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Iain Banks: Extremely Ill With Cancer
The_Other_Kelly writes "News that will shock and sadden the many fans of Iain (M.) Banks. He is suffering from gall bladder cancer, and things do not look good: 'The bottom line, now, I'm afraid, is that as a late stage gall bladder cancer patient, I'm expected to live for "several months" and it's extremely unlikely I'll live beyond a year.' His books, both normal and science fiction, are world view warping Excessions, and my heart goes out to him and his. I am shocked and saddened. Thank you, Iain."
Very sad news.
Iain Banks has written some really excellent stuff. I suspect that three of his works in particular will grow in stature and recognition over time; the Wasp Factory, Player of Games and Use of Weapons. The former is a fascinating (and seductively sympathetic) portrait of evil (or perhaps just insanity). The latter two are among the best examples of "intellectual" sci-fi. They use their sci-fi backdrops to tell stories which just wouldn't work in a more mundane setting, but touch on themes and ideas of much broader significance.
I suspect that in a couple of decades time, they'll be held on at least an equivalent level to that to which Frank Herbert's Dune is elevated today. It would be nice to think that they might go further and gain a reputation outside of the science fiction genre.