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Use of Weapons comes together in that single moment at the end. Absolutely devastating and if the trick had been pulled in a more literary novel then it would have been lauded with prizes left right and centre, with Mark Lawson spunking on about it on Late Review.Nolanator wrote:Possibly the best ending to a story I've ever come across. You're probably just sci-fied out, happens to me if I try to read too many similar books in a row. I got too much of Game of Thrones when I tried to horse through them all.Mat the Expat wrote:It has an immense ending so it is worth it.RuggaBugga wrote:
I must just leave it and come back later, I'm probably a bit sci-fi'd out at the moment.
Use of Weapons gets better as it goes and you get more of each storyline and the major characters are fleshed out.
Renowned Scottish author Iain Banks has revealed that he has months to live after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The 59-year-old writer of The Wasp Factory revealed in a statement on his website on Wednesday that the novel he is currently working on, The Quarry, would likely be his last.
Mr Banks stated that he had "first thought something might be wrong" in late January when he developed a sore back that had not ceased by the following month.
He wrote that the cancer started in his gall bladder and has spread to parts of his liver, pancreas and some lymph nodes, while he stated that it is “extremely unlikely” that he will survive beyond the year.
Dunfermline-born Mr Banks, who also wrote The Crow Road and Complicity among several other works, said: “I am officially Very Poorly. After a couple of surgical procedures, I am gradually recovering from jaundice caused by a blocked bile duct, but that - it turns out - is the least of my problems.
"I first thought something might be wrong when I developed a sore back in late January, but put this down to the fact I'd started writing at the beginning of the month and so was crouched over a keyboard all day. When it hadn't gone away by mid-February, I went to my GP, who spotted that I had jaundice. Blood tests, an ultrasound scan and then a CT scan revealed the full extent of the grisly truth by the start of March.
"I have cancer. It started in my gall bladder, has infected both lobes of my liver and probably also my pancreas and some lymph nodes, plus one tumour is massed around a group of major blood vessels in the same volume, effectively ruling out any chance of surgery to remove the tumours either in the short or long term."
He continued: "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. So it looks like my latest novel, The Quarry, will be my last.
"As a result, I've withdrawn from all planned public engagements and I've asked my partner Adele if she will do me the honour of becoming my widow (sorry - but we find ghoulish humour helps). By the time this goes out we'll be married and on a short honeymoon. We intend to spend however much quality time I have left seeing friends and relations and visiting places that have meant a lot to us. Meanwhile my heroic publishers are doing all they can to bring the publication date of my new novel forward by as much as four months, to give me a better chance of being around when it hits the shelves."
Mr Banks was named among the 50 greatest living British writers by The Times in 2008.
The former Stirling University student uses the Iain M Banks name when writing several works of science fiction, while he has won several British Science Fiction Association awards.
His statement on his condition concluded: "There is a possibility that it might be worth undergoing a course of chemotherapy to extend the amount of time available. However that is still something we're balancing the pros and cons of, and anyway it is out of the question until my jaundice has further and significantly, reduced.
"Lastly, I'd like to add that from my GP onwards, the professionalism of the medics involved - and the speed with which the resources of the NHS in Scotland have been deployed - has been exemplary, and the standard of care deeply impressive. We're all just sorry the outcome hasn't been more cheerful.
"A website is being set up where friends, family and fans can leave messages for me and check on my progress. It should be up and running during this week and a link to it will be here on my official website as soon as it’s ready."
Fark me. A fine son of Scotland who will be sorely missed.arbb9101 wrote:BBC ticker - Iain Banks diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Nolanator wrote:
Tis true.
Renowned Scottish author Iain Banks has revealed that he has months to live after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The 59-year-old writer of The Wasp Factory revealed in a statement on his website on Wednesday that the novel he is currently working on, The Quarry, would likely be his last.
Mr Banks stated that he had "first thought something might be wrong" in late January when he developed a sore back that had not ceased by the following month.
He wrote that the cancer started in his gall bladder and has spread to parts of his liver, pancreas and some lymph nodes, while he stated that it is “extremely unlikely” that he will survive beyond the year.
Dunfermline-born Mr Banks, who also wrote The Crow Road and Complicity among several other works, said: “I am officially Very Poorly. After a couple of surgical procedures, I am gradually recovering from jaundice caused by a blocked bile duct, but that - it turns out - is the least of my problems.
"I first thought something might be wrong when I developed a sore back in late January, but put this down to the fact I'd started writing at the beginning of the month and so was crouched over a keyboard all day. When it hadn't gone away by mid-February, I went to my GP, who spotted that I had jaundice. Blood tests, an ultrasound scan and then a CT scan revealed the full extent of the grisly truth by the start of March.
"I have cancer. It started in my gall bladder, has infected both lobes of my liver and probably also my pancreas and some lymph nodes, plus one tumour is massed around a group of major blood vessels in the same volume, effectively ruling out any chance of surgery to remove the tumours either in the short or long term."
He continued: "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. So it looks like my latest novel, The Quarry, will be my last.
"As a result, I've withdrawn from all planned public engagements and I've asked my partner Adele if she will do me the honour of becoming my widow (sorry - but we find ghoulish humour helps). By the time this goes out we'll be married and on a short honeymoon. We intend to spend however much quality time I have left seeing friends and relations and visiting places that have meant a lot to us. Meanwhile my heroic publishers are doing all they can to bring the publication date of my new novel forward by as much as four months, to give me a better chance of being around when it hits the shelves."
Mr Banks was named among the 50 greatest living British writers by The Times in 2008.
The former Stirling University student uses the Iain M Banks name when writing several works of science fiction, while he has won several British Science Fiction Association awards.
His statement on his condition concluded: "There is a possibility that it might be worth undergoing a course of chemotherapy to extend the amount of time available. However that is still something we're balancing the pros and cons of, and anyway it is out of the question until my jaundice has further and significantly, reduced.
"Lastly, I'd like to add that from my GP onwards, the professionalism of the medics involved - and the speed with which the resources of the NHS in Scotland have been deployed - has been exemplary, and the standard of care deeply impressive. We're all just sorry the outcome hasn't been more cheerful.
"A website is being set up where friends, family and fans can leave messages for me and check on my progress. It should be up and running during this week and a link to it will be here on my official website as soon as it’s ready."
I've asked my partner Adele if she will do me the honour of becoming my widow
Stopped reading at this very early asinine point in the thread.Ogre wrote:Thats some good stuff right there.Fat Albert wrote:The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress - Heinlein
Ring World - Niven
Lucifer's Hammer - Niven & Pournelle
Dune - Herbert
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - Dick
Series
Foundation - Asimov
Dorsai - Dickson
Pern - McCaffrey
Short
Nightfall - Asimov
Weyr Search - McCaffrey
Would chuck in the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and the Belgariad and Mallorean by David and Leigh Eddings.
I really enjoyed River of Gods and Brasyl, although if you're easily confused (need to write notes to follow Cloud Atlas) don't bother.etherman wrote:I recently had a pint with Ian macDonald, who apparently is a sci fi writer. Anyone heard of him or know if he's any good? Not my genre.
nice guy btw.
Go for "State of the Art", then. It's a collection of short sci-fi stories by him, including the eponymous Culture novella. Nice way to break it in.cheese cutter wrote:fudge me, that's sad news about Iain Banks. I am about 1/4 into Stonemouth and really enjoying it.
I'm not really big on sci-fi but I'll have a go at one or two of IMB's ones after hearing that. Funnily enough I like sci-fi short stories, but don't really get into longer tales.
Davestar wrote:Just finished Wool by Hugh Howey and it really is very good; the sci-fi Fifty Shades of Grey analogy is really quite unfair and unjustified, the only similarity being that it started as an e-reader phenomenon.
Absolutely agreed. An outstanding example of a breakthrough in sci-fi self-publishing.Cool - will give it a go.Nolanator wrote:Go for "State of the Art", then. It's a collection of short sci-fi stories by him, including the eponymous Culture novella. Nice way to break it in.cheese cutter wrote:fudge me, that's sad news about Iain Banks. I am about 1/4 into Stonemouth and really enjoying it.
I'm not really big on sci-fi but I'll have a go at one or two of IMB's ones after hearing that. Funnily enough I like sci-fi short stories, but don't really get into longer tales.
To be honest, having worked in Publishing, and dealt with literary types, I couldn't give a fudge if they dismiss it as Sci Fi.Brazil wrote:Use of Weapons comes together in that single moment at the end. Absolutely devastating and if the trick had been pulled in a more literary novel then it would have been lauded with prizes left right and centre, with Mark Lawson spunking on about it on Late Review.Nolanator wrote:Possibly the best ending to a story I've ever come across. You're probably just sci-fied out, happens to me if I try to read too many similar books in a row. I got too much of Game of Thrones when I tried to horse through them all.Mat the Expat wrote:It has an immense ending so it is worth it.RuggaBugga wrote:
I must just leave it and come back later, I'm probably a bit sci-fi'd out at the moment.
Use of Weapons gets better as it goes and you get more of each storyline and the major characters are fleshed out.
Ah, so sad. I have a memory of Banks. I once took a friend to have her copy of The Wasp Factory signed at the Waterstone's at Leadenhall Market. We stood in the queue for an hour until this sheepish, beardy guy smiled, signed her book, then talked absolutely charmingly for a couple of minutes about his work. She was as starstruck as though it was a movie star. No wonder the queue was so long! A wonderful writer whose literary star will shine for a long time.Finsbury Girl wrote:Fark me. A fine son of Scotland who will be sorely missed.arbb9101 wrote:BBC ticker - Iain Banks diagnosed with terminal cancer.
I can thoroughly recommend Twilight and Angels & Demons.RuggaBugga wrote:I'm too scared to take up any further book recommendations on PR, the last two I have taken (GRRM & Banks) up are now terminally ill*
*No idea when GRRM became ill.
JM2K6 wrote:I can thoroughly recommend Twilight and Angels & Demons.RuggaBugga wrote:I'm too scared to take up any further book recommendations on PR, the last two I have taken (GRRM & Banks) up are now terminally ill*
*No idea when GRRM became ill.
JM2K6 wrote:I can thoroughly recommend Twilight and Angels & Demons.RuggaBugga wrote:I'm too scared to take up any further book recommendations on PR, the last two I have taken (GRRM & Banks) up are now terminally ill*
*No idea when GRRM became ill.
You might be on to something there. Any music recommendations?Kasabian are simply killer.RuggaBugga wrote:JM2K6 wrote:I can thoroughly recommend Twilight and Angels & Demons.RuggaBugga wrote:I'm too scared to take up any further book recommendations on PR, the last two I have taken (GRRM & Banks) up are now terminally ill*
*No idea when GRRM became ill.
I'm actually re-reading Stand On Zanzibar right now. Chung Kuo started off well and then kinda weakened. Alistair Reynolds is fantastic.Finsbury Girl wrote:For old skool that other peeps haven't mentioned:
Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner. An excellent pre-cursor to modern cyberpunk
Harry Harrison put out a number of short story collections in the 60's. Like those of Phil Dick, they are awesome and essential reading.
For modern stuff, I'd recommend any of the new age of British sci-fi - Ken McLeod, Banks (obviously), Richard Morgan and Peter Hamilton.
I haven't read any of Alistair Reynolds as yet, but I've heard they're pretty good.
One thing the UK has done fantastically well, is churn out absolute quality sci-fi and fantasy authors.
Oh and final recommendation, another British chap David Wingrove put out a series called Chung Kuo years ago. They're being re-released at the moment. It does tail off towards the end, but I thought the first few books were excellent.
Isn't it the Nights Dawn trilogy rather than the Confederation trilogy?Mat the Expat wrote:Interestingly, Misspent Youth, whilst not his best is very topical re the eBook thread.Saint wrote:That's just the first third of the Confederation trilogyBrabus wrote:The Reality Dysfunction - Peter F Hamilton
Alistair Reynolds is excellent.
Ted - I can't believe you've never read Banks!
Monk Zombie wrote:i never miss these:
Same thing.flaggETERNAL wrote:Isn't it the Nights Dawn trilogy rather than the Confederation trilogy?Mat the Expat wrote:Interestingly, Misspent Youth, whilst not his best is very topical re the eBook thread.Saint wrote:That's just the first third of the Confederation trilogyBrabus wrote:The Reality Dysfunction - Peter F Hamilton
Alistair Reynolds is excellent.
Ted - I can't believe you've never read Banks!
The Nights Dawn Trilogy is a separate Universe to the Confederation one. They are NOT related.Yer Man wrote:Same thing.flaggETERNAL wrote:
Isn't it the Nights Dawn trilogy rather than the Confederation trilogy?
A number of interesting ideas in his work, I just can't help but think that he's like a lot of other modern authors who miss having a good editor to keep the story focused.
Look at the scale of ideas that Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein et al could cram into 200 pages...
Hamilton has a habit of going on and on and on. Bit of a deus ex machina finish to both the Confederation and Commonwealth stories.
Recently got hold of the Greg Mandrel series, will read asap.
Wait..what?....He hasnt finished GOT yet!!RuggaBugga wrote:I'm too scared to take up any further book recommendations on PR, the last two I have taken up (GRRM & Banks) are now terminally ill*
*No idea when GRRM became ill.
Mat the Expat wrote: The Nights Dawn Trilogy is a separate Universe to the Confederation one. They are NOT related.
Greg Mandel is his best work I think. Gritty.
The Nights Dawn trilogy is set in the Confederation universe.Fat Old Git wrote:Mat the Expat wrote: The Nights Dawn Trilogy is a separate Universe to the Confederation one. They are NOT related.
Greg Mandel is his best work I think. Gritty.
You are getting the Confederation and the Commonwealth mixed up.
Correct. With misspent youth, Pandora's star and the void books etc being set in the Commonwealth universerse, although in 3 different periods.flaggETERNAL wrote:The Nights Dawn trilogy is set in the Confederation universe.Fat Old Git wrote:Mat the Expat wrote: The Nights Dawn Trilogy is a separate Universe to the Confederation one. They are NOT related.
Greg Mandel is his best work I think. Gritty.
You are getting the Confederation and the Commonwealth mixed up.
