Edinburgh Book Festival: Iain Banks

A funny, affectionate, poignant and at times uproarious celebration of Iain's life and career. Neil Gaiman looks very serious in this picture, but his anecdote was anything but. The event is well described elsewhere, omitting only that we were all invited to the adjoining pavilion afterwards to partake of a celebratory dram. I think Iain would have approved.

The Edinburgh book sculptor's tribute to Iain, now freed from its cage, had pride of place on stage during the event, which was quite appropriate as its attached message from Ian Rankin sums up the emotional heart of our communal celebration - "For Iain (M) Banks who went the crow road far too soon ...".