Iain Banks

[inulro]

I haven't posted anywhere on the subject of Banks' demise, because although I'm gutted, I haven't thought of anything constructive to say.

Anyway, I had a though while queueing up to get my book signed by Neil Gaiman on Friday night.

I discovered Gaiman and Banks at roughly the same period in my life - round about 1991, give or take. I think Sandman came first, but only by a couple of months. With regard to Banks, I started with The Wasp Factory, read what was then the back catalogue, and the first one I bought when it came out was The Crow Road (when it hit the secondhand shops, because I was poor back then).

Anyway, they are the writers that have consistently been part of my life for the longest period of time. Given how all over the place my life is, and how short my attention span is, that's really something. And now only one of them is with us.

Comments

[liz-lowlife.livejournal.com]

Never been a Gaiman fan, but remember reading my first Banks book (The Wasp Factory natch) and thinking, "this young fella has potential as a writer" at the cheeky age of I dunno, fifteen?
I have followed his books ever since- but have to say I prefer his Sci fi as a Sci fi is more my thing.

Every time one of the folks who grew up with me dies, I mourn for ages. First it was the Old Guard such as JG Ballard et al- but the youngsters are now falling like flies too. It is beyond heart breaking.

ON a lighter note, maybe some new, young minds will rise up to take over where our mentors left off. X

[girfan.livejournal.com]

Banks' death hit me hard since he was a bit younger than me.