Vale: Terry Pratchett
UK fantasy writer Terry Pratchett, best known for creating Discworld, has died aged 66.
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UK fantasy writer Terry Pratchett, best known for creating Discworld, has died aged 66.
The author died at his home surrounded by family on Thursday.
The announcement came in typically irreverent manner on the author’s Twitter feed, with a series of tweets beginning in the voice of his character, Death: “AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER.”
“Terry took Death’s arm,” the following tweet read, “and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.”
Pratchett announced his diagnosis with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2007 – calling it “an embuggerance”.
Pratchett’s publisher, Larry Finlay, paid tribute to one of the world’s “brightest, sharpest minds”.
“In over 70 books, Terry enriched the planet like few before him,” Finlay said. “As all who read him know, Discworld was his vehicle to satirise this world: he did so brilliantly, with great skill, enormous humour and constant invention.”
Discworld is a circular world set on the backs of four elephants standing on the shell of a giant turtle, populated by a vast and colourful cast of characters inspired by the worlds of fantasy, folk tales and mythology.
Many of his works were adapted for the small screen including Johnny and the Dead, Soul Music, Johnny and the Bomb, Hogfather, The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic and Going Postal. Pratchett himself adapted Wyrd Sisters, starring Christopher Lee, Jane Horrocks and June Whitfield.
Pratchett was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 new year’s honours and he received the World Fantasy award for life achievement in 2010.
Following his death more than 20,000 supporters have signed a petition asking for Death to reinstate Terry Pratchett, in reference to the suspension of Jeremy Clarkson by the BBC.
Source: The Guardian
10 Responses
There was also that Kids show called Truckers based on a Pratchett book. I liked that when I was small.
His books were so important to my teenage years, his visions so vivid and hilarious. He lampooned fantasy and reality in such a deliciously acerbic style. I’m sure Death found it a considerable inconvenience dealing with Terry. I just hope Binky was nice to him.
Wonder if they will re run the series Going Postal again?…enjoyed David Suchet in his role…
So much of Terry Pratchett left for us….
I’m currently reading his book The Science Of Discworld, it’s both entertaining and educational. RIP Terry.
Kind of late news mate, he died Friday. :/
I’m aware of when he died, it’s in the story. Have not suggested otherwise.
He actually passed away on Thursday.
This is a TV blog and I don’t think anyone would identify Sir Terry as a TV personality any more than, say, Stephen King. I don’t imagine that you’d expect this blog that you don’t pay for to be your primary source of info regarding the happenings of a comic fantasy author. I think a lag of a couple of days over a weekend when most people are not working is forgivable.
I think a lag of a couple of days over a weekend can be tolerated
Ignore that stray last line, an editing remnant.
One of the great modern storytellers. I love Hogfather and Going Postal- both the books and the films. RIP
Never a reader of his books but I’ve got every DVD they ever made out of those books. His books, his battle with Alzhiemers as well as his battles with the Authorities about himself and the rest of us leaving this mortal coil peacefully and not winding up as vegetables is the stuff legends are made of. Go well TP, you’ll be missed, thanks old mate 🙁