Synopsis
The first ever collection of Iain Banks's short
fiction, this volume includes the acclaimed novella, The State of the
Art. This is a striking addition to the growing body of Culture lore,
and adds definition and scale to the previous works by using the Earth
of 1977 as contrast. The other stories in the collection range from
science fiction to horror, dark-coated fantasy to morality tale. All
bear the indefinable stamp of Iain Banks's staggering talent.
About the Author
Iain Banks came to
controversial public notice with the publication of his first novel,
The Wasp Factory, in 1984. Consider Phlebas, his first science fiction
novel, was published under the name Iain M. Banks in 1987. He is now
widely acclaimed as one of the most powerful, innovative and exciting
writers of his generation. Iain Banks lives in Fife, Scotland.