(16 February 1954 – 9 June 2013) was a Scottish author. He wrote mainstream fiction under the name Iain Banks, and science fiction as Iain M. Banks.
Following the publication and success of THE WASP FACTORY(1984), Banks began to write on a full-time basis. His first science fiction book, CONSIDER PHLEBAS, was released in 1987, marking the start of the popular THE CULTURE series. His books have been adapted for theatre, radio and television. In 2008, The Times named Banks in their list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”. By his death in June 2013 Banks had published 26 novels. His twenty-seventh novel THE QUARRY was published posthumously.