Iain Banks was a Scottish author born on February 16, 1954, in Dunfermline, Fife. He gained fame for his works in both mainstream fiction and science fiction, particularly for his Culture series, which explores a post-scarcity society. His first novel, The Wasp Factory, published in 1984, received critical acclaim and established him as a significant voice in contemporary literature. Banks wrote under two names: Iain Banks for mainstream novels and Iain M. Banks for his science fiction works. He published numerous novels, essays, and short stories throughout his career, earning several awards, including the British Science Fiction Association Award. Banks passed away on June 9, 2013, leaving a lasting impact on the literary world.