5 fiction books every gamer needs to read

I have two loves in my life, reading and gaming, so when the two come together I can’t help but feel all weak and quivery inside. So it is I have decided to share with you the five books that I think every gamer should read, in no particular order.

1) Reamde by Neal Stephenson

Reamde has everything you could want from a fantasy book. It has swordfights, betrayals, god-like warriors and cunning thieves; standard stuff right? Not when it’s set in the real world!

Reamde is an exploration of MMORPG culture, cyber-crime and terrorism. It takes characters from the suburbs of America to the housing blocks of Xiamen and the internet cafes of Manila. There are spies, hitmen, terrorists, and game developers all trying to hunt down one tricky Orc. A tricky Orc who stole a lot of real world money.

Like all Stephenson’s books, the world is detailed and no stone is left unturned. You will learn everything about the fictional MMORPG, T’Rain from its initial conception to its world domination. By the end of the book, it will feel as real to you as any existing MMORPG you’ve sunk time into. For anyone who loves MMORPGs, this book is a must, and for anyone who doesn’t (like me), it’s a window into a fascinating, alien world.

2) You by Austin Grossman

You is another book set in the real world, yet unlike Reamde its scope is significantly narrower. You is the story of Russell, a one-time nerd who, after years of resisting his inner geek, returns to the friends he abandoned.

You has a great story but where it really shines is as a window into the world of games development. It begins all the way back when kids were programming at home and selling games in the back of magazines. It ends with the mega-industry we have today, and all the complications that go with it.

You is a bittersweet tale of lost innocence, compromised vision, and broken friendships. In the end it’s a love letter to a community that shaped the author’s life. It’s emotional, beautiful and tragic.

3) Neuromancer by William Gibson