The family of Scottish author Iain Banks has said that the writer passed away after a battle with terminal gall bladder cancer. Banks was best known for his novel The Wasp Factory as well as his science fiction work published under the name Iain M. Banks. A statement by his publishers said, “Banks’ ability to combine the most fertile imaginations with his own highly distinctive brand of gothic humour made him unique.”
Banks announced his illness back in April, and said that it was unlikely he would live more than a year. As a result of his cancer, Banks requested his publisher move up the release date of his last book The Quarry. The book is scheduled to be released on June 20th, but Banks had seen finished copies, and attended celebrations of the work before his death.
The Quarry tells the story of the last few weeks of a man’s life as he is dying of cancer.
In May Banks wrote on his website Banksophilia that he was moved by the support his fans had shown saying, “Still knocked out by the love and the depth of feeling coming from so many people; thank you, all of you.”
(via The BBC, image via Chris Boland)
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