Iain Banks 1954-2013

I learned that Iain Banks had died from a tweet by Neil Gaiman around lunch time this afternoon.
I've never met him and have only read a handful of his work.
But when I was at university he was always more than happy to travel up to Aberdeen for cost of his petrol to talk to the AUSFF. I lived outside of town so transport was an issue and was never able to attend but he was by all accounts funny, intelligent and kind and was always a popular guest speaker.
I feel sad that at the time I hadn't read any of his books so didn't make more of an effort to hear him and I will try to read more of his books in the future.
Neil Gaiman has written a moving post here here
And his Guardian obituary is here