Happy Birthday Ian M. Banks

I know it's already tomorrow in Scotland as I post this, but happy birthday to Ian M. Banks. Mr. Banks came to fame with novels like The Wasp Factory (1984) writing under the name Ian Banks. But it is the novels he's written as Ian M.Banks that have earned him a prominent place in the rolls of sf. Beginning with Consider Phlebas (1987) and elaborated upon in subsequent novels, Banks crafted an amazing future history centered on The Culture. Thank you for creating such a marvelous literary universe and happy birthday, Ian.