Iain Banks (16 February 1954 – 9 June 2013) was a Scottish author. He wrote mainstream fiction under the name Iain Banks, and science fiction as Iain M. Banks, including the initial of his adopted middle name Menzies (/ˈmɪŋɨz/).Following the publication and success of The Wasp Factory (1984), Banks began to write on a full-time basis. His first science fiction book, Consider Phlebas, was released in 1987, marking the start of the popular The Culture series. His books have been adapted for theatre, radio and television. In 2008, The Times named Banks in their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945". In September 2012 Banks was revealed as one of the Guests of Honour at the 2014 World Science Fiction Convention, Loncon 3. In April 2013, Banks announced that he had inoperable cancer and was unlikely to live beyond a year. He died on 9 June 2013.
Sympathising with fools is close to thinking like an idiot.
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He wasn't going to kill himself, it would be too easy.
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Utility is seven-eights proximity.
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Fact
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Authored a number of Science Fiction works under the name "Iain M Banks", some of which make up the Culture series.
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He wrote his first novel at the age of 16. He studied English, philosophy, and psychology at the University of Stirling.
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His father was a naval officer, and his mother was a professional ice skater.
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He was an expediter analyzer for IBM, a technician for British Steel and a costing clerk for a Chancery Lane, London law firm during his twenties.
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He once owned an extensive car collection, including a 3.2 liter Porsche Boxster, a Porsche 911 Turbo, a 3.8 liter Jaguar Mark II, a 5 liter BMW M5 and a daily use diesel Land Rover Defender whose power he had boosted by about 50%. He sold all of them in February 2007 and exchanged Them for a Lexus Hybrid.
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In 2008, The Times named Banks in their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".
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Diagnosed with terminal cancer of the gall bladder at the beginning of 2013.
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Supported a motion to impeach British Prime Minister Tony Blair after the war "Operation Iraqi Freedom".
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