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Sir Terry Pratchett Succumbs To "the Embuggerance," Aged 66

Posted by timothy on from the now-the-world-is-worse-off dept.

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.

10 of 299 comments (clear)

  1. This sucks. by ElectraFlarefire · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A lot.

    1. Re:This sucks. by B33rNinj4 · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    2. Re:This sucks. by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

    3. Re:This sucks. by operagost · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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)?

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    4. Re: This sucks. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

  2. Death by ledow · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  3. Thank you, Terry.. it was an awesome ride with you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    “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.

  4. Ook? by Kinthelt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ook. :(

    --

    "Evil will always triumph over good, because good is dumb." - Dark Helmet (Spaceballs)

  5. The greatest humanist in quite some time by Sem_D_D · · Score: 5, Informative

    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...
  6. sadness by Haelyn · · Score: 5

    "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.