Iain Banks, also known by his pseudonym Iain M. Banks, was a celebrated Scottish author. He was renowned for his dual repertoire, writing mainstream fiction under Iain Banks and science fiction under Iain M. Banks. Banks added the initial of his adopted middle name, Menzies, when he ventured into the realm of science fiction. His literary debut, The Wasp Factory in 1984, marked the beginning of a prolific writing career. After its success, he committed to writing full-time.

His first foray into science fiction, Consider Phlebas, appeared in 1987 and marked the inception of the acclaimed Culture series. Banks was not just a novelist; his works have been adapted for theatre, radio, and television. In 2008, The Times named him in their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945". In April 2013, he announced that he had inoperable cancer and was unlikely to live beyond a year. He passed away on 9 June 2013.