Welcome to the new-look Iain [M] Banks website. This website contains a wealth of information on the fiction of Iain Banks and the science fiction of Iain M Banks. New content is being added to the site on a regular basis. If there's anything you'd particularly like to see on the site, please contact the site editors and let us know.

Iain Banks at the Morley Literature Festival

July 21st, 2010 in Appearances & Events

Another newly-confirmed date for your diary: Iain [M] Banks will be taking part in this year's Morley Literature Festival in Leeds.

Details as follows:

Friday 15 October 2010 at 7.30pm

Venue: Morley Town Hall, Leeds LS27 9BD

Tickets: £5

Box Office: 0844 848 2706

As always, contact the event organisers for ticket details and don't forget to double-check before travelling, in case of last-minute alteration or cancellation.

Iain Banks at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

July 16th, 2010 in Appearances & Events

Iain Banks will be taking part in two events at this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival.

The first, a talk on Monday August 16th, is already sold out according to the EIBF website, but tickets are still available (at time of posting) for a second event, called 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger?' on Saturday August 28th, from 7.00 - 8.15 p.m.

Here's the event description from the Festival brochure:

In his guise as a science fiction writer, Iain M Banks has created a utopian interstellar civilisation known as the Culture. This imaginary community populated by 'transhumans' has real-life parallels in the work of Kevin Warwick, Professor of Cybernetics at Reading University. The subject of Warwick's research is his own body, and he has transformed himself into the world’s first Cyborg. In this event Warwick and Banks are joined by Steve Yearley, Director of the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum, to contemplate the future of human beings.

Tickets are £10 / £8 (concessions) and can be booked via www.edbookfest.co.uk.

Iain Banks at the Tolbooth, Stirling, September 15th

July 16th, 2010 in Appearances & Events

Iain Banks will be appearing at Stirling's Tolbooth Theatre on Wednesday September 15th.

'An Evening With Iain Banks' will be chaired by Professor Rory Watson, retired from Stirling University and is part of Off the Page, the Stirling Book Festival (see pages 16-17 of the online Tolbooth brochure for more details of the festival).

Tickets for the event are £7.00 each and can be booked via www.ticketsoup.com.

Iain M. Banks events in October & November 2010

July 14th, 2010 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

N.B. The Toppings, Bath event has been moved from October 19th to November 1st.

We've just updated the appearances page of the site with details of a number of talks and signing events that Iain will be participating in this Autumn to support the publication of his brand new Culture novel, Surface Detail.

Confirmed events so far include:

• Wed 06.10.10 - The Roundhouse, London
• Thu 07.10.10 - Forbidden Planet, London
• Sat 16.10.10 & Sun 17.10.10 - Cheltenham Literary Festival
• Tue 19.10.10 - The Paragon, Bath (with Toppings Books) REARRANGED - SEE BELOW
• Wed 20.10.10 - Chepstow Library (with Chepstow Bookshop)
• Thu 21.10.10 - De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill (with The Bexhill Bookshop)
• Mon 01.11.10 - The Paragon, Bath (with Toppings Books)
• Tue 02.11.10 - Toppings Books, Ely
• Wed 03.11.20 - Assembly House, Norwich (with Waterstone's Norwich)
• Fri 12.11.10 - Sun 14.11.10 - Guest of Honour at Novacon 40, Nottingham

Check the appearances page for more details and then follow the links for relevant contact details and booking information (the majority of these events will be ticket only, so advance booking is highly recommended).

Launched this week: Official Iain Banks iPhone App

June 28th, 2010 in Book News, Ebook News, UK-Specific

The Guardian is running a feature today on the brand new Iain Banks iPhone App that will be available to download - free of charge - from the UK Apple App Store from Thursday July 1st.

Iain's response? "My own app... how deeply cool. This pleases as much as seeing my first novel in print."

The release of the app is timed to coincide with the publication of the paperback edition of Transition and will act as a companion to the novel, offering exclusive material including: unseen chapters, character biographies, commentary from Iain and his original notes and plan for the novel.

A unique barcode printed in the back of the paperback edition will unlock the exclusive content. Just point your iPhone's camera at the code for scanning, and the companion features for the book will be transmitted to your App screen. Fans who already own the hardback edition of Transition can unlock this content as well, by following the simple instructions contained within the app.

And this App won't stop with Transition. Content and features on future titles will be added as the App develops, Banks fans will have ongoing access to the most up to date news and features.

The App has been developed for Little,Brown by New Zealand & UK based digital agency TradeMobile. Founder Jen Porter said of the project: "At TradeMobile, we believe mobile technology must enhance and enrich the user's experience. So unlocking the 'story beyond the story' with one of the world's leading publishers is an extraordinary project and a UK first that will quite simply transform the reading experience for ever."

Video of Iain Banks at the Prague Writers Festival

June 28th, 2010 in Appearances & Events, Global

David H, of Banksoniain fanzine fame, has just posted the following to the Iain Banks Forum:

The readings and conversations at the Prague Writers' Festival were recorded and are now online via www.pwf.cz.

Iain participates in the Tuesday evening conversation about Heresy, and the Wednesday evening readings.

More details on the forum.

Surface Detail Cover Launch

June 23rd, 2010 in Book News, Global

Iain M. Banks' global publisher, Orbit Books, have revealed the cover image that will grace the brand new Culture novel - Surface Detail - when it is published worldwide in print and e-book editions in October 2010.

From the Orbit announcement post: "The title is Surface Detail, which refers to a number of things, not least one of the principal characters, who is covered, externally and internally, with congenitally administered tattoos."

Here's the cover in all its glory:

And here's the back cover blurb:

It begins in the realm of the Real, where matter still matters.

It begins with a murder.

And it will not end until the Culture has gone to war with death itself.

Lededje Y'breq is one of the Intagliated, her marked body bearing witness to a family shame, her life belonging to a man whose lust for power is without limit. Prepared to risk everything for her freedom, her release, when it comes, is at a price, and to put things right she will need the help of the Culture.

Benevolent, enlightened and almost infinitely resourceful though it may be, the Culture can only do so much for any individual. With the assistance of one of its most powerful - and arguably deranged - warships, Lededje finds herself heading into a combat zone not even sure which side the Culture is really on. A war - brutal, far-reaching – is already raging within the digital realms that store the souls of the dead, and it's about to erupt into reality.

It started in the realm of the Real and that is where it will end. It will touch countless lives and affect entire civilizations, but at the centre of it all is a young woman whose need for revenge masks another motive altogether.

October 2010, folks. Don't miss it.

Edit 24.06.10

Here's the US cover variant with alternate font / logo:

Transition is a 2010 Campbell Award Finalist

June 23rd, 2010 in Awards & Accolades

Iain [M] Banks' current novel, Transition, has been named as a finalist for the prestigious 2010 John W. Campbell Memorial Award.

From the announcement on the Awards website:

The Award will be presented during the Campbell Conference Awards Banquet at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, as the focal point of a weekend of discussions about the writing, illustration, publishing, teaching, and criticism of science fiction.

It looks like a particularly strong Finalists list this year, although of course we're all rooting for a Transition win.

SFX Magazine Wants Your Questions for Iain Banks

June 11th, 2010 in Global, Interviews

SFX Magazine will be conducting a fan-interview with Iain Banks and are requesting questions to put to the author.

The deadline for submitting a question is Tuesday, June 15th. Details of how to submit can be found at www.sfx.co.uk.

Iain Banks at the St Albans Festival, June 16th

May 27th, 2010 in Appearances & Events

Iain Banks will be appearing at this year's St Albans Festival to celebrate publication of the paperback of his latest novel, Transition.

Venue: Verulamium Museum, St Albans
Time: Wednesday, 16 June 2010, 7:30PM
Tickets: £5, available from the museum

For more more information or to reserve tickets online, see the festival website: www.stalbansfestival.com.

Iain Banks on BBC Radio Scotland's Stark Talk, 19.05.10

May 13th, 2010 in Global, Interviews, TV, Radio & Film

Iain Banks will be the special guest of BBC Radio Scotland's Edi Stark as she talks to Iain at his home in Fife for her regular Stark Talk series.

The show will be broadcast next Wednesday, 19th May, at 11.30 GMT BST and repeated the following Sunday at 10.30 BST. More info at the BBC Radio Scotland website. The show should also be available post-broadcast, via the BBC's iPlayer service.

Thanks to David H of The Banksoniain for the heads-up.

Forthcoming Iain Banks appearances and events

May 6th, 2010 in Appearances & Events, Global

The Appearances page of the site has been updated with information on three events that Iain has been booked for later this year:

• Prague Writers' Festival 2010 from June 6th-10th 2010
• Literary Dundee 2010 on Saturday June 26th, 2010
• Novacon 40 from November 12th-14th 2010

See the Appearances page for a bit more information on these and other events that Iain will be attending.

Thanks (as always!) to Dave H of The Banksoniain for the heads-up on these events.

Quick Reminder: Iain Banks at Eastercon this weekend

March 31st, 2010 in Appearances & Events, Global

Just a reminder that Iain Banks is a Guest of Honour at this year's Eastercon - Odyssey 2010 - which takes place in Heathrow this Easter weekend.

David H, editor of the Bansksoniain fanzine, has been in touch to let us know about some of the Banks-related events taking place at the convention:

• David himself will be giving a talk called "Iain Banks: Before The Wasp Factory" on Friday at 13:00
• Iain is on a panel called "Utopia - How the Concept Has Developed in Philosophy and SF" on Friday at 16:00
• Iain is being interviewed by Jane Killick on Saturday at 11:00 (and in an autograph session afterwards)
• Iain is hosting a whisky tasting on Saturday at 16:00
• Iain is on a panel called "Language and Dialect in Writing" on Monday at 11:00

Full details are available in the Eastercon events programme. David has also suggested that we remind everyone that you can pay for a full weekend Convention membership on the door, and day-memberships are also available. See the Odyssey 2010 website for full details.

And if you're going to be at Eastercon and end up taking any photos of Iain, or manage to capture any decent audio or video footage (assuming that it's allowed under Convention rules, of course) then do feel free to upload your stuff to a suitable online sharing service and then send in a link (to webguy [at] iain-banks.net) and I'll post a selection of the best examples to the site next week.

Local Hero Iain Banks live in Fife, 23 June 2010

March 31st, 2010 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

On June 23rd 2010, renowned Fife author Iain Banks will be making an eagerly awaited appearance in the Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, as part of 'Local Heroes', a series of events celebrating Fife's Culture.

Iain will be reading from his latest novel Transition and taking questions from the audience. The event starts at 19.30 and is scheduled to last for two hours. Tickets are £2.50.

More information from www.fife.gov.uk.

[Thanks again to David H of The Banksonian for the heads-up]

Iain Banks Appearing at the Ullapool Book Festival

March 31st, 2010 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

Iain Banks will be taking part in the Ullapool Book Festival on Friday, May 7, 2010. He'll be appearing at 19:30 in Ullapool Village Hall (details as per the Ullapool Book Festival website).

Tickets are £6, and are available from www.thebooth.co.uk, but also by post or in person.

The event listing says: "Join Iain as he gives us an exclusive preview from his new and unpublished Science Fiction work and take the opportunity to ask him a question or two."

More information from: www.ullapoolbookfestival.co.uk.

[Thanks to David H of The Banksoniain for the heads-up]

Banksoniain Fanzine issue #15 out now

March 26th, 2010 in Global, Resources

David H, editor of the Banksoniain Fanzine has been in touch to let us know that the new issue is available now.

David tells us: "Banksoniain #15 looks back at 2009, the publication of Transition and Iain's appearances during the year, including his My Planet Rocks musical choices and interview. It also assess the 2008 theatre production of The Wasp Factory and talks to director Ed Robson. Looking forward there is news of his next book's working title, and some movement of the film front."

Download a pdf copy of Banksonian #15 from the Banksoniain website.

Iain Banks live event, Edinburgh, December 16th 2009

December 7th, 2009 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

Iain Banks will be appearing live at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday 16 December 2009 at the Reading Room, Edinburgh Central Library as part of the Edinburgh City Reads series of literary events.

Iain will be discussing his career and work with Alan Taylor, writer and journalist, as well as reading from Transition and taking questions from the audience. The event is free, complimentary drinks will be served and pre-booking is essential. See www.edinburghcityreads.net for details or email events@edinburghcityreads.net for details.

Thanks to David H of The Banksoniain for the heads-up.

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

October 28th, 2009 in Global, TV, Radio & Film

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 the news: www.slashfilm.com, screendaily.com and hollywoodreporter.com included. At the moment there really isn't anything to add to those announcements. I'll certainly try to post fresh updates as and when they become available (hopefully with a little more alacrity...) and in the meantime, do feel free to join in the discussion of the project over at the Iain Banks Fan Forum (you'll need to be a forum member in order to post replies to the thread).

Testing … testing … and we're back!

September 29th, 2009 in Global, Website Updates

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 around, maybe let us know what you think of the new look.

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

September 29th, 2009 in Global, Reviews

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:

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