The Scottish author will be reading from Matter, the sixth instalment in his science-fiction series about an alien civilization known as The Culture.

The son of a naval officer and a professional ice skater, Iain enjoyed instant success with his debut novel, the macabre The Wasp Factory, in 1984.

His literary fiction is as well known as his sci-fi output, with The Crow Road adapted for television by the BBC during the Nineties and Complicity made into a (poorly received) motion picture.

Iain was part of the 2004 campaign to have Tony Blair impeached following the invasion of Iraq and was the subject of a South Bank Show last year.

Acclaimed as "the most imaginative British novelist of his generation" by The Times, his complex work is characterised by dark humour, breathtaking set pieces and the fusing of genres.

A regular music reviewer on Marc "Lard" Riley's Radio 6 Music show, he has released a compilation album of some of his favourite songs, entitled Personal Effects. He has scored victories in celebrity editions of University Challenge and Mastermind, and also finds time to write about one of his greatest passions, Scotch whisky.

You can read an extract from the book at www.orbitbooks.net.

  • 6.30pm, £6 (includes a free glass of wine). Call 01273 736222.