Iain Banks

Iain Banks was a contemporary British author of science fiction and other genres, who wrote under the name Iain M. Banks. He was born on 16 February 1954 in Dundee, Scotland, as Iain Banks. He was the son of Dorothy and Ken Banks, a rubber chemist, and had a sibling, Margaret Banks. Banks attended the University of Stirling where he studied English, Philosophy and Psychology and received his Bachelor's degree in 1975. Thereafter, he went on to become a literary agent for the A.P. Watt literary agency in London.

He wrote twenty-two works during his career, fourteen of them being science fiction novels under the name, Iain M. Banks. His first published book was entitled The Wasp Factory and was a dark, psychological thriller about a sixteen-year-old boy who had created an arbitrary set of rituals that kept his family together and the dark secrets that he holds. Despite its dark subject, this novel gained considerable attention and it remained a bestseller for many years. This book was widely adapted and bought in both the United States and England, and was highly praised in the literary world.

Iain Banks also wrote several science fiction books under his pen name, Iain M. Banks. These books included the Culture series of novels which follow the adventures of a primitive race of humans called 'The Culture' and explores their interactions with one another and other races in the universe. His other notable works in the science fiction genre include Against a Dark Background, Consider Phlebas and Excession. These books have been adapted and bought in countries around the world, earning Banks both fame and notoriety.

Apart from the science fiction genre, Banks also wrote several other books in other genres such as contemporary fiction and fantasy, under the name Iain Banks. These books include Espedair Street and The Crow Road, which deal with the complex relationships between parents and children, and the pitfalls of adolescence. Banks was known for exploring the complexities of characters and their relationships, as seen in all of his works. He also wrote a book of non-fiction, Raw Spirit, which is a travelogue of his journey through Scotland.

In 2013 Banks was diagnosed with terminal cancer, which he bravely fought for two years until his death in June 2013. During this time, he wrote a posthumous novel, The Quarry, which explored the life of a terminally ill man and the complex relationships within his family. This book is widely considered to be his bestwork and it earned him widespread attention and admiration from authors and critics worldwide.

Iain Banks left an indelible mark on contemporary literature, both through his science fiction works as Iain M. Banks, as well as through his more contemporary fiction. His works have been adapted, studied, and enjoyed by readers around the world, and his legacy will no doubt remain for many years to come.