The Glass Bead Game

In the remote Kingdom of Castalia, the scholars of the twenty-third century play the Glass Bead Game. The elaborately coded game is a fusion of all human knowledge—of math, music, philosophy, science, and art. Intrigued as a schoolboy, Joseph Knecht becomes consumed with mastering the game as an adult. As Knecht fulfills his lifelong quest, he must contend with unexpected dilemmas and the longing for a life beyond the ivory tower.