Iain Banks first novel, The Wasp Factory, was published in 1984. In the years since, he's won critical acclaim, topped best-seller lists and has even written Science Fiction books under the cunning nom-de-plume 'Iain M. Banks'. He's also seen this book, "The Crow Road", adapted for television by the BBC in 1996. "Canal Dreams" is his fifth non sci-fi book and was first published in 1989.

The book's central character is Hisako Onoda, a world-famous cellist. As the book opens, Hisako is en-route from Japan to Europe, where she's due to perform in a series of concerts. However, as she's terrified of flying, she's making the journey by boat. Having travelled to Honolulu on the Gassam Maru, she then boarded the Nakodo - which was due to take her to Rotterdam via the Panama Canal. Unfortunately, due to 'civil unrest' in the region - armed conflict between guerrilla fighters and government forces - the canal has been closed. Fro the moment, the Nakodo and two other ships are essentially trapped on Gatún Lake. Although they are hoping for the all-clear to continue their journey soon, the conflict I, unfortunately, coming closer.

There are elements of a thriller to "Canal Dreams", but the strength of the book lies in telling Hisako's story. She is a very well-developed character, though her past in only gradually given away - the book jumps backwards and forwards, looking at some of the key events of Hisako's life. It's a method that may take a little getting used to - especially if you haven't read anything by Banks before. However, for me, I felt it really added to the enjoyment of the book. Hisako's travelling companions aren't so well developed, and little is told of their lives, thoughts or motivations. However, as "Canal Dreams" doesn't set out to tell their stories this really isn't a problem - and I would absolutely recommend this book.

Iain Banks dies of cancer aged 59
BBC Report, 9th of June, 2013.
Link : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22835047

Iain Banks Iain Banks was best known for his novels The Wasp Factory, The Crow Road and Complicity.

Author Iain Banks has died aged 59, two months after announcing he had terminal cancer, his family has said. The Scottish writer revealed in April he was suffering from terminal gall bladder cancer and was unlikely to live for more than a year. He was best known for his novels The Wasp Factory, The Crow Road and Complicity.

In a statement, his publisher said he was "an irreplaceable part of the literary world". Little, Brown Book Group said the author was "one of the country's best-loved novelists" for both his mainstream and science fiction books. "Iain Banks' ability to combine the most fertile of imaginations with his own highly distinctive brand of gothic humour made him unique," it said.

After announcing his illness in April, Banks asked his publishers to bring forward the release date of his latest novel, The Quarry, so he could see it on the shelves.

On Sunday, it was revealed the book - to be released on 20 June - would detail the physical and emotional strain of cancer. It describes the final weeks of the life of a man in his 40s who has terminal cancer. Speaking to the BBC's Kirsty Wark, Banks said he was some 87,000 words into writing the book when he was diagnosed with his own illness.

"I had no inkling. So it wasn't as though this is a response to the disease or anything, the book had been kind of ready to go," he said. "And then 10,000 words from the end, as it turned out, I suddenly discovered that I had cancer."

Little, Brown said the author was presented with finished copies of his last novel three weeks ago. Iain Banks books Banks wrote sci-fi titles under the name Iain M Banks. Banks' first novel, The Wasp Factory, was published in 1984 and was ranked as one of the best 100 books of the 20th Century in a 1997 poll conducted by book chain Waterstone's and Channel 4. The writer also penned sci-fi titles under the name Iain M Banks. His most recent book, The Hydrogen Sonata, was released last year.

Fellow Scottish author Ken MacLeod paid tribute to Banks, saying he had "left a large gap in the Scottish literary scene as well as the wider speaking English world". "He brought a wonderful combination of the dark and the light side of life and he explored them both without flinching," he said. "He brought the same degree of craft and skill and commitment to his science fiction as he did to his mainstream fiction and he never drew any distinction in terms of his pride in what he was doing."

MacLeod added he had visited Banks on Wednesday, where he was in "good spirits". "He was concentrating on his plans and projects, and had been hoping to have another couple of months - which was the last prognosis that he had been given," he said.

After announcing his illness, Banks had described being "hugely moved" by the public support for him through his website. "Still knocked out by the love and the depth of feeling coming from so many people; thank you, all of you," he wrote on Banksophilia last month.

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In honour of one of my favourite authors.

Left in the Croghan Hide.

Found this book on 10th June at Oxford Island Nature Reserve whilst on holiday. I'd read Stonebridge a couple of months ago and I wanted to read more of his work, especially with the news of his death.

I've just finished reading this and am now about to work my way through some of his other books I've missed over the years. This is pretty harrowing in places, but as with Stonemouth, by the second half I just couldn't put it down.

Released in Ecco Vino in the centre of Edinburgh. First time i've released a book so i'm keeping my fingers crossed!