IAIN BANKS PASSES

Two months after he announced he had terminal cancer Scottish author Iain Banks, creator of the "Culture " series and other noteworthy literature, died early on 9. June 2013. He will be sorely missed. 

I discovered his books when I read Consider Phlebas, Bank's first science fiction novel which introduced the "Culture". He wrote his sci-fi books as Iain M. Banks and his mainstream works were published under the name Iain Banks.

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. 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. 

Banks told the BBC 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."

 You can leave a comment for his family here:

http://friends.banksophilia.com/

and here is the link to his official website:

http://www.iain-banks.net/

REV. ANDREW GREELEY

Father Greeley, who described himself as a "Loud mouthed Irish priest" died in his sleep on 29. May 2013, he was 85.

Greeley was a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction writing at least 100 non fiction works and 50 novels, including some science fiction. 

He was a sociologist, journalist as well as a novelist and was known for his outspoken criticism of the Roman Catholic hierarchy.