AKRATIC WIZARDRY: A blog wherein I scribble about role-playing games (Mythras, Against the Darkmaster, Dungeons & Dragons [esp. old school], Swords & Wizardry, Into the Unknown, Middle-earth Role-playing, Lord of the Rings Role-playing, Adventures in Middle-Earth, Crypts & Things, Call of Cthulhu, etc.) and RPG settings (Middle-earth, Cthulhu Mythos, Greyhawk, Lyonesse, Ukrasia, etc.). I also write about fantasy and science-fiction films, novels, art, TV shows, and the like.
09 June 2013
Iain M. Banks Succumbs to Cancer
Sad news today.
Iain M. Banks, author of the 'Culture' science-fiction novels (among them, Player of Games, Use of Weapons, and Consider Phlebas) and, as 'Iain Banks', many 'mainstream' novels (including The Wasp Factory and Complicity), has passed away. He recently had been diagnosed with cancer (mentioned here in April).
This link provides a nice overview of some of the themes of Banks's Culture novels.
EDIT: The BBC obituary.
EDIT 2: I just realised that I had misspelt 'Iain' in this post and my earlier one. After 20 years of reading his novels, I still make this mistake. As someone whose own name is misspelt regularly, I should know better!
EDIT 3: Economist Paul Krugman also is a fan.
EDIT 4: Charles Stross on Banks.
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About Me
- Akrasia
- I'm a Canadian political philosopher who lives primarily in Toronto but teaches in Milwaukee (sometimes in person, sometimes online).
That is really sad. Iain's books were great, and he will be missed. We've lost a lot of good authors lately, but this is especially hard because he was honestly far too young.
ReplyDeleteToo young indeed. I still can't believe that we'll never see another Culture novel. *sigh*
DeleteIain has Sublimed.
ReplyDeleteIt was far too soon, and the universe is already poorer without him, but at least he has a wonderful written legacy to read and re-read.
But sad nonetheless.