RIP (Read 468959 times)

Big loss... “Even the bad ones were good, and the good ones were astonishing” as Neil Gaiman pointed out. Wasp Factory, The Player of Games, and The Algebraist are probably my favourites (but I have neither read The Crow Road nor The steep approach to G...dale)

SA Chris · June 10, 2013, 09:42:30 am

If I dare speak ill of the dead, Steep approach isn't one of my favourites. Felt like a bit of a rehash of the Crow Road, which is very good. I also enjoyed Espedair Street (sp?) and Complicity. Walking on Glass is just plain wierd.

Stabbsy · June 10, 2013, 10:35:57 am

Quote from: SA Chris on June 10, 2013, 09:42:30 am

If I dare speak ill of the dead, Steep approach isn't one of my favourites. Felt like a bit of a rehash of the Crow Road, which is very good. I also enjoyed Espedair Street (sp?) and Complicity. Walking on Glass is just plain wierd.

One of the few authors I've always enjoyed - I've had to ration his books over the last few years as you can have too much of a good thing. Having read all the fiction stuff (with the exception of Stonemouth), I've finally started on the sci-fi stuff, so hopefully they will keep me going for another few years.

I'd agree on Steep Approach, although if he hadn't written Crow Road, I think I would have been amazed by it. Really enjoyed the last one I read, Transition, a bit weird but in a good way. The Crow Road would still probably be my favourite (although it was the first I read) along with The Bridge. A great loss.

jamiev · June 10, 2013, 08:25:09 pm

Met Iain Banks at a reading in Worcester about 22 years ago: I'd finished a 12 hour shift working in a mince pie factory at 5pm and popped into a bookshop for some serendipitous browsing. Little did I know that Banks was there.

Banks read with warmth and evident enjoyment. Afterwards he took a LOT of questions then cajoled everyone in the bookshop to the pub.

I enjoyed many of his books immensely, (though certainly not all, he could infuriate sometimes too). I respected his talent, and his clear joy in creating and sharing his work. He'll be missed, but his writing will continue to give pleasure.

Oldmanmatt · June 10, 2013, 09:04:20 pm

I confess to ONLY reading his Sci-fi stuff. His concept of "The Culture" appeals to me greatly. I'm half way through Excession at the moment (much slower than my usual 2-3 days per novel, due to falling asleep after two paragraphs); which is excellent but "the Player of Games" has to be the best.
I really should get around to "the Crow Road" et al.

Muenchener · June 10, 2013, 09:10:38 pm

Hydrogen Sonata? Wasn't that bowled over by Matter or Surface Detail.

jamiev · June 10, 2013, 10:18:36 pm

Quote from: Oldmanmatt on June 10, 2013, 09:04:20 pm

I confess to ONLY reading his Sci-fi stuff....I really should get around to "the Crow Road" et al.

& I confess to only having read his other stuff...so must get around to some of the sci-fi.

RIP (Read 468959 times)

crimp