If you are even a casual fan of science fiction, then you should know the name Ian M. Banks. If you don’t know him, then go out and every one of his books right now!
And then be prepared to be very sad. Mr. Banks has been diagnosed with late stage gall bladder cancer and his doctor’s estimate is that he won’t live out the year. His final book “The Quarry” will be his last. There’s a website everyone can leave a comment for him.
He is an amazing author. His culture series epitomizes the space opera. I seriously doubt there will be another author who can take galaxy spanning civilizations and still make them personal and engaging with deep topics like hell, death, betrayal, and ambition.
The Player of Games is arguably my favorite as the lead character is a gamer who gets what he wishes for. This is almost the ultimate expression of “be careful what you wish for, you just might get it”.
Another favorite is Excession, in which a galaxy spanning civilization with tens of thousands of 30-kilometer starships runs into something that it’s just not prepared to deal with. We also find that the AIs controlling these massive ships, who can talk to millions of people at one time, literally think faster than light, and can read a mind from parsecs away is still subject to petty human emotions like shame and anger.
I rarely laugh out loud when reading, but I do reading his books. I rarely cry… when reading… but I do reading his books.
I will miss him and I’m somewhat ashamed to say it’s because no more new books will appear.
I’ve been reading his books for decades and they have helped me through some rough times. Just being able to submerge myself in a world that is so much more interesting and, yes, better, than one we live in now was a welcome break from reality.
I suppose I should talk about death for a minute. It’s not a rebirth. It’s not the beginning of the next stage. Death is the end. It’s all over, except for one’s body being a nutrient source for a variety of organisms. And that, I think, is a good thing. Without death, there is no place for life. Everything needs something else to live and to die. It is a cycle of life on our planet.
However much humans may wish for life after death or immortality, we won’t get it anytime soon. And even if we do, it will be because of technology, not religion that gets us there.
I will never have a chance to meet Mr. Banks and tell him, in person, how amazing his work is. I won’t see him in heaven and his soul will not live on in the next life. He will not be reborn into a new body. He will be gone and it will be final.
And, you know, I’m OK with that. Mr. Banks’ has influenced millions of people with his work. We will remember him. His loved ones will remember him. He won’t live on, but his work will. I’m sure he put a lot of effort into those novels and that effort was not wasted.
I have his books and I will remember him every time I read one. And I will read them… often.
Thank you Ian, I wish you and your family the best. You will be missed. And we will remember you.
