I have a strong memory of a very enjoyable train journey from the NW of England up to Glasgow in the company of Iain Banks and Bob Shaw, when they were both guests of honour at a Glasgow Eastercon. Iain and Bob between them demolished an entire 1l bottle of whisky on that 3h journey
. Alas Bob has been dead for many years, and now it looks as though Iain too won't be with us much longer. A genuinely nice man - this is really terrible news.