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"Iain Banks passed away earlier today (June 9), two months after announcing he had terminal cancer. Tributes have poured in for the acclaimed author of such novels as The Crow Road and The Wasp Factory.  Below are some of the reactions from the star&amp;#039;s friends and admirers: Iain Banks is dead. I&amp;#039;m crying in an empty house. A good man and a friend for almost 30 years. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-228350\u00E2\u20AC\u00A6 \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) June 9, 2013  So sad to wake up to the newsIain Banks has passed away. What a wonderful writer. He&amp;#039;ll be greatly missed. m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-228350\u00E2\u20AC\u00A6 \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Ewan McGregor (@mcgregor_ewan) June 9, 2013  Feel so sad to hear about Iain Banks. It&amp;#039;s early here, but I&amp;#039;m off out to the pub to toast one of my all time literary heroes with a malt. \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Irvine Welsh (@WelshIrvine) June 9, 2013  RIP Iain Banks. Will never forget the first time I curiously picked up &amp;quot;The Wasp Factory&amp;quot; nor it&amp;#039;s life long effect it&amp;#039;s had on me. \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Jamie Bell (@1jamiebell) June 9, 2013  So very sad to hear about Iain (M) Banks. An astounding talent and a great soul. Just received a copy of The Quarry. \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) June 9, 2013  Rest in peace Iain Banks. Such sad news. \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) June 9, 2013  If recent tweets are true then sadly it appears that Iain Banks passed away this morning. A sad and untimely loss. RIP \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Johnny Vegas (@JohnnyVegasReal) June 9, 2013  Very sad. RT @alannajane1: So sad. True gent &amp;quot;@bbcbreaking: Best-selling Scottish author Iain Banks has died&amp;quot; #IainBanks&amp;quot; \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Lorraine (@reallorraine) June 9, 2013  Saddened to hear that Iain Banks has passed away.One of Scotland&amp;#039;s literary greats who always approached life with extraordinary vitality. \u00E2\u20AC\u201D FM Alex Salmond (@AlexSalmond) June 9, 2013  RIP Iain Banks. The Wasp Factory is an incredible book. \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Huw $tephen$ (@huwstephens) June 9, 2013  Sad news about Iain Banks. A superbwriter. He will be greatly missed. \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Bill Bailey (@BillBailey) June 9, 2013  Interviewing Iain Banks has been one of the great privileges of my life. Compassionate, brilliant, funny, perceptive. We are all the poorer. \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Kirsty Wark (@KirstyWark) June 9, 2013  Very sad to hear about Iain Banks. \u00E2\u20AC\u201D Peter Serafinowicz (@serafinowicz) June 9, 2013  Sleep tight Iain Banks. An incredible wordsmith. RIP x \u00E2\u20AC\u201D kate thornton (@k8_thornton) June 9, 2013  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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