Banks, Iain Menzies (1954– )

Scottish writer. His themes include modern culture, politics, and technology, usually set in his native Scotland. His controversial first novel The Wasp Factory (1984) involves an adolescent multiple-murderer, and was criticized for its violence but critically acclaimed for its original style. His subsequent novels include The Crow Road (1992), A Song of Stone (1997), and Dead Air (2003). As Iain M Banks he produces works of science fiction, including Against a Dark Background (1993) and Inversions (1998).

Among his other works are The State of the Art (1989), Cleaning Up (1987), and Whit (1995).