Iain M. Banks's Blog

'A Gift From the Culture' Set for the Big Screen?

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:22:08 -0800

Last week's big Banks buzz (which broke while I was away on holiday, hence the late posting here - apologies for that to everyone who came looking for a timely update and didn't find one...) is about the prospect of a film adaptation of the short story 'A Gift From the Culture', which was first published in issue #20 of Interzone, the UK's longest-running science fiction magazine, and is more readily available in the Iain M collection The State of the Art.

Various websites carry versions of t...

posted by Iain M. Banks on November, 25

Testing … testing … and we're back!

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:36:19 -0700

You may have noticed that www.iain-banks.net has been offline for the past few days. That's because we've been re-decorating and have given the place a bit of a brush-up and dusting-down, courtesy of the fine folks at Kino Creative, who've I'm sure you'll agree have done a marvellous job.

The site is back in action now, as you'll have noticed if you're reading this article on the Latest News page. On the other hand, if you're reading on RSS, do click on over to the website, take a quick look ...

posted by Iain M. Banks on October, 09

Transition by Iain [M] Banks – reviews round-up

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:01:13 -0700

A new Iain [M:] Banks book is always going to generate plenty of review coverage and conversation around the blogosphere and Transition, with its blend of literary and sf-nal tropes and themes, has certainly carried on that trend.

Here's a round-up of some of the pieces of online coverage that have caught our eye in the past few weeks:

Michael Marshall, reviewing for The New Scientist commented on Transition high-quality construction: "Banks deploys his usual complex structure, using multiple n...

posted by Iain M. Banks on October, 19

Quick Iain Banks interview on FT.com

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:46:34 -0800

Anna Metcalfe sends a series of quick-fire questions in Iain's direction for a 'Small Talk' feature over www.ft.com. Questions like: "What is the strangest thing you've done when researching a book?" (Answer: "Using the equation e=mc2 to work out the explosive yield of very small quantities of antimatter, to determine how small an effective nano-missile could be.")

posted by Iain M. Banks on November, 19

Iain Banks talks to… Ken Livingstone?

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:26:53 -0700

The New Statesman website has posted an interview with Iain carried out by none other than Ken Livingstone.

Yes, that Ken Livignstone, the former Mayor of London. Turns out he's something of an sf fan: he name-checks David Brin and mentions putting in an appearance at the Brighton SF Festival in 1987, and says he reads sf classics. You live and learn, eh?

Read the full piece at www.newstatesman.com.

posted by Iain M. Banks on September, 29

Iain Banks interviewed for The Guardian

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:26:53 -0700

In a feature-length interview piece posted to The Guardian's website, Maxton Walker talks to Iain about whether or not Transition can (or should) be interpreted as a literary attack on American foreign policy and his attitude towards torture as a weapon in the fight against terrorism. They also discuss the Transition serial podcast and how current trends in the publishing industry are affecting Iain and other writers.

Good reading over at www.guardian.co.uk.

posted by Iain M. Banks on September, 29

Iain Banks interviewed for The Independent

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:26:53 -0700

The Independent's website is running an interview with Iain conducted by Arifa Akbar. Discussions range across Iain's plans to write a symphony, the concept of "Christian terrorism" in Transition, the effect that the passing of his father, Robert, in June has had on his personal life and writing alike, and the contrast between his generally sunny disposition and the dark mood to be found in most of his books.

Well worth a visit to www.independent.co.uk to read the full article.

posted by Iain M. Banks on September, 29

Iain Banks interviewed for The Scotsman

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:57:40 -0800

In an interview posted on The Scotsman's website, Aidan Smith asks Iain about Transition, as well as topics as diverse as his friendly rivalry with fellow Fife-resident Ian Rankin, drugs, the women in his life and his opinion of Prime Minister Gordon Brown ("I'm only a little disappointed in him. He's not a war criminal like Tony Blair, he's been unlucky, but he has ballsed up.")

Read the full interview at news.scotsman.com.

posted by Iain M. Banks on November, 18

Newsflash: Iain Banks on Simon Mayo, BBC R5 Live, today

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:24:16 -0700

Iain Banks will be a guest on the Simon Mayo show on BBC Radio 5 Live, today, Monday 14th September, at 13.00 hours.

That is all.

Thanks yet again to Dave H of the Banksoniain for the heads-up!

posted by Iain M. Banks on September, 16

Iain Banks talking to Cerys Matthews, Tuesday Sept 15th

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:37:58 -0700

Iain Banks will be a guest on BBC Radio 6's Cerys on 6, next Tuesday, September 15th, from 13.00. He'll be talking to presenter Cerys Matthews about his new novel Transition.

More info at the BBC Radio 6 website.

Thanks to Dave H of The Banksoniain for the heads-up!

posted by Iain M. Banks on September, 14