Iain Banks: Award-Winning Scottish Author Dies

Author Iain Banks has died aged 59 after a battle with cancer, his publisherhas said. The award-winning Scottish writer had posted on his website in April thathe was in the final stages of gall bladder cancer and was unlikely to live beyond a year. His publisher Little, Brown Book Group released a statement confirming he had died. It said: "On behalf of Iain's wife, Adele,it is with enormous sadness that Little, Brown announces the death of Iain Banks. "Banks has been one of the country'sbest loved novelistsfor both his mainstream and science fiction books. "After his own recent announcement of his cancer Iain Banks was hugely moved by the publicsupport for him via his website. "Just three weeks ago he was presented with finished copies of his last novel, The Quarry and enjoyed celebration parties with old friends and fans across the publishing world. "Iain Banks' ability to combine the most fertile of imaginations with his own highly distinctive brand of gothic humour madehim unique. He is an irreplaceable part ofthe literary world." In the last few weeks he had written a series of blogs about his health and feelings about life. Some of his experiences of illness are expectedto have been put into the pages of The Quarry, which isdue out on June 20. He is best known for books like The Wasp Factory and The Crow Road, which was made into a TV series. Writing under the name Iain M Banks, he also wrote a series of science fiction books. He won a range of accolades for his science fiction and also a handful for his traditional novels. In 2008, The Times named him as one of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. As of March 2013, he had published 26novels, several of which have been adapted for TV, radio and theatre. He was involved in arange of political and social causes. He was an HonoraryAssociate of the National Secular Society, had spokenin favour of Scottish independence, and had written and spoken about Britain's involvement in the 2003 Iraq War and the situation in the Palestinian Territories. He was married twice. He met his first wife Annie in London before the release of his first book in 1984, but the couple separated in 2007. The Scotsman newspaper reported in April that he had married his partner Adele Hartley, in a Humanist ceremony,after asking her to be his "widow". The couple were then said to have taken a honeymoonin Italy. Many fans reacted quickly to the news of his death on Twitter. Among those who left tributes were bookshop Waterstones, who said: "Very sad to hear of Iain's passing this morning - a great Scottish writer who will be sadly missed." Comedian and broadcaster John O'Farrell said: "So sad to hear of death of brilliant and charming Iain Banks. The Wasp Factory was the first book I finished and then immediately read again." Comedian and writer Andrew Collins said: "Hands up who *hasn't* read The Wasp Factory? Exactly. Iain Banks touched a lot of people in hisunfairly foreshortened life. RIP." Scottish cyclist ChrisHoy said: "Rest in peace Iain Banks. Such sad news."