Empires are synonymous with centralized if occasionally schismatized hierarchical power structures in which influence is restricted to an economically privileged class retaining its advantages through usually a judicious use of oppression and skilled manipulation of both the society's information dissemination… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
I'm not a great believer in awards-of course the fact that I've never won one has nothing to do with it at all! — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
“Looking at me, you'd never guess I'd killed three people. It isn't fair.” — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
“The flames had passed over those flattened blades and consumed their heather neighbours on either side while they themselves had remained, made proof against… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
All you ever were was a little bit of the universe, thinking to itself. Very specific; this bit, here, right now. All the rest… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
“We're not in prison, we're not junkies and we're not Young Tories...it's no small achievement.” — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
Torture is such a slippery slope; as soon as you allow a society or any legal system to do that, almost instantly you get… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
“Two years after I killed Blyth I murdered my young brother Paul, for quite different reasons than I'd disposed of Blyth, and then a… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
If you have any helpful suggestions I'd be pleased to hear them. If all you can do is make snide insinuations then it would… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
“He hit and fatally injured my innocent and unfortunate uncle whose muttered last words in hospital, before his coma became a full stop, were:… — Iain Banks Copy Share Image
