Iain Banks - diagnosed with terminal cancer
Discussion
He said he cheated death once crashing his 911 into a rock on a spirited drive, terribly sad that he can't cheat it again.
Espedair Street and The Crow Road amongst my favourite books, great F40 mention in The Business too plus a young mans car journey in The Bridge too.
He may have gone green and sold all his cars but that's just a reverse midlife crisis!
Nice photo of him and his Porsche in this article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/feb/27/...
I wish you well Iain if you are a silent PH'r
Espedair Street and The Crow Road amongst my favourite books, great F40 mention in The Business too plus a young mans car journey in The Bridge too.
He may have gone green and sold all his cars but that's just a reverse midlife crisis!
Nice photo of him and his Porsche in this article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/feb/27/...
I wish you well Iain if you are a silent PH'r
I was gutted to hear this news today.. I love SciFi, and much as I love the works of Clarke and Asimov, Banks has done more to entertain and feed my imagination than both put together...
From his statement - 'I've asked my partner Adele if she will do me the honour of becoming my widow (sorry - but we find ghoulish humour helps)'
Don't know if it's just me, but I find that really romantic..
From his statement - 'I've asked my partner Adele if she will do me the honour of becoming my widow (sorry - but we find ghoulish humour helps)'
Don't know if it's just me, but I find that really romantic..
Very very sad news. He has long been my favourite author. I have read all of his books as they have been launched - it has been one of life's little pleasures.
Going to have a big dram tonight in his honour.
This reminds me I owe him one although I guess it's a debt I'm unlikely to settle-
I was reading Raw Spirit and had just finished a chapter which mentioned a certain distillery I happened to be passing. On a whim I went into the visitor centre and sure enough there was his name in the visitors book. I mentioned this to one of the staff and showed her the favourable write up Iain had given the distillery in his book.
She spoke to the MD who had been unaware of Iain's visit/book and was so delighted when I showed it to him that he poured me a very decent 50 year old!
So many thanks for the wonderful books and a damn fine dram.
Going to have a big dram tonight in his honour.
This reminds me I owe him one although I guess it's a debt I'm unlikely to settle-
I was reading Raw Spirit and had just finished a chapter which mentioned a certain distillery I happened to be passing. On a whim I went into the visitor centre and sure enough there was his name in the visitors book. I mentioned this to one of the staff and showed her the favourable write up Iain had given the distillery in his book.
She spoke to the MD who had been unaware of Iain's visit/book and was so delighted when I showed it to him that he poured me a very decent 50 year old!
So many thanks for the wonderful books and a damn fine dram.
AML said:
This reminds me I owe him one although I guess it's a debt I'm unlikely to settle-
I was reading Raw Spirit and had just finished a chapter which mentioned a certain distillery I happened to be passing. On a whim I went into the visitor centre and sure enough there was his name in the visitors book. I mentioned this to one of the staff and showed her the favourable write up Iain had given the distillery in his book.
She spoke to the MD who had been unaware of Iain's visit/book and was so delighted when I showed it to him that he poured me a very decent 50 year old!
So many thanks for the wonderful books and a damn fine dram.
In a not to disimilar way, I was seeing a very pretty girl called Karen after I'd moved to London in the early 1990's and she noted that I had a lot of Iain's books on my shelf. Turned out she'd read several of them whilst at Hallam Uni and really admired the author.I was reading Raw Spirit and had just finished a chapter which mentioned a certain distillery I happened to be passing. On a whim I went into the visitor centre and sure enough there was his name in the visitors book. I mentioned this to one of the staff and showed her the favourable write up Iain had given the distillery in his book.
She spoke to the MD who had been unaware of Iain's visit/book and was so delighted when I showed it to him that he poured me a very decent 50 year old!
So many thanks for the wonderful books and a damn fine dram.
Some weeks later I drove up to Glasgow to see my mum. I was in Buchanan Street and I spotted a book store ad saying that Iain would be signing copies of his new novel 'The Crow Road' that afternoon.
There was a small queue but soon Mr. Banks was asking me who I'd like the signing made out to. I said Karen and told him she was my new girlfriend and was a great admirer.
Duly signed (and paid for) I took the book back to London and Karen arrived at my flat that evening where I proudly presented it to her as a signed copy of his new work.
She opened it, read his insert and laughed loudly!
When she finally handed it to me I read 'Dear Karen, I can't forget our first time, you and I on the bear skin, on the piano, on the floor..' and many more innuendos.. bastid completely had me
Edited to add, loved The Wasp Factory and all including The Steep Approach To Garbadale.. but perhaps The Bridge resonates more than the rest..
Edited by kenny Chim 4 on Wednesday 3rd April 23:55
I have every Iain M Banks first edition hardback in pride of place in my bookcase shelves at home. I've left room on that shelf for future editions, whereas all the other shelves get moved about as new books by other authors come and go.
Alas that shelf will never be filled now. Sad news for a truly brilliant talent.
Alas that shelf will never be filled now. Sad news for a truly brilliant talent.
Galileo said:
I have every Iain M Banks first edition hardback in pride of place in my bookcase shelves at home. I've left room on that shelf for future editions, whereas all the other shelves get moved about as new books by other authors come and go.
Alas that shelf will never be filled now. Sad news for a truly brilliant talent.
Favourite? I think Excession is mine though they are all excellent.Alas that shelf will never be filled now. Sad news for a truly brilliant talent.
Agreed - brilliant book. Zakalwe has got to be the classic anti-hero.I only heard the news this morning on radio 4, when it was discussed about his marriage proposal.
Only met Iain twice, and one was for a talk when Hydrogen Sonata was released. His wit, and ability to talk at length, and not just about books, but also his comedy, made it a great evening. Even m wife, who does not read and came under duress enjoyed his talk.
From what I remember, he was looking forward to writing many more books, both M and non M, for as long as he could. Bearing in mind this was last October, and months before he learnt of his illness.
The news has shocked and sadenened me greatly. From his cancelling all future events, it sounds like we will not get another chance to meet him again, and he will likely be too ill to take part in any promotion of the new novel, which saddens me even more.
Only met Iain twice, and one was for a talk when Hydrogen Sonata was released. His wit, and ability to talk at length, and not just about books, but also his comedy, made it a great evening. Even m wife, who does not read and came under duress enjoyed his talk.
From what I remember, he was looking forward to writing many more books, both M and non M, for as long as he could. Bearing in mind this was last October, and months before he learnt of his illness.
The news has shocked and sadenened me greatly. From his cancelling all future events, it sounds like we will not get another chance to meet him again, and he will likely be too ill to take part in any promotion of the new novel, which saddens me even more.
Grenoble said:
Galileo said:
I have every Iain M Banks first edition hardback in pride of place in my bookcase shelves at home. I've left room on that shelf for future editions, whereas all the other shelves get moved about as new books by other authors come and go.
Alas that shelf will never be filled now. Sad news for a truly brilliant talent.
Favourite? I think Excession is mine though they are all excellent.Alas that shelf will never be filled now. Sad news for a truly brilliant talent.
Favourite would be hard to narrow down. Maybe Use of Weapons, or Player of Games- early culture stuff.
I have soft spot for Feersum Enjin simple because of the way it's written. Bascule the Teller's chapters written phonetically are captivating.
Edited by Galileo on Saturday 6th April 12:33
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