Val McDermid on her friend Iain Banks…
Monday 8 June 2015
The crime writer on the “profound signifcance” of Banks’ writing, and why she’s looking forward to the BBC dramatisation of Stonemouth.
He was one of the finest novelists of his generation
I remember reading Iain’s first novel, The Wasp Factory, when it came out in paperback in the mid-80s and thinking, “Wow! This is extraordinary.” After that, I read everything of his — the science-fiction [published under the name Iain M Banks] as well as the straight novels.
Later we met at a book signing in Manchester. I went along as a friend of the shop and a fan of his work. We all went out for a drink afterwards and that was the start of our friendship. Read the full article…
