If you can tear your eyes away from the travesty that is the BBC class calculator today, there is some rather sadder news in literature: http://m.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/a...bladder-cancer
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If you can tear your eyes away from the travesty that is the BBC class calculator today, there is some rather sadder news in literature: http://m.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/a...bladder-cancer
That's very depressing. His "literary" work doesn't really do it for me, but his Culture novels have been some of the best SF around for quite a while.
Just saw in the paper today that Roger Ebert's cancer has made a comeback as well. I hope he can beat it again, and I especially hope without taking the physical toll on him that the first go-round did.
I read about it today too. It's a shame. His Sci Fi books are brilliant as Calidore says. One of them - Use of Weapons - was discussed by The Guardian Book Club last year.
I have read three of his books. Whit from his non sci-fi books, and Inversions and one other from his science fiction books. Inversions was good. Whit was okay. I cannot remember the other book but I didn't think much of it.
I haven't read anything by him, but it's always shocking to hear such news, and it's always sad to lose a member of the literary community, particularly in such an untimely manner.
Further sad news. Roger Ebert has passed away.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calidore
:(
I just saw that. Wow. At least it was quick, which is a blessing where cancer's concerned. Not many people with cancer get to live all the way until their last day of life.
That is sad. He had only recently discovered that cancer had returned to his body. His film critic partner, Gene Siskel, died from a brain tumor in 1999. RIP guys, and we'll see you at the movies.
I hope Mr. Banks is surrounded by his loved ones in his final days, and perhaps will take some comfort knowing he created works that gave enjoyment to countless people.
I read the Algebraist, as well as The Player of Games. I enjoyed both very much, and the latter novel is one of my all-time favorite science fiction books.
Agreed. I read Consider Phlebas first and loved it, then read Player of Games and was blown away. Those two made me a fan for life.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vota
Sadly, Iain Banks has passed away: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013...ain-banks-dies
Very sad. I'm glad he got his wishes to see his last book on the shelves and to marry his girlfriend.
I was just starting with my first novel of his, Consider Phlebas, when I found out he had cancer. From all I've read from him in the past couple months, it seems like he was a really great guy. I'm really sad to see him go.
I'm shocked. it was very quick. I really liked his sci fi work and agree that the Algebraist, which was my first introduction to him, is very good. I followed this with The Player of Games which is one of the few sci fi's I'm re-reading. One of his best is Surface Detail which is complex tale but discusses the morality of a digital hell in which criminals and radicals can be imprisoned. I think there's much more to the books than just thumping stories, and they would be a good topic for study.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFifthElement