision from another novel/story called Cosmic Checkmate. There are some differences but I am not to buy it because I didn't enjoy the novel that much. I also learn that a second novelette with the Narrator's descended called Third Game. 7/10

[Hank Hoeft · Rating 3 out of 5]

A shorter version of Second Gamewas first published in 1962, and the DAW Books version was published in 1981. I mention this because the theme of Second Game is totally relevant to the 2020's. The story is about two peoples who seem on an unalterable path to unavoidable war, and the protagonist who is determined to find a way to stop it. The main obstacle to peace is that both cultures find the other to be completely alien and incomprehensible, thus each side's motivations and actions make no sense to the other. I find this relevant to today's world when American society is so polarized between right and left as to make each side incomprehensible to the other. I also was startled by the mystery of the alien race's genders--that too seemed quite contemporary in light of current transgender theories and politics.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

read the 1958 novelette not this version

[Angelle Tusa · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a frustrating story. On one hand, the idea of a man infiltrating an alien world by playing their chess like game and then negotiating peace by similar tactics is clever. On the other, it's treatment of women is infuriating. Saying it's no big loss to allow them to take our women because they like women who are overweight? Ugh. At least the women were allowed to choose the husband they wanted.

[Ranmaru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a book I enjoyed after a long streak of bad ones.

A human works as a spy on a planet which didn't want to join the federation. In order to get to know their culture he starts to play their national game. It is very similar to chess. He is a great player and slowly his great scheme will be revealed. Great read.

[Bruno Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma história muito bem escrita em que mostra como tornar os vencedores em derrotados por serem absorvidos culturalmente por outros povos.