Iain Banks

I've been off line most of the day, came back to find that there's some very bad news; Iain Banks has died; he was recently diagnosed with gall bladder cancer, and it went faster than anyone anticipated.

I don't have any good stories to tell about him; we moved in similar SF circles but had different friends, I've probably spoken to him a dozen or so times over the years. I did once point out a science gaffe in Surface Detail, but that's about it. Nevertheless he was one of my favourite authors, and he'll be badly missed by everyone who knew him or liked his work.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22835047