RIP Sir Terry Pratchett

[Which Tyler]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31858156

The author died at home "with his cat sleeping on his bed, surrounded by his family," Mr Finlay said.

 

Looks like he kept his dignity; a sad day, and at his best he was inventive and hilarious.

 

"No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away"

 

I discovered him aged 11 between Equal Rights and Mort. He also wrote my favourite book by any author - Nation (though the islanders should have played rugby 7s, not cricket).

 

 

ETA: I actually feel the need to expand; this one still hasn't sunk in properly. I've never really cared about the death of random celebrity before, nor even about personal heroes (Cobain, Joost vd Westhuizen) but...he's been a part of my life since I was 11, I've met him a couple of times at book signings, and shared a table at a charity dinner. This one hurts, and it's really weird; and I kinda don't know what to do with it...

Edited March 12, 2015 by Which Tyler

[Dandesun]

This one does hurt. And I've been expecting it since the Alzheimer's diagnosis... somehow, expecting it doesn't make it any better.

[Danny Franks]

I'm very sad today, even though it's actually been a pretty good day, in terms of my work and personal life. Terry Pratchett's books have been with me since I was about twelve years old. The first fantasy author I read after Tolkien, and probably the man whose work cemented my love for the genre. His humour, wit and humanity really spoke to me, he seemed to be interested in many of the things I was interested in.

 

I first read Only You Can Save Mankind and Johnny and the Bomb when I was about ten, then Mort and The Colour of Magic in graphic novel format at about twelve. Then moved on to Men at Arms, the first novel of his that I read, and really haven't stopped since. He was the sort of prolific author who always seemed to have something relevant and interesting to say, and who could produce book after book that was of high quality.

 

Yes, there was a drop off in that quality in the last few books, and I hate to think of why that might have been. But overall he should be viewed as a seminal author.

 

I loved the Discworld computer games, I've got a Dried Frog Pills box sitting on a shelf in my bedroom, I spent countless hours doing Discworld jigsaws.

 

I can only echo Caitlin Moran's sentiment that there is not a thirteen year old child in the world who wouldn't be changed for the better if they read a Terry Pratchett book. And also this much quoted bit:

 

DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death. JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.

Edited March 12, 2015 by Danny Franks

[Julia]

I'm glad he didn't outlive his mind, since that meant so much to him, but I'm very sad now.

[cstad]

So sad... One of the great authors.... Like others, I've been expecting it since the 2007 diagnosis, but it still hurts. I re-read his books on a regular basis (Going Postal is my absolute favorite) and I find something new every time. I never met him (well, technically I did at a very brief book signing many years ago,) but I cried upon hearing the news. He was just an amazing person.

[Mars477]

RIP Sir PTerry.  You will be missed, and never forgotten.

[Captain Carrot]

I'm glad he didn't outlive his mind, since that meant so much to him, but I'm very sad now.

 

 

I have to agree. My Grandmother had Alzheimers, and no one should have to suffer like that.

 

On a related note, reading 'The Last Hero' is what helped me deal with the news that Alzheimers had finally claimed my Grandmother. So, the news of his diagnosis a few later hit even harder.