This may be the first in a series of posts about authors I'm really into. Unfortunately Iain Banks is one of several who have died too early. Mind you, I haven't read all of his books.
My sister introduced me to The Wasp Factory and it was a revelation to me. I tended to read generic science fiction and horror back then. This story of a boy who killed other kids in strange ways was definitely different.
I don't have all of his books by a long shot, but have read others that are not in my own collection.
The Crow Road was another early read. There was a good TV adaptation of it. At least one other (Complicity) has been filmed. I think a few others would make good movies, but some are just too strange. Some of them stray into fantasy worlds and there is often some nasty violence. Some are more conventional novels, but there's generally a twist.
He also wrote as Iain M. Banks for works that were more science fiction. Most of these feature a galaxy spanning 'Culture' who have the most advanced technology, including AI spacecraft with strange names. He came up with some really interesting alien civilisations that are very different to anything we know of. A lot of of SF is basically westerns in space, but I like those who explore new possibilities.
There's a run-down of some of the SF books on The Guardian. I'd find it hard to rank them as I just don't remember all the details, but I've really enjoyed most of them.
I don't think it matters much what order you read his books. I may be wrong, but I don't think he even has the same characters in more than one.
I'll try to read the rest of his books when I find the time. I just don't get enough time for reading lately, so it takes me a while to complete a book. I have to be choosy about those I start.
