SUBSCRIBE VIA RSS

UK-Specific Archive

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.

Free Iain Banks Transition iPhone 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."

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]

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

« Older Entries