“Author Iain Banks has died aged 59, two months after announcing he had terminal cancer, his family has said.”
I expect tributes to be posted in various places over the next few days; I’ll post links when I see them.
RIP Mr. Banks.
Ach, damn. I hope the outpouring of love from his fans gave him some comfort in his last days.
“It was the day my grandmother exploded.” is the best opening line of all time. I’m hoping someone loads his coffin with fireworks for a truly grand send-off.
I remember reading The Wasp Factory when it first came out. I liked it a lot.
Sorry to hear the news.
I just got into the Culture novels last year; was sorry to hear about his illness.
Now that I’ve read more of his work, I’m even sorrier to hear that we won’t be able to enjoy more of the fantastic things that went on in Mr. Banks’ head.
RIP, Mr. Banks. You done good.
That’s sad - he is one of my favourite authors and wrote my all-time top SF book (Player of Games). I knew it was coming, but still, not a happy day.
Very sad. I really liked his science fiction and was blown away by the last two I read .
Both his straight fiction and his SF were extraordinary. I regret his dying at such a young age. I wish I had known about his website before this.
I am glad that he lived. He took his talent and really ran with it. I feel certain he did not die wondering what might have been.
That is such a lovely thing to say.
One of my very favorite authors. I always marvelled at his very unique ideas. Brilliant man, alas.
The BBC confirmed this morning that Banks’ publishers managed to get an advance copy of his new novel to him just a few days before he died.
dammit. No more Culture novels…
RIP Iain. You provided hours of pleasurable reading for me.
Ah, dammit. One of my favourite authors. After the announcement of the cancer earlier in the year, this wasn’t a surprise, but I was still sorry to read about it.
GOU Total Bummer.
There are a couple of non Culture science fiction novels well worth reading, * Against a Dark Background * and * The Algebraist *.
Yeah, I have read every Iain M. Banks book out there. Never read any Iain Banks’ books, but then I am not into mysteries…
I have only read “Raw Spirit” among his Iain Banks books, and enjoyed it greatly.
My favourite author, godspeed Iain Banks, I don’t drink whisky but I’ll have one in your honour.
Very sad, he was a great writer.
I’m reading The Hydrogen Sonata at the moment, it’s kind of an appropriate send-off.