Iain Banks - diagnosed with terminal cancer

[Caruso]

For me one of the great things about living is looking forward to new works by masters of the art.

Sadly the State Of The Art of writing is sadly diminished by the passing of Iain M Banks.

[rlw]

So, one book more left to read and that's it. Back to the beginning, again, I guess. I will miss him and the books so much.

It's funny as when I read the last one I thought his story telling had changed a bit, the book was a bit softer and it had a happy ending. Maybe he knew something was going on. Who knows?

[Hugo a Gogo]

damnit

Just finished Hydrogen Sonata and read Stonemouth last month

great legacy from what seemed like a great bloke

[Nom de ploom]

in his bbc interview he describes Canal Dreams as the runt of his litter - I'd agree with that tbh, I couldn't get into it at all.

Complicity and The Wasp Factory utterly brilliant.

[Digger]

Another showing of the Beeb interview, tonite 10pm bbc2.

[Halmyre]

Digger said:

Another showing of the Beeb interview, tonite 10pm bbc2.

Note - it's a cut-down version; from an hour to thirty minutes. Be interesting to know what was cut out.

[swanny71]

Interesting half hour of TV about my favourite SF author.
RIP Iain M Banks and thank you for the many, many hours of thought provoking escapism you provided.

[AndyWoodall]

Noticed The Quarry is out, haven't seen it in my nearby book shop, but Amazon list it as in stock.

[isee]

Damn, thought the Quarry was a culture novel, turns out it is not. am I right in thinking that his last culture novel was the Hydrogen sonata? or have I missed one more? Please tell me I missed one that came out after the Hydrogen Sonata?

[Halmyre]

isee said:

Damn, thought the Quarry was a culture novel, turns out it is not. am I right in thinking that his last culture novel was the Hydrogen sonata? or have I missed one more? Please tell me I missed one that came out after the Hydrogen Sonata?

Hydrogen Sonata was the last Culture novel.

However, Banks has left outline notes for further Culture novels, and apparently Dan Brown is going to be finishing them off for publication.

Ha-ha, only joking!

[isee]

Halmyre said:

Hydrogen Sonata was the last Culture novel.

However, Banks has left outline notes for further Culture novels, and apparently Dan Brown is going to be finishing them off for publication.

Ha-ha, only joking!

hah!
Shame, didn't think HS was that great to be honest. Loved Surface detail though.

[Ross1988]

Halmyre said:

Hydrogen Sonata was the last Culture novel.

However, Banks has left outline notes for further Culture novels, and apparently Dan Brown is going to be finishing them off for publication.

Ha-ha, only joking!

I swore out loud at this.

You got me ha!

[Hugo a Gogo]

at least he got a pile more ship names into it

liked the 'Caconym' particularly

[DibblyDobbler]

Just finished Hydrogen Sonata - enjoyed it a lot, some good action towards the end. There is an interview with Banks at the end which is rather poignant as he answers questions about the Culture books and describes future plans for the series. Not going to happen now of course

[Digger]

Just got hold of Use of Weapons. Is it a standalone novel or part of a series?

Ta.

[Hugo a Gogo]

it's part of 'the culture' universe so part of a series in that sense, but it does stand alone too

[Digger]

Thanks Hugo.

[mikees]

Just found this and not read it before.


Banks' notes on the background to The Culture

http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/cultnote.htm


Mike