It was only last week I decided he would be the next author for me to read (I'm currently on book 8 of a 10 book collection by Ken Follett). It seems to be the latest trend for celebrities to announce terminal illnesses on their websites.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22015175
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Just heard about this on the radio, very sad news indeed. I discovered him and his work just over a year ago and have since read almost all of his Culture series and found it to be one of the best reads I have had the pleasure of in a long time. I hope he enjoys his time and his newly married life.
Wow - It will be a big loss - I've read quite a bit of his non Sci Fi.
I met him at a book signing in Sheffield some years ago (Whit in 1995) & he was a very nice chap.
I still have the signed copy somewhere.
Only 59 !
z
Really, really sad. Love your writing Iain.
very sad news, has been my favourite author for 20 years in both his guises and i can't believe there will be no more.
ktmog6uk
marchingontogether!
Terrible news, my favourite author since I read The Wasp Factory 15 years or so ago. Love his science fiction too.
I was both saddened and shocked by this news. His books have been a part of my life for the last 29 years and I have read each one as they were published. He is certainly one of the most imaginative British writers and a true talent.
His books have been a constant source of pleasure and I wish him peace of mind and equilibrium in the short time he seems to have left.
Very sad news. I've read almost all of his books over the years since the late 80s, particularly the Iain M Banks Culture stuff.
My favourite all time book is The Crow Road - I was hooked from the first sentence, "It was the day my grandmother exploded."
My Iain Banks and Iain M Banks top fives (still to read Surface Detail and Stonemouth so not included)
Iain Banks:
The Bridge
A Song Of Stone
Espedair Street
The Wasp Factory
Complicity
Iain M Banks
Excession
Matter
Use Of Weapons
Consider Phlebas
Look To Windward
ktmog6uk
marchingontogether!
I am greatly saddened by this news ;(
I work in the book world and we were given the news this morning. A really wonderful person and writer. My thoughts are with him, his family and friends.
Steve
Very sad news. One of the most creative and accomplished authors I have read.
Dave
Sad day; great author.
Thinking of his family..
This makes me unbelievably sad. I have read his work for more than 15 years and always looked forward to new books: something about his take on society really spoke to me, and continues to do so.
I'm truly sad to hear this; his books have given me a great deal of pleasure over the years.
Yes he has given me much enjoyment over the years, so sorry to hear this Iain.
Favourites?? The steep approach to Garbadale, Canal Dreams and of course the Wasp Factory the later being one of the best books I have ever read.
I've never tried his Sci Fi I was saving it. Very sad news indeed
A great shame, I have enjoyed his work as Ian Banks and Ian M Banks.
Awful, awful news. I've read pretty much everything he has written and some of it is among my favourite things I've read. Hugely sad about this.
Dave E
Skating away on the thin ice of a new day
He is one of my favourite authors and I lap up all his 'Culture' Sci-fi novels. Really sad news indeed, poor bloke
Anouther that will miss his works. I discovered him by accident I was trying to find something to read at my towns public library and found The Bridge. Was hooked.
Sad news, a fantastic author.
absolutely devastated by this news.
one of my favourites and as a scotsman, very proud of his literary exploits.
had the good fortune to meet him at a reading last year...lovely chap.
when you discover an author you love, there is a real emotional commitment made by the reader.
therefore, it almost feels like it is happening to someone i know....such is the power of great writing.
this is about the biggest compliment i can pay him.
reading 'the quarry' and it's central topic of cancer will be a tough read.
Loved The Wasp Factory and Complicity when I read them in the '90s. My fellow Aerospace wearer will be missed. Hope he finds some fulfilment and joy in his last months.
Very sad news indeed. He's been my favourite author for quite some time and I always look forward to his new books. Pretty devastated by this information.
It's just been announced that Iain Banks has died, aged 59. No more to The Crow Road.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22835047
Bad news.
R.I.P. Iain, your work has been with me all through my adult years, and you will be sadly missed.
ktmog6uk
marchingontogether!
This is sad news :-(
Very sad news indeed.
Ever since the amazing 'Wasp Factory' Iain was one of favourite authors.
I met him once at a signing. He came over as a really nice friendly bloke & fairly normal........
Last edited by Dapper; 9th June 2013 at 17:36.
I read an interview with him in The Sunday Times this morning, he was feverishly working to finish a novel which was partly autobiographical inasmuch as the main character was dying of cancer. He clearly thought he had a few months left, sad news indeed.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
RIP Iain, I'm gutted by this news.
This is a bit odd, I guess he must have known in some way:
After announcing his illness in April, Banks asked his publishers to bring forward the release date of his latest novel, The Quarry, so he could see it on the shelves.
On Sunday, it was revealed the book - to be released on 20 June - would detail the physical and emotional strain of cancer.
It describes the final weeks of the life of a man in his 40s who has terminal cancer.
Speaking to the BBC's Kirsty Wark, Banks said he was some 87,000 words into writing the book when he was diagnosed with his own illness.
"I had no inkling. So it wasn't as though this is a response to the disease or anything, the book had been kind of ready to go," he said.
"And then 10,000 words from the end, as it turned out, I suddenly discovered that I had cancer."
I was truly saddened to hear the news today. At least his work will be a fitting and lasting legacy.
Don't worry my friends Iain has sublimed and joined "The Culture" in a different time space. Hope to see you there Iain when my time comes too. RIP.
Very sad news think I will Read a couple of his books in the days to come in memory
RIP Iain
Dave
I was reading somewhere recently that he had some hopes that chemo might actually prove to be a possibility, so a big surprise. Such a loss. Very, very sad, now.
Dave E
Skating away on the thin ice of a new day
Snippet of the last interview here - full episode to be aired on 12 June
z
Sad news; the Wasp Factory totally blew my mind when I first read it. Strangely, my father was also called Ian Banks and he also died aged 59.
RIP, his science fiction is outstanding, and often missed...
RIP Iain
Too young! I'm sure he had plenty of great books left in him. Still, he has left a great legacy.
Somewhere, sometime, out there, there's a GSV with his backup copy on it.
Love the names of the Culture ships, scroll down on link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...Culture_series
Without doubt my favourite sci-fi author, irreplaceable brilliance and imagination. I really cannot think of anyone who is his equal imo. Sadly missed indeed.
Any recommendation which one of the Culture books to start on, I understand they don't need to be read in order, just wondering if like the Disc world books it's best to not start on book one?
start with Consider Phlebas, it's the first one and also an excellent introduction. The opening chapter will hook you pretty quickly.Originally Posted by jegger
ktmog6uk
marchingontogether!
cheers will do.
I great loss to humanity .
I too hope that he's sublimed to an Elder existence
I've been re-reading all his stuff since he announced the news in April
As to sequence, if you want to go with is truly excellent Culture series, Consider is the place to start, but don't stop there. type Culture into wiki and go through them all
Anybody got any favourites?
I'm probably leaning towards "Use of Weapons", thanks to the gift from the drone to the recovering hero - don't want to spoil it for anybody
Be a toss up thought " Player of Games"
If you feel so inclined he left a guest sign in page for fans to leave comments
http://friends.banksophilia.com/guestbook/
59 is too young.
He will be remembered and missed.
Does anyone think there is an equal? Alistair Reynolds is good, but not quite as good.
This is terrible news, Mr.Banks will be greatly missed.
A superb author, his Culture books especially are simply amazing. I think I will have to read them all again to honour the man.
If you haven't seen it, pick out the book he wrote about Whisky, 'Raw Spirit'. A very good read, it would make a good basis for a distillery tour, in fact, I'm sure this will become a pilgrimage, certainly one I would like to make.
Favourite Culture ship name has got to be 'Zero Gravitas'.
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