Aside from Robert, Iain Banks is one of my top favorite authors, it's just been announced that he has terminal cancer
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22015175
I've just seen that myself
I was a bit shocked and saddened to hear about this early today.
& those months turned out to be just 2 months: :( :(
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22835047
Very sad news and so fast
Podcast by Ken MacLeod includes 5-min podcast of talking with me about Iain
http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/features/2013/06/10/scottish-writer-iain-banks-dies-at-59/
Final interview, long but very good.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/jun/15/iain-banks-the-final-interview?CMP=twt_gu