Of the British science-fiction and fantasy writers who began their careers in the 1980s, Iain M. Banks is one of the most important--and is certainly the most diverse in terms of the range of his published work. Primarily a novelist, he has tried his hand at brooding character studies, metafictional fantasies, near-future political thrillers, and hard-core space operas. Indeed, he has developed several relatively distinct audiences for his work. Among mainstream literary circles in Britain, his more realistic efforts are highly praised, while his science fiction is discreetly ignored; in the United States, however, he has built a growing fan base for his popular genre fiction, while some of his more character-driven works--such as Espedair Street (1987) and The Crow Road (1992)--have not been published there. While Banks has often been quoted as deploring this schizophrenic reception--stoutly arguing for the full equality of his various output, at least in...