It is with great sadness that I discovered today of the passing of one of my all-time favourite authors… The great wizard of wit, Terry Pratchett has been claimed at last by Death after a long battle with that horrid illness Alzheimers disease.
Author of the Discworld series Sir Terry Pratchett caused me at thirteen to cry with unstoppable tears of laughter as I read (and thankfully understood) his opening quip concerning the creation of new planets… referring to the process as ‘the big bang theory’. I was utterly hooked by the first paragraph of A Color of Magic, and have loved this man as an author ever since.
I lost my mother to Alzheimers disease while she was in her early sixties and it broke my heart when I heard that my favourite author was destined to suffer the same fate. I have been amazed by how Terry has used his profile however to try and influence how govenments and the world has looked at tackling such a cruel killer.
I am yet to feast upon the latest works by this great man and look forward to more tear causing laughs as I return to Anhk-Morpork and reunite with much missed friends. Pratchett had the ability to see the world differently, quirkily, he saw the soul of the world around him and the funny side to seemingly everything.
We have lost a fighter who proved that the pen (or keyboard) was indeed far mightier than the sword and that by laughing at ourselves we could learn so much more...
I feel like Rincewind as I stumble to find the right words to express my feelings of shock and loss... I guess I will never get to buy you that imperial pint of ale Sir Pratchett... Never get to see you live and hear you speak... Never shake your hand... Your stories are all we have now from which we can enjoy your wisdom and wit.
Fare well Sir Terry Pratchett... Rest in peace... The world is a much sadder place without you...
