The FastDay Forum

[carorees]

Just seen the sad news that Iain Banks has terminal cancer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22015175

Such a shame
I'm a huge fan of his Culture novels.

What with that and Terry Pratchett having Alzheimer's, all my favourite authors are on the way out

So sad - such a talent

Plenty of his Culture novels on my shelves, too. What terrible news.

Based on such excellent recommendations I ran off to my (online) public library, but there is so much to choose from - any recommendations where to start? (Absurd and science fiction is good)

[carorees]

Hi Coffecat

Writing as Iain M Banks: All the Culture novels are brilliant. The first Culture novel is Consider Phlebas. I think my favourite of the Culture novels is Excession. For the non-Culture novels, Feersum Enjun (spelling??) is very weird. I would also recommend Against a Dark Background which is set in the Culture universe but doesn't involve it much.

Writing as Iain Banks: The Crow Road is good I think. I found The Wasp Factory hard going but it is considered quite ground-breaking. I haven't read many of his non-science fiction stuff though.

The Crow Road is one I re-read every few years. I have a full complement of Iain M. Banks & Iain Banks books - have always loved his writing & the 'universe' of the culture. If you're into Scotch & travel check out, Raw Spirit.

If you're curious about 'The Culture' Iain Banks wrote a short essay 'A Few Notes on the Culture', you can read it here:
http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/cultnote.htm

Very sad news indeed about his cancer.

[carorees]

Ooh, thanks for the link...great reading!

[carorees]

Just seen the news that Iain Banks has just died

My favourite SF author; very, very sad.Best wishes to his family.

Yes very sad, and only 59

Agree with Carorees about Excession, but love all the Culture stories, having started with Consider Phlebas as a recommendation from a workmate. Even went as far as paying for the Hydrogen Sonata on Kindle just to get a new fix...
Knew he was ill, sorry he has died so young.

So sad when someone so young leaves us...

A loss of a great talent.