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UK-Specific Archive

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.

Transition Podcast #11 on iTunes Top 20

September 10th, 2009 in Audiobook News, UK-Specific

The free iTunes podcast of Transition is currently sitting pretty at number #11 in the UK iTunes store Top Podcasts list:

Transition on iTunes

To access the free podcast episodes, you'll need to download and install the iTunes software. The podcast files (three episodes are available so far) should then be free to access, although you'll need to sign up to the iTunes store in order to leave a rating.

Don't forget to subscribe to the channel as well - let's get Transition into the top ten!

N.B. The US / Canadian iTunes store won't be carrying the podcast until the US / Canadian edition of Transition is published, on September 23rd.

The Crow Road showing again on BBC4

September 9th, 2009 in TV, Radio & Film, UK-Specific

The BBC adaptation of The Crow Road will be broadcast again over the next few weeks.

Episode I will be shown tonight, Wednesday, 9th September 2009, at 22:00 and will be repeated on Sunday 13th at 23:50.

More details on the series website at www.bbc.co.uk.

Update: Sorry folks, doesn't look like the series will be available via the BBC iPlayer.

Iain Banks guesting on STV's The Hour, Tues 8th Sept

September 4th, 2009 in TV, Radio & Film, UK-Specific

Iain Banks will be a guest on ITV1 Scotland's 'The Hour' programme at 17.00 on Tuesday September 8th.

Not entirely sure if the programme will be available to viewers outside Scotland at the time of broadcast, but you should be able to view the show online via STV's catch-up player once the show has gone out.

Thanks to DaveH of The Banksoniain for the heads-up!

Update 09.09 STV's Andrew Coyle has been in touch to let us know that the footage of Ian's appearance on the Hour has been posted at entertainment.stv.tv. Cheers Andrew!

Iain Banks talks to Muriel Gray

September 4th, 2009 in TV, Radio & Film, UK-Specific

Iain Banks was a guest on Muriel Gray's Open Book programme on BBC Radio 4 recently where they discussed Iain's cross-genre tendencies and the conspicuous lack of a Booker nomination during Iain's long and illustrious career.

The show is currently available to listen to via the the BBC website / iPlayer console.

Check out the end of the segment for a quick mention of Iain's plans for his next book...

Iain Banks in conversation with Clive James – today

August 18th, 2009 in Interviews, UK-Specific

I've just been handed the following newsflash by the ever-alert Dave H of The Banksoniain fanzine:

"Iain Banks will be the guest on Clive James in Conversation on Tuesday 18th August (i.e. TODAY!) at the Assembly Rooms George Street, Edinburgh."

See www.clivejamesguests.com for more information.

Iain Banks on BBC Radio Scotland, 13th August

August 7th, 2009 in TV, Radio & Film, UK-Specific

BBC Radio Scotland's Radio Cafe programme provides coverage of the Edinburgh Festivals, including conversation with guests and performers. They recently announced via their Twitter feed (@TheFestivalCafe) that Iain Banks will be on the show next Thursday, August 13th.

You can find out more about the programme at www.bbc.co.uk and can book free tickets for the recording via www.venue150.com.

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

Iain Banks 2009 events schedule update

August 4th, 2009 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

I've just updated the appearances page of the website with details of a number of forthcoming Iain Banks author events to support the publication of Transition. There are a few more in the pipeline, which I'll post as and when details are finalised.

And sincere apologies for any confusion caused by last week's post (since removed from the site) about the Forbidden Planet signing. It turned out that FP had posted the wrong details on their website (which is where I got the info from) and in my rush to let everyone know about the event I neglected to double-check the details with the publicity people here at Little, Brown. My fault entirely... apologies again.

The correct date for that signing event is most definitely Saturday, October 3rd, as per the updated appearances page and the revised Forbidden Planet events listing.

DT, webguy

Transition iTunes podcast serialisation from September 3rd

July 29th, 2009 in Audiobook News, UK-Specific

Hachette Digital have confirmed that they'll be publishing the UK ebook edition of Transition in epub format, priced £17.61 and available from Waterstones.com and WHSmith.co.uk. More details when the relevant catalogue links go live.

Transition reviewed by Naomi Alderman for Prospect Magazine

July 27th, 2009 in Reviews, UK-Specific

There's an early review for the new Iain Banks novel, Transition in the August 2009 edition of Prospect Magazine.

Unfortunately you can't read the full piece on the Prospect website unless you're a magazine subscriber, but the first couple of paragraphs are available and non-subscribers can take it from us that the rest of the piece draws some very favourable conclusions indeed, with novelist Naomi Alderman saying:

"Transition is a clever novel: an exhilarating read that leaves a timebomb of philosophical engagement ticking in the reader's mind."

This particular ticking timebomb is set to explode into a bookstore near you (or through your letterbox via your online retailer-of-choice) early next month...

Iain Banks on BBC Radio Scotland – Listen Again until August 1st

July 27th, 2009 in TV, Radio & Film, UK-Specific

Iain Banks was the special guest on Shereen Nanjiani's current events talk show on BBC Radio Scotland yesterday evening.

If you missed the show, you can listen again via the BBC website until Saturday August 1st.

Pure poetry as Iain Banks adds audio to Mark Brew's Nocturne

June 26th, 2009 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

DaveH of The Banksoniain fanzine fame has been in touch with some information about an audio contribution by Iain to a dance performance that's opening tonight in London:

Not strictly an Iain appearance but Gary Lloyd who created an audio version of The Bridge and is working with Iain on a tribute album for Frozen Gold has used a recording of Iain reading a poem by Luke Pell in the music that Gary has written for a dance group.

The first of this year's performances of Nocturne by the Marc Brew Company are free and will be taking place as part of the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival this weekend. The piece lasts approximately twenty minutes.

  • Friday June 26th, 13:45 & 18:45
  • Saturday June 27th, 13:45 & 18:45
  • Sunday June 28th, 13:45 & 15:45

at Monument Gardens, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

There will also be performances at:

Iain Banks at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2009

June 18th, 2009 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

The programme for this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival has been posted online and confirms that Iain Banks will be taking part in two events this year.

The first will be a reading for the Amnesty International Imprisoned Writers Series, on Monday 17th August, from 5.30 - 6.15 p.m.

Immediately afterwards, Iain will be reading from and discussing his latest work in the National Library of Scotland event, which runs from 6.30 to 7.30 p.m.

More details are available on the EIBF ticket booking website.

Iain Banks at the EIBF this weekend

September 5th, 2008 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

A quick reminder: Iain will be appearing at the Islay Book Festival this weekend, with a Where Do You Get Your Ideas From? Q&A session taking place on Saturday at 10.30 and a session focusing on Matter on Sunday at 14.00.

See the Islay Book Festival website for more information on Iain's appearances, plus details of the other attendees.

Reminder: Iain Banks appearing at 2008 Latitude Festival

July 14th, 2008 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

Just a quick reminder that Iain Banks will be appearing at this coming weekend's Latitude Festival.

The Literary Arena page has been updated recently and lists Iain as appearing on Saturday, possibly round about lunch-time (ish). So if you're already heading on down to the festival this weekend (Saturday day passes are sold out, so it's probably best not to turn up on spec) and want to see our Mr Banks do his thing (whatever that thing turns out to be) then it looks like Saturday is the day to hang around the Literary Arena. Presumably they'll give you an actual timetable of events when you get there on the day, so you'll know roughly what time to turn up. So that should be okay...

Iain Banks appearing at the 2008 Edinburgh Book Festival

June 17th, 2008 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

The Edinburgh International Book Festival recently published its 2008 events schedule, so we can now confirm that Iain [M] Banks will be appearing on Wednesday August 13th, from 8.00 to 9.00 p.m. in a session billed as 'The Biggart Bailey Event'.

Tickets are

Iain Banks appearing in Gateshead, September '08

June 3rd, 2008 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

David from The Banksoniain has been in touch to let us know that Iain Banks is scheduled to put in an appearance in Gateshead on Friday September 12, as part of Gateshead Libraries' National Year of Reading events programme.

Initial info has been posted at www.asaplive.com, with more details to follow in due course, which we'll post as soon as we have them.

Iain Banks appearing at 2008 Islay Book Festival

May 16th, 2008 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

It was announced a while ago, but we've recently been sent some additional information on Iain's forthcoming appearance at the 2008 Islay Book Festival, which runs over the weekend of September 6th and 7th at Port Ellen Primary School on Islay.

Iain will be taking questions from the audience during a panel session on Saturday 6th at 10.30 a.m. and will then be talking about his latest novel, Matter at a second session on Sunday 7th at 2.00 p.m.

More information is available on the Islay Book Festival website: www.islaybookfestival.com.

Download 'The Wasp Factory', FREE, via The Independent and Audible.co.uk

April 8th, 2008 in Audiobook News, UK-Specific

The Independent and Audible.co.uk have teamed up to bring you a free, yes, that's right, a completely FREE - audio download of the new audiobook version of The Wasp Factory.

The Independent explains:

"Over the course of the week [the offer went live on April 2nd*] you will be able to download the chapters from this celebrated novel and by Friday April 11th you will have all of the parts you need to make up the complete 6-hour audiobook."

Full details of the offer are available from www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books.

And check out www.audible.co.uk/iainbanks for a special offer on a range of Iain Banks audio titles from Audible.co.uk, which are available at a 30% discount until April 18th.

*Apologies for the late posting of this one, folks... if you're quick, you can still catch it!

Cumbernauld Theatre Company touring 'The Wasp Factory', April – June 2008

March 21st, 2008 in Appearances & Events, UK-Specific

Doug Martin of Glasgow's Tron Theatre has been in touch with the details of a forthcoming tour of the Cumbernauld Theatre company's production of The Wasp Factory.

Here's the press release:

The Tron Theatre is thrilled to announce that Cumbernauld Theatre will premiere their new production of Iain Banks' celebrated cult novel, The Wasp Factory, at the Tron, from 17th

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