A terrible blow for followers of Science Fiction.

One of the most moving news stories today, will, sadly pass unnoticed below the radar of many people today. It is this story from the BBC about the author, Iain Banks. It is a sad tale in itself from the human perspective. How does anybody, when confronted by their certain death, cope? least of all someone who has a 'celebrity' image, in a certain circle, at least. Not in the Cheryl Cole, vacuous way. But in the downright absurdly talented way.

I have been a fan of Iain Banks, since I read one of his earlier novels, the Wasp Factory. And I would heartily recommend it to all. As one of my friends has pointed out, in places, it is a mighty tough read.

However, it was his alter ego that drew me closer to his works. Iain M Banks, (the additional 'M', from the middle name, Menzies, his parents wanted to give to him but in error didn't register at his birth) science fiction writer. In fact, his science fiction to me is perhaps the most startling, original and operatic of the last 20 years or so in a terribly under appreciated genre. 

What Iain M banks bought to the table and which is now to be seen far more frequently than before him, was, paradoxically, Iain Banks (without the 'M'). A writer of fiction, with great prose and ideas. He applied this prose and ideas to a genre that was often portrayed as written by simplistic writers, almost non-writers. Perceived by the critics as below average writers, writing sub normal stories about space that were more at home in specialist magazines than on shelves in bookstores. There was the noble exception to this, as there always is, people such as Asimov & Clark showed that intelligent and well thought through science fiction could enter the mainstream and prove successful. Though still never, really get taken seriously. 

Iain M Banks has changed a lot of that. He has, along with other, newer sci-fi writers, such as Dan Simmons, Kim Stanley Robinson, etc added a higher level of intellectualism to science fiction. Where authors are no longer slightly ashamed to write science fiction as though it was some grubby little secret. It is, as it should always be, a sense of pride to be a science fiction writer. It is not an easy genre to write and it requires more thought than perhaps some critics believe to be the case. Iain M Banks was one of these authors, who challenged his reader through his science fiction. 

His works were, grandiose and a true return to space opera. His concept of the  civilisation of 'Culture' worked on so many levels and was innovative in science fiction as challenging what would happen beyond society was all had been achieved. 

In vesting all power in his individualistic, sometime eccentric, but always benign, AI Minds, Banks knew what he was doing; this is the only way a liberal anarchy could be achieved, by taking what is best in humans and placing it beyond corruption, which means out of human control. The danger involved in this imaginative step, though, is clear; one of the problems with the Culture novels as novels is that the central characters, the Minds, are too powerful and, to put it bluntly, too good.

His books bought a great depth to the genre of science fiction. They were, however, also built on the foundations laid by many of the great writers too. The great imaginations that conjured the future for us, gave us great visions and great names. Heroes and legends. And above all, they bought us great stories and this must also be remembered too. Iain M Banks and Iain Banks was an incredibly talented story teller. 

Storytellers are so hugely important. The reason why I love to read is because I want to hear from and read from the minds of storytellers. I am not fussy which genre it is or how I am perceived through reading a particular author, or not. From Dickens, through to Austen and from Asimov to Banks, the one ultimate fact of their writing must surely be this. The story has to be a good story, to begin with.

So, a prolonged farewell then, Iain M Banks. A novelist who spans literary fields and adept at both beyond the talents of most peers. A man whose humor is as dark as it is hilarious. May you end come with as little pain as is possible and may you thoughts and ideas stay with us. As you books continue to be discovered posthumously may the next generation of Banks reader take as much pleasure as I and many others have from your works.