Terry Pratchett Died Today

[YellowCat]

And I'm upset about it. The world will be much less fun without Discworld to fall back on (into).

“In theory it was, around now, Literature. Susan hated Literature. She'd much prefer to read a good book.” ― Terry Pratchett, Soul Music

[Annamal]

I am really glad I found out at home, otherwise I would have been sobbing at my desk at work.

I am glad he got to go surrounded by his family and cat, and knowing himself.

He was a righteously angry human being who channelled that rage into works of art that are going to be entertaining people for as long as people are able to read.

He was also funny as hell.

OOOK

[EliseHearts]

He will certainly be missed, but his legacy will live on in his incredible books and characters. Thank you, Mr Pratchett for bringing joy and learning to my life and the lives of many others.

[CU Tiger]

I started crying when I heard. Not that it was a surprise, but his books have been so important to me, that I loved him. In a completely non-stalkery way! I just think that he made the world better with his books, and now that he's gone it is a sadder, grayer place. Thank goodness for the books, they remain to comfort me!!!!!*

He understood people, and sometimes liked them anyway.

They called themselves the Munrungs. It meant The People, or The True Human Beings.
 It's what most people call themselves, to begin with. And then one day the tribe meets some other People or, if it's not been a good day, The Enemy. If only they'd think up a name like Some More True Human Beings, it'd save a lot of trouble later on.


*'And all those exclamation marks, you notice? Five? A sure sign of someone who wears his underpants on his head.' -- Maskerade

[MandalayVA]

It's fitting that the news was tweeted by Death (Binky must have been elsewhere):

“AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER.”

Admittedly I've only read a couple of the Discworld books, but I have many friends who are huge fans and are very sad today.  There won't be another like him.

[Rural]

http://xkcd.com/1498/

[Annamal]

Admittedly I've only read a couple of the Discworld books, but I have many friends who are huge fans and are very sad today.  There won't be another like him.

Like him?

Maybe not but I suspect he is going to be a massive influence on the generations of writers who come after him.
I can already pick up tiny touches that are Pratchett inspired in a lot of up and coming authors.

[deborah]

I was really surprised when his last book came out, because I already knew he had altzheimers, so I wasn't expecting another. I think everyone knew it was his last. Thank goodness he managed to do it!

[Annamal]

I was really surprised when his last book came out, because I already knew he had altzheimers, so I wasn't expecting another. I think everyone knew it was his last. Thank goodness he managed to do it!

Actually there is one more in the Tiffany Aching series due out later this year I think

[deborah]

I was really surprised when his last book came out, because I already knew he had altzheimers, so I wasn't expecting another. I think everyone knew it was his last. Thank goodness he managed to do it!

Actually there is one more in the Tiffany Aching series due out later this year I think

Yes - you're right.

[MLKnits]

Such a loss! I love Discworld, but also really enjoy his more serious works, like The Long Earth.

[tensile]

Discworld - so many hours of entertainment - I suppose I thought I'd be a successful author by now and regularly bumping into him at parties. Shame I'll never get the chance to tell him how much fun he gave me.

[Annamal]

There's a really interesting conversation between Michael Chabon and Neil Gaiman here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeyjn3EaHAM

the first 30 or minutes are Neil talking about Terry Pratchett in the wake of his friend's death and they had me alternately crying and laughing out loud.

My favourite anecdote was during the writing of Good Omens Terry would apparently leave messages on Neil's answering machine consisting of "Get up, get up you bastard, I've just written a good bit!"

[Murdoch]

Very sad. An incredible mind.
Haven't read a book of his for years.
Time to dive back in.

[CU Tiger]

I was really surprised when his last book came out, because I already knew he had altzheimers, so I wasn't expecting another. I think everyone knew it was his last. Thank goodness he managed to do it!

Actually there is one more in the Tiffany Aching series due out later this year I think

Hearing that was like a gift. One more book from Terry to look forward to.

[Anatidae V]

http://xkcd.com/1498/

Thank you for that, I've been looking for a quote of his to use as a reading during my wedding and that one is so lovely. I was so happy/sad at hearing he'd passed, I saw my great grandmother, a very strong woman, slowly slip into Alzheimer's and it was awful. So wonderful that he could do so in the best possible circumstances.