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.

Comments

This sucks.

[ElectraFlarefire]

A lot.

Re:This sucks.

[B33rNinj4]

Yes, it does. He was a fantastic writer, and will be missed.

Re:This sucks.

[ledow]

He appeared on a TV show in the UK basically arguing just that. When the time came, he wanted to be able to press a button or whatever and choose himself, and it was long after he started down the road to Alzheimer's that he appeared and argued that.

Actually he barely said a word. He was too far gone down the Alzheimer's route by then, and Tony Robinson (Baldrick) had to say the actual words he'd prepared for him, if I remember correctly.

Re:This sucks.

[ledow]

For those interested, the show I'm talking about, with the man himself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Re:This sucks.

[Penguinisto]

It does. But if he was interested in euthanasia tribunals he was probably considering it for himself. So maybe it's for the best.

True, but it does lead to a question: Why a "tribunal"? Unless you're too physically incapacitated to do it yourself, it's relatively easy to buy an oxygen mask and a bottle of compressed nitrogen... put it on, eat a couple of sleeping pills, fall asleep, never wake up. Relatively zero pain, and no mess... *shrug*

IMHO, and in spite of living somewhere where it's actually 100% legal to do it, Euthanasia as policy is at the top of a slippery slope... even though Oregon requires psychiatric approval before an individual does it, very few folks get one before offing themselves. Too many safeguards have been ignored or glossed over, because progress.

Maybe it's just easier to do what we've always done... leave it alone and if someone does it, they do it. Just make certain they didn't get any 'help' (as in, intentional homicide) to get it done.

Re:This sucks.

[RabidReindeer]

He wrote stories that were witty, entertaining - and full of knives.

The essence of Terry Pratchett can be summed up in one of his more frequent observations: that in the eyes of society, living in a vermin-infested slum practically makes you a criminal, but own a whole neighborhood of them and you're a pillar of the community.

Re:This sucks.

[ShanghaiBill]

there is always some f'tard left wing ...

The strongest opposition to euthanasia comes from right wing religious conservatives. Democrats are more likely to support euthanasia than Republicans. The only state where it is legal is Oregon, a blue state.

Re:This sucks.

[ShanghaiBill]

Ironic, given the bible gives no direct statement against suicide.

The Bible also does not say anything about abortion or embryonic stem cell research. In fact, the story of Esau and Jacob implies that birth, not conception, is what is important. But most people don't read religious works for guidance, they read them to find justification for what they already believe.

Re:This sucks.

[operagost]

As you have, because you ignored Luke 1:41-44, Psalm 51, Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1:5, and Hosea 12. Those indicate humanity before birth. Interpret as you will, but don't claim the converse as "fact".

Embryonic stem cell research? REALLY? The bible doesn't mention stealing people's credit card information or hijacking airplanes, either, so those must be OK as well.

Are you one of those people who claim that the second amendment only protects muskets (and artillery, obviously)?

Re:This sucks.

[RabidReindeer]

It does. Suicide is a sin. That's why they would be against it.

Suicide is never directly named a sin in the Bible. In fact, King Saul committed suicide.

Theologically speaking, however, suicide is considered arrogating the right of God to determine when and how you will meet your end and putting oneself on a plane with God is considered at least one deadly sin (Pride).

Which is why we have good Christian people demonstrating for the right to forcibly hold vegetative people alive even when they would not be able to live without artificial assistance and are likely enduring at best a living Hell, because "life" and "living" are 2 different things.

Then again, many of these self-same good Christian people have absolutely no problem with a Death Penalty, even though it removes even the slimmest chance that the person so convicted might wake up one day 50 years hence and repent. Or for that matter, be exonerated.

Re: This sucks.

[Anonymous Coward]

The "original" KJV contains translation errors, and also translations that are very pointed interpretations of verses that are very vague.

Some examples:

"Lucifer" is a Latin word. The prophet Isaiah did not write in Latin, but in Hebrew. The only reason the word "Lucifer" ever entered Christian vocabulary was because of the more-original-than-KJV Latin formalization of the Bible. When translated to English, that word was left in its Latin form so it would sound more like a proper name (which it is not, as is made obvious by reading the 11 verses before the single verse in the Bible that contains this word).

The greek pneumos means "breath." That's what it means. But through the KJV, it is rendered as "spirit" or "ghost." Grammatical words surrounding the word which could correctly mean "it" are all rendered "he." This makes it very clear, to an English speaker, that the "Holy Spirit" is actually a person. In the Greek texts, it neither says nor implies personhood. The phrase seems to imply a vital animating force...one that all humans have and that can be made more divine. The translation robs us of the poetry in the language and gives us a pointed interpretation that is extremely dubious.

Also, "sozo" means "heal." But it is consistently rendered as "save." All verses that say things like "Jesus the Savior" can be correctly translated as "Jesus the Healer." "saved" implies a boolean state, "heal" implies a sliding scale.

Blah blah, I will stop now because nobody is going to read this or care anyway.

Re:This sucks.

[malkavian]

The problem is that it's so damn difficult to get an easy suicide: Guns, sure.. In the UK, we're not allowed them, so scratch that. Pills.. The stuff that'd take you down quietly and peacefully is controlled quite strictly (and an OD on a street drug isn't pretty or painless).. Knives.. That's a painful and traumatic way to go. Jumping.. As above.. That's a traumatic and stressful way to go. Hanging.. Again, a traumatic and painful way to go. That's the simple stuff that springs to mind, and it always leaves a mess for some unsuspecting person to have to deal with (usually your friends, or immediate family; that is pretty damn traumatic for them too). Euthanasia is a controlled environment, where the exit from life is as peaceful as it can be. It's all planned, so there's no horrific discovery. It's all taken care of by people who are geared to doing this (medical professionals, who are used to mortality, and the system is geared to handling it gracefully and with a minimum of trauma). I'm definitely on the side of pro-euthanasia.. We put animals down to save them suffering, because it's the kind thing to do. We're just not kind enough to our own to let us choose for ourselves if we want to put ourself down quietly.

Re:This sucks.

[drinkypoo]

The problem is that it's so damn difficult to get an easy suicide

Nitrogen tank: $100

Nitrogen refill: $60

Trash bag: $2

I could convert to pounds if that would help. But seriously, death by inert gas* is cheaper than a cheap gun, which is $200.

* OK, nitrogen is not technically inert, but it is functionally so in your lungs.

We put animals down to save them suffering, because it's the kind thing to do.

Except we often use CO2 in a bag to kill them, which is inhumane because they die gasping for breath. That's why you have to use something the body doesn't notice. CO2 buildup is what causes you to feel the need to breathe.

Thanks Sir Terry

[mr.dreadful]

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...

Re:What?

[o_ferguson]

Oh, wait. Apparently I just suck at reading comprehension.

Death

[ledow]

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.

Thank you, Terry.. it was an awesome ride with you

[Anonymous Coward]

“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.

Good Omens

[iamwhoiamtoday]

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.

Ook?

[Kinthelt]

Ook. :(

The greatest humanist in quite some time

[Sem_D_D]

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

Re:I've read them all

[Captain Hook]

literary mafia who wouldn't know a decent book if it was tattooed onto their backsides.

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.

sadness

[Haelyn]

"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.

Re:sadness

[JustNiz]

Thank you for sharing that. It was like the old man wrote it himself. And I don't think there's any higher commendation.

Very emotional

[roc97007]

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.

Re:Thank you, Terry.. it was an awesome ride with

[funwithBSD]

“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.