I've been incredibly bad at keeping this updated, but having heard the news today about Iain Banks' cancer diagnosis, I felt compelled to write something about him. First up, I'll start by saying he's probably my favourite author. I've read all of his fiction and almost all of his sci-fi books (with the exception of the newest two Culture novels I think) and I just can't get enough of his work.
Totally coincidentally, I've just finished rereading Complicity, which is one of my personal favourites.
There were lots of news stories about this today, but I thought that Tom Chivers at the Telegraph summed it up perfectly when he said that Banks is "two of our finest authors". Iain Banks - and Iain M Banks - is just a superlative writer.
I first read The Wasp Factory when I was 17 I think and although it made me feel sick in places, I loved the writing style, the dark feeling of the novel and I was hungry for more. After raiding the bookshelves in our house, I found Espedair Street and Walking on Glass and after reading these, realised what I diverse author Banks really was. Over the following couple of years I read every non sci-fi book of his there was and then eagerly awaited the next release (which I think was Dead Air if my memory serves correctly).
It was during this waiting period that a friend suggested I try one of his Culture novels. I was a bit sceptical, as I'd never pegged myself as a sci-fi fan, but as it was Banks decided I'd give it a go. I picked up Use of Weapons and was, again, hooked - despite the fact that there was one part of the book that made me physically wretch as I read it. But that's one of the things I love most about Banks (not that he makes me wretch) but that his words have the power to induce such a strong physical reaction in the reader - or possibly just me. When I read one of his books, sci-fi or not, I feel immersed in the world he creates. I can see what he's describing with vivid clarity, I can hear, smell with the characters, such is the power of his description. I've yet to find another author who has this power over me.
I decided about a year ago that I needed to reread most of his work, having rushed through it all when I was younger. I'm planning to savour the books this time around and I have no doubt that I'll return to reread them many more times in the future. I often think the true test of a good book is whether you'd happily pick it up and read it again; I'm not claiming that everything Iain Banks has written is exceptional, but he's certainly produced more than his fair share of outstanding novels.
If you've never read any of his books, I urge you to do so - and preferably more than one, otherwise I think you'll miss out on his skill for tackling such a diverse array of subjects. His Culture novels are particularly impressive, due to the level of thought that's gone into every aspect of them and the universe he's so deftly created.
There's not much more for me to say, except that I'm incredibly saddened by the news and wish Iain the best for the coming months.
Totally coincidentally, I've just finished rereading Complicity, which is one of my personal favourites.
There were lots of news stories about this today, but I thought that Tom Chivers at the Telegraph summed it up perfectly when he said that Banks is "two of our finest authors". Iain Banks - and Iain M Banks - is just a superlative writer.
I first read The Wasp Factory when I was 17 I think and although it made me feel sick in places, I loved the writing style, the dark feeling of the novel and I was hungry for more. After raiding the bookshelves in our house, I found Espedair Street and Walking on Glass and after reading these, realised what I diverse author Banks really was. Over the following couple of years I read every non sci-fi book of his there was and then eagerly awaited the next release (which I think was Dead Air if my memory serves correctly).
It was during this waiting period that a friend suggested I try one of his Culture novels. I was a bit sceptical, as I'd never pegged myself as a sci-fi fan, but as it was Banks decided I'd give it a go. I picked up Use of Weapons and was, again, hooked - despite the fact that there was one part of the book that made me physically wretch as I read it. But that's one of the things I love most about Banks (not that he makes me wretch) but that his words have the power to induce such a strong physical reaction in the reader - or possibly just me. When I read one of his books, sci-fi or not, I feel immersed in the world he creates. I can see what he's describing with vivid clarity, I can hear, smell with the characters, such is the power of his description. I've yet to find another author who has this power over me.
I decided about a year ago that I needed to reread most of his work, having rushed through it all when I was younger. I'm planning to savour the books this time around and I have no doubt that I'll return to reread them many more times in the future. I often think the true test of a good book is whether you'd happily pick it up and read it again; I'm not claiming that everything Iain Banks has written is exceptional, but he's certainly produced more than his fair share of outstanding novels.
If you've never read any of his books, I urge you to do so - and preferably more than one, otherwise I think you'll miss out on his skill for tackling such a diverse array of subjects. His Culture novels are particularly impressive, due to the level of thought that's gone into every aspect of them and the universe he's so deftly created.
There's not much more for me to say, except that I'm incredibly saddened by the news and wish Iain the best for the coming months.
