It was announced yesterday that Iain M. Banks–or just Iain Banks to readers of his non-SF works–has been diagnosed with gall bladder cancer. The prognosis is bad, and gives him less than a year to live.
He released a public statement that’s as blunt, honest and wry as I expected, being familiar with his writing; “I’ve asked my partner Adele if she will do me the honour of becoming my widow” is exactly the sort of dark humour that runs through all of his books.
I don’t know Banks personally, of course. The sadness this news has triggered is purely the selfish kind–that his upcoming novel, The Quarry, will be his last, and particularly that all of the Culture novels there will ever be have already been written.
(I want to write something bigger and deeper about the Culture some time soon, but I need to gather my thoughts first. And possibly re-read Use of Weapons in another probably vain attempt to get that story straight in my head.)
Banks is also one of the few writers to whom I feel a deep gratitude, for the way their books have inspired me: to start writing, to keep writing, and to strive to get even close to being as good as they are. (China Miéville, Steven Erikson, and Neil Gaiman are the others, for the record.)
It’s strange to feel a connection to a person whom you’ve never met, and who doesn’t know you exist, but there it is. We should appreciate him while he’s here. And I’ll miss him when he’s gone.
DAN HARRIS: 10% SCI, 90% FI 
I don’t think it strange at all. That’s the thing with writers, they can write in a voice that resonates with you, that speaks to a part of you that somehow recognizes the voice as a kindred spirit. You get great writers writing great stories, but not all readers will respond the same way and to the same things in the story. I think there is a sense of familiarity you feel with a writer’s work that only you can feel in the way that you do because of the voice the writer had used. A lot of the time these voices aren’t interchangeable, I think. There are a few authors out there whom I owe a great thanks to. Their voices woke me up and that is my connection to them. I recognized something that felt like me.
Beautifully put. Thanks.
Iain Banks lives in my hometown and is always appearing at shows and events. He will be missed but he is successful, happy and will leave his unmistakeable legacy for all time and for all to enjoy and try to decipher in his writings.
That’s really nice to hear. Thanks for commenting.