Iain Banks on University Challange

Quirkafleeg · 16 December, 2005, 12:22:57 AM

On a 'writers' team (vs 'actors')
8.30 pm on Sunday 1st January

Art · 16 December, 2005, 12:23:46 AM

Old school luvees or dimwitted know-nothing TV actors?

Quirkafleeg · 16 December, 2005, 05:07:52 AM

My BBC insider (ok someone on another board who subscribes to some fancy listing thing) sez the actor team is: Janet Suzman, Robert Powell, Martin Jarvis and Samuel West. The other writers on Bank's team are Jimmy McGovern, Andrew Davies and Tony Marchant

longmanshort · 16 December, 2005, 05:54:01 AM

Janet Suzman

Pffp, all they need to do is ask questions about the plays and theories of Brecht - the woman hasn't got a clue on that subject ...

It's a long story ...

Quirkafleeg · 30 December, 2005, 05:33:27 AM

He's also on Celebrity Mastermind on Jan 2 at 19.00 answering questions on 'Malt Whisky and the Distilleries of Scotland'

Quirkafleeg · 02 January, 2006, 05:50:18 PM

Writer's won (despite the actors having an early lead) so Banks is on twice tonight!

Richmond Clements · 02 January, 2006, 06:36:37 PM

The boy done well last night, even managing to get a minor dig in at the royal family.

Matt Timson · 03 January, 2006, 01:51:10 AM

WHAAAAT?!? Strike out his eyes!

Bico · 03 January, 2006, 01:53:45 AM

Does he still do that thing with the 'M' in his name for his science fiction/non-science fiction books?

Slippery PD · 03 January, 2006, 02:47:49 AM

Hes wearing a Morton top. Well done! :)

Slips

Funt Solo · 03 January, 2006, 03:32:54 AM

::"Does he still do that thing with the 'M' in his name for his science fiction/non-science fiction books?"

Aye, he still does that.

Quirkafleeg · 03 January, 2006, 03:37:09 AM

Double victory...

Bico · 03 January, 2006, 03:51:47 AM

I don't have a clue what to make of that thing with the M in his name. It's probably smart to disassociate yourself from what's percieved to be more of a ghetto than an actual genre of writing (if the literary awards are any indication), but is it sort of shying away from making a stand and saying "this is literature too"?
I'm not bothered either way, to be honest - I'm just confused why I'm not bothered. I'm usually quite reactionary on such subjects.

Art · 03 January, 2006, 04:23:17 AM

"It was a mistake, It seemed like a good idea at the time ... I put in the manuscript of The Wasp Factory as Iain M. Banks, and my publishers then, Macmillan, thought the M. was a little fussy, and would I mind losing it. It didn't bother me in the least, so I did. But then I got grief from my family - 'Are you ashamed of being a Menzies, then?' When the first science-fiction novel was coming out I had thought of using a pseudonym and then decided against, but I had what I thought was a good idea and said, 'let's put the M. back.' There's a sort of historical precedent: Brian W. Aldiss puts the W. in when he's writing non-SF. But I regret doing it, intensely now, because I'm always answering questions about it, and also because it passes on ammunition to the literary snobs who just assume that I make the distinction because I'm writing down when I'm writing science fiction."

Funt Solo · 03 January, 2006, 04:35:14 AM

You may already know this, but in an interview years ago, it surprised me to learn that Banks actually wrote his sci-fi first, only writing non sci-fi books because the publishers wouldn't cut him a deal on his sci-fi.

Thus, his first few non sci-fi books are all pretty far out, with strong elements of fantasy: The Wasp Factory and The Bridge spring to mind.

Once those were successful, the publishers were only too happy to publish Consider Phlebas.

After his sci-fi was accepted for publication, you'll note that his non sci-fi work settles down somewhat with work such as Espedair Street and The Crow Road.