Reading this book on Iain M. Banks and Culture novels. Banks appears to have been seriously gonzo. Heavy drinker, speed demon (multiple car crashes), urban explorer (liked to climb infrastructure), liked blowing things up as a kid. No wonder Elon vibes. amazon.com/Culture-Iain-B
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Interesting that I’m nothing like this, but many authors I enjoy were kinda like this. Douglas Adams was similar though I think less extreme.
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I’ve tried and occasionally succeeded at imitating Adams’ style but I could never even try imitating Banks. I’m probably anti-gonzo. Never exceed moderate intensity living. Only been drunk 3-4 times in my life and didn’t enjoy it. Don’t like driving fast.
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Now I wonder which famous fiction writers have had personalities similar to mine, if any. Perhaps none. Possibly I have a non-fiction writing personality.
🤔🤔🤔
Is there like a big fat book of short personality sketches of writers?
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Though in interviews he came over as incredibly nice, and Raw Spirit is just a great travel book.
Am I going to be disappointed in him if I read this?!
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It’s not a biography. It’s about the culture. He seems nice. Just gonzo as well.
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There's a good reflection on the affinity for the Culture novels by Musk and Bezos here: bloodknife.com/culture-war-ia
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Otherwise known as ‘being Scottish’ :)
His whisky book, Raw Spirit, tells you a lot about who he was, I think.
I was also lucky enough to be on the first year English course at Stirling (where Banks went) when he was delivering two lectures on The Wasp Factory for the course.
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I am interested in reading the book - so the key question for me is, do you think its any good?





