author
I. E. M.
Best known for imaginative science fiction and sharp, darkly funny mainstream novels, this Scottish writer built a devoted readership across two distinct literary careers. He published literary fiction as Iain Banks and science fiction as Iain M. Banks.
1 Audiobook
Confessions of an Etonian
by I. E. M.
About the author
Born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1954, he studied at the University of Stirling before working a variety of jobs and turning to writing full time. His breakthrough came with The Wasp Factory in 1984, a novel that quickly made him one of the most talked-about new British writers.
He became especially admired for moving between genres with ease: contemporary fiction under the name Iain Banks, and science fiction under Iain M. Banks. His science fiction, including the celebrated Culture novels, is known for its large imaginative scale, wit, and moral curiosity, while his non-science-fiction work often blends family drama, satire, and unsettling humor.
Banks remained a major figure in British literature for decades. He died in 2013, but his books continue to attract readers who like fiction that is bold, intelligent, and never quite predictable.