Date of Birth: February 16, 1954
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Date of Death: June 9, 2013
Biography
Iain Banks was a prolific Scottish author, known for his mainstream literary fiction as well as his science fiction works, which he published under the name Iain M. Banks. Born in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, Banks showed an early interest in writing, penning his first stories at the age of 11. He studied English and Philosophy at the University of Stirling, later working a series of jobs before dedicating himself full-time to writing. His debut novel, “The Wasp Factory,” released in 1984, was both controversial and highly acclaimed, establishing him as a significant new voice in British literature. Banks continued to produce a range of novels that often included dark humor and satirical elements, such as “The Crow Road” and “Complicity.” In addition to his mainstream fiction, Banks made a considerable impact on the science fiction genre under the pseudonym Iain M. Banks. His “Culture series,” beginning with “Consider Phlebas” in 1987, is particularly noted for its imaginative and complex depiction of a post-scarcity, space-faring society. Banks’ influence extends beyond his written work; he was a vocal advocate for various political causes, notably Scottish independence and environmentalism. He was diagnosed with terminal gallbladder cancer in April 2013 and passed away just two months later.
5 Interesting Facts about Iain Banks
1. Iain Banks was also a keen driver and owned several high-performance cars throughout his life.
2. He wrote his first novel, “The Hungarian Lift-Jet,” at the age of 16, though it was never published.
3. His novel “The Crow Road” was adapted into a BBC television series in 1996.
4. Banks was a known atheist and once described religion as “a malign and malignant force in the world.”
5. He added the ‘M’ to his name when writing science fiction to differentiate it from his mainstream fiction works.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Iain Banks
1. “The point about the Culture is that it really could be a paradise, and a lot of the time it is.”
2. “There is always the possibility of more than one straight answer, of course.”
3. “I’m a firm believer that you don’t achieve greatness without a certain amount of madness.”
4. “Writing is about freedom and freedom is a rare commodity in the modern world.”
5. “Humanity is a joke, and I am the jester.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Iain Banks’ net worth was estimated to be around $3 million.
Children
Iain Banks did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Iain Banks on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Banks
2. [Iain M. Banks’ Official Website](http://www.iain-banks.net/
4. [Iain Banks’ Goodreads Profile](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5808.Iain_Banks
5. [BBC’s Article on Iain Banks](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-22835047
