R.I.P. Sir Terry Pratchett

[Laphroaig]

Announced this afternoon.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/201...s-dies-aged-66

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

Sir Terry Pratchett, author of the Discworld comic fantasy series of novels, has died aged 66.

His publishers, Transworld, announced the news “with immeasurable sadness”. Managing director Larry Finlay, said: “The world has lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds.”

The author of more than 70 books died at his home “with his cat sleeping on his bed, surrounded by his family” earlier on Thursday.

Pratchett, who had early onset Alzheimer’s disease, leaves his wife, Lyn, and their daughter, Rhianna.

His death was announced on his Twitter account with a tweet composed in capital letters - which was how the author portrayed the character of Death in his novels - read: "AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER."


A few appropriate quotes from his books:

1. ‘It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it’s called Life.’ – The Last Continent

2. ‘DON’T THINK OF IT AS DYING,’ said Death. ‘JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.’ – Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

3. ‘Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?’ – Going Postal

4. ‘This I choose to do. If there is a price, this I choose to pay. If it is my death, then I choose to die. Where this takes me, there I choose to go. I choose. This I choose to do.’ – Wintersmith

5. ‘No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away…’ – Reaper Man

6. ‘There is always time for another last minute.’ – Hogfather

7. ‘Time is a drug. Too much of it kills you.’ – Small Gods

8. ‘I’d rather be a rising ape than a falling angel.’ – direct quote from interview, 2009

9. ‘So much universe, and so little time.’ – The Last Hero

10. ‘Goodness is about what you do. Not who you pray to.’ – Snuff

11. ‘Death isn’t cruel, merely terribly, terribly good at his job.’ – Sourcery

[Lester316]

Sir Terry was an absolute genius, a sad loss. I hope as time goes on his work becomes appreciated as not just popular fiction but as another wonderful example of British Literature that will be loved for generations to come.

[Ecstatic]

RIP Sir Terry

[fred41]

I remember "The Colour of Magic"...R.I.P. Sir.

[cassieukts]

A sad loss. There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Elvish

[Laphroaig]

....

[blueeyeboy]

This made me super sad.

[BeardedOne]

I met him only briefly when in Boston in 2004 and regret not having taken more time to chat with him.

I often intone the motto from 'Going Postal': "Neither rain, nor snow, nor glom of nit".

I have some of the 'stamps' that were issued for readers of Going Postal.

[Laphroaig]

British literature has suffered great losses over the last few years with the deaths of Iain Banks and James Herbert but Sir Terry is the biggest loss of all. Arguably the best author of his generation and second only in sales to J.K Rowling.

I agree with blueeyeboy, the news left me feeling depressed for the rest of the day. The consolation is that he lives on through his books.

I'm now going to reimmerse myself in the Discworld and remind myself of just what a fantastic creation it and the characters within it are. Let's be honest, we'd all love to live in a world like this...

[cassieukts]

Agreed!