Let's make this birthday one to remember.

71 years old (Born on February 16, 1954)

Happy birthday to the legendary Iain Banks! Whether you're exploring dark corners in "The Wasp Factory" or boldly venturing through galaxies with "Consider Phlebas," your stories have always kept us delightfully unsettled and endlessly entertained. Your imagination has given readers countless sleepless nights—and we wouldn't trade them for anything.

Your Culture series continues to inspire generations, proving that a good story never ages—much like fine whisky (which we're sure you'd appreciate!). Today, let's raise our glasses high: here's hoping wherever you are now is as fascinatingly strange and wonderfully complex as the worlds you've created. Cheers, Iain!