Has terminal cancer :(
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22015175
Arguably one of the finest Sci-Fi writers around, if you haven't read Consider Phlebas (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Consider-Phlebas-Culture-Iain-Banks/dp/1857231384/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364990256&sr=8-1) then I strongly reccomend you give it a go.
He will be sorely missed when he goes.
Sad news. Easily my favourite SF author.
Indeed sad, he's done some great books, many of which are sitting on my bookshelf :sad:
I will miss the Culture, always looked forward to the next book. Met him at our Poly's Sci-Fi society's convention. He was our guest of honour and was always a very nice and approachable bloke. Had time for all the stupid questions sci-fi nerds tend to ask and enjoyed a good drink.