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Sir Terry Pratchett Succumbs To "the Embuggerance," Aged 66
New submitter sp1nl0ck writes Sir Terry Pratchett, the creator of Discworld, has died aged 66, following a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Sir Terry announced that he was suffering from The Embuggerance in an open letter to fans over seven years ago, and recently had to cancel a planned appearance at the International Discworld Convention last summer, and donated over £500K of his own money to research into the condition. He also spoke in favour of a euthanasia tribunal, the members of which would consider the case of each '...applicant...to ensure they are of sound and informed mind, firm in their purpose, suffering from a life-threatening and incurable disease and not under the influence of a third party'. Sadly, he didn't survive long enough to see such a tribunal — or indeed any kind of assistance for those suffering from an incurable condition who wish to end their own life — come into being. More at the BBC.
A lot.
Funny, thought-provoking, and above all, a great story teller. If you like that sort of thing... side note, my username is a pratchett reference...
Oh, wait. Apparently I just suck at reading comprehension.
- In Soviet Korea, only old people loose all their bases to Natalie Portman's petrified hot grits overlords.
At least Death should be kind to him.
He made Death more human - and humane - than almost any author before him.
Terry, Sir, just make sure you don't end up cleaning Albert's boots.
“And he goes around killing people?” said Mort. He shook his head. "There’s no justice.”
Death sighed. No, he said,...THERE IS JUST ME.
One of my favorite books, and he co-authored it with Neil Gaiman. Going to be rereading it this weekend.
Terry Pratchett, absolutely fantastic author. You will be missed.
To be fair, his talent was recognised - in the UK at least - in the last 10 years or so and he helped cut down the pathetic intellectual snobbery against sci fi and fantasy books by the literary mafia who wouldn't know a decent book if it was tattooed onto their backsides.
The Embuggerance - something that leaves you feeling screwed?
Pratchett was one of the great masters of language and words, and with the courage to meet his fate face on, I think. One of the things I will always remember him for is saying - on BBC - that he would 'gnaw the arse of a dead mole' if he thought that might help. Brilliant. Defiant.
Another thing I think a lot of people will remember him for is 'Good Omens'. And The Carpet people. and all the other stories. And the two science fiction books he wrote: 'Strata' and 'The Dark Side of the Sun'' - I would have loved to see more like those too. But it is over. Just leave me alone for a while.
Ook. :(
"Evil will always triumph over good, because good is dumb." - Dark Helmet (Spaceballs)
Sir Terry Pratchett was the greatest humanist I knew in my life. ...
He managed to touch the souls of great number of people through his uniquely clear worldview and managed to infuse great human values in the best possible way.
Needless to say, reading and living with his books was one of the most enlightening experiences I have ever had with the written letters.
His wisdom and approach to life will be dearly missed. Him being of the most famoust atheists, I can only say he left this earth forever, to finally settle in our hearts and the souls of those to come after us, growing up to be better human beings, through his books and ideas.
Because ideas never die
RIP Sir Terry Pratchett
Long Live Sir Terry Pratchett
Now, Make Your WISE Move...
We'll be having a game of Ankh-Morpork in his honour.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D...
"Nice robe."
To be fair, assuming the decent book had to be read with a mirror, then the entire tattoo would have to be written backwards which is very error prone and curves and saggy skin will make it likely that sentences will be unreadable so identifying a decent book under those circumstances is really hard.
These comments are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the other voices in my head.
It was only 9 years ago that I rad my first Prachett novel. His books came to me at a good time in my life, when things were tough and I needed a smile and to spent time with characters I loved. I am sorry to hear this, although it was announced a number of years ago so I knew it was coming. I hope he knew how much happiness he brought to the world with his stories.
LLAP
Peace, or Not?
"I would like my pudding now nurse. And then I think I'd like to... write... something... I don't remember what."
Standing in the corner, he waits. The sand slowly flows, but it nears it's end. The old man still glows, as thousands of threads spread away from him.
SQUEAK.
I AGREE. IT IS A SHAME TO SEE HIM THIS WAY.
SQUEAK.
NO. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.... BUT I CANNOT WAIT TO ASK HIM HOW IT ALL ENDS.
The old man looks up, through them at first... and then he sees them. For once, the smile on the hooded figure's skull is genuine.
"I... I remember you. The anth... ant..."
ANTHROPOMORPHIC PERSONIFICATION.
"Yes, that. We knew each other?"
ONCE. AND WILL AGAIN, SIR.
He so rarely said it, and these feelings... remembering his young aprentice, and beloved daughter. The beautiful child they have.
"There... is a girl, yes?"
SHE IS SPEAKING TO THE AUDITORS, SIR. THEY ARE UNWILLING TO LISTEN.
"Well then. You know what they say, two things you cannot avoid. Taxes and..." He looks into the firey blue eyes, and becomes aware.
SQUEAK.
"Quite right. Is it time already? I have so much left to do."
YOU HAVE GIVEN ALL YOU CAN SIR.
"No, not cancer. Alzheimers."
I AM AWARE.
"So, where is the boy? I remember a boy."
CARRIAGE ACCIDENT.
"Ahh. Never much trusted cars. Or horses."
THEY GET YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
"Must I?"
SOON. BUT WE MAY SIT HERE AWHILE.
SQUEAK
DO YOU HAVE ANY BISCUITS?
"No. Shame really."
YES.
"Is it truely turtles?"
ALL THE WAY DOWN. I HAVE SEEN THEM.
"Ahh. I would love to see it. Perhaps a small trip before?"
IT WOULD BE MY PLEASURE.
"The light is slower there... and there's a monkey...."
ORANGUTAN. SAME PRINCIPLE.
"Yes... will they remember me?"
SQUEAK.
"What was that? I could not hear you."
HE SAYS WE WILL, SIR.
"I never much liked the trouble people had with you. You seem like a nice fellow."
I HAVE MY DAYS.
"Don't we all?"
SOME LESS THAN OTHERS.
"Is it quick?"
YES. AND I BROUGHT THE SWORD. CEREMONY DICTATES IT.
"Ahh. How about a cup of tea?"
I WOULD ENJOY IT. DO YOU PLAY CHESS?
"No. how about checkers?"
And so they sat, two old friends regaling each other, though the old man could not remember all of the details, the cloaked man and his rat filled him in, when it was needed.
Oooooook!
I feel like I've lost a member of the family.
I started reading the Discworld novels to my daughter when she was seven years old. She decided that Hogfather was her most favorite novel and brought it to school for book appreciation day in second grade. (Around 2001.) This caused a hasty parent/teacher conference where I was asked pointedly why I was reading books to my grade school daughter where the main character was Death.
A few years later I wrote about this incident to Terry and passed along a question from my daughter -- what's on the other side of the discworld? Is there a bottom discworld, or just a big brass sign that says "content on other side"? [1]
On the incident, Terry responded "Ah, teachers. We used to have ones that were educated. Once you could respect them." and went on to say that The Amazing Maurice which also has Death as a character, won the Carnegie Medal from children's librarians. About the bottom of the discworld, he said there would only be wet rocks and perhaps some specialized form of life.
God, I'm going to miss him.
[1] I was a Laserdisc enthusiast, and daughter knew that this was the message you got when you played the wrong side of a one-sided disc.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
“And he goes around killing people?” said Mort. He shook his head. "There’s no justice.”
Death sighed. No, he said,...THERE IS JUST ME.
WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN?
The Reaper Man- Terry Pratchett
Got to get past the silly filter.
Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
Oh I don't know... many seem to have their head up their ass...
Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
The "Embuggerance" was his name for Alzheimer's. It wasn't a euphemism so much as his using his gift for language to very concisely convey what it was like having this happen to him.
He considered 'Nation' to be his finest work.
You shouldn't regret reading anything of his though.
Ok, since you asked.
His first three novels (in chronological order) are just average fantasy. (The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Equal Rites) I recommend instead the movie "The Colour of Magic" which includes the first two books, was quite well done, and is, frankly, better than the books.
I recommend that newcomers start with Mort, (the fourth book to be published) which is a classic "Death takes a holiday" story and gives you a glimmer of the amazing author Pratchett would become. Then read Reaper Man, Soul Music, and Hogfather, which continues the story started in Mort. (Hogfather had a decent film adaptation in 2006.)
Then, go back and read Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, and Maskerade.
Then go back and read the Guards novels, starting with "Guards! Guards!", Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, Jingo, and The Fifth Elephant. All of these are good, but the real point of reading them is that they lead up to Night Watch, which is in my opinion where Pratchett crosses the line from "fantasy" into Literature. (Thief of Time is arguably a prelude to Night Watch and should probably be read first.)
After Night Watch comes Thud, which is another truly exceptional novel.
There is also a thread of novels involving the Rincewind character from The Colour of Magic, some of which are very good. (Check the wiki for the reading order.)
There is also the Tiffany Aching series, which is intended for a younger audience but is still an excellent read.
There are several stand-alone novels, Pyramids, Small Gods, Moving Pictures, that take place on the Discworld and may include characters from other books. They are well worth reading.
Pratchett has had a few duds. Monstrous Regiment and Unseen Academicals weren't very good. (I mean, I understand what Pratchett was trying to do in each case, but they just weren't as funny or clever as the others.)
But the rest ... you are in for a long stretch of being amazed, amused, and truly moved.
Be sure to read the footnotes! Some of the best stuff is there.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
Pratchett's death is the most depressing news for me since I read of Banks' demise.
"Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
He was a satirist, a master of a fine and under-appreciated art.
Satire in the hands of a master isn't mere travesty. Great satirists traffic in insight, in what is familiar yet goes unnoticed. Travesty makes you laugh at other people, but great satire makes us laugh at ourselves.
And nobody laughs at a joke they don't understand.
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
That's not what they meant by arms. They consistently wrote about weaponry of all varieties by saying "arms." You're thinking of "small arms" which is also a term in use at the time, but is not the terminology used in the US constitution. Further, at the time, citizens could, and did, own weapons up to and including frigates, cannon and so on. These individuals were *extremely* welcome in militia call-ups and were typically assigned officer rank immediately.
In 1791 (when the bill of rights were ratified), “arms” included all manner of pistols, rifles, muskets, cannons, explosive and solid cannonballs, cannonballs filled with shards, frigates with multiple decks of cannon, wagons with explosives and multiple guns rigged to fire in unison, chain shot, flaming missiles soaked with pitch and other inflammable, easily spread and hard to extinguish compounds, swords, knives, bayonets, fighting canes, brass knuckles, battering rams, catapults, siege towers, glass bottles, garrotes, whips, chains, both fused and mechanically triggered explosives, striking weapons like sticks and poles and quarterstaffs and maces and war-hammers, spears, bows, axes, arrows and crossbows I could go on for quite some time. All of these things were in common use in warfare and self-defense at the time. Yet, knowing all these things, all they put in the 2nd amendment was “arms.” So clearly, that’s what they meant. Arms of any kind. They didn’t say “muskets and pistols.” They said arms.
I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
Agree, Good Omens was an exceptional book.
I personally have not read the Nome trilogy yet.
For historical purposes, Strata, published 1981 could be considered a "pre-Discworld", although rooted in science fiction, not fantasy.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.