Terry Pratchett News

[gelee]

Does anyone know if this is legit? http://www.paulkidby.com/news/index.html
The website has an apparent message from Mr. Pratchett, stating that he has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers.
It looks like it's the real deal, but nothing on the "Official" Terry Pratchett website, or from his publishers.
Damn shame if true.

[Heradel]

S'truth - here's a Guardian article confirming.


Well, this sucks.

[gelee]

Well, this sucks.

My sentiments exactly. 

[Heradel]

Is it just me or do the prolific tend to go young? It seems like he's confident he'll be able to finish another two, or write enough that they can be finished by others, but it'll be hard to let that world in his head go.

[Russell Nash]

I have this incredible tendancy to pick up authors or musicians who have had or are about to have their careers cut short. 

The most extreme case of this was Kirsty MacColl who was run over by a motor boat just about six months after I started listening to her.  I found out what happened about a year later.

[Talia]

Really terrible news. I was just shocked :/ On the other hand, the fact that he is a writer and undoubtedly has a very active and sharp mind should help him fight off the ravages better than your average person, I would think. So I'm trying to be optimistic.

[Heradel]

There are stories on the online front pages of the Guardian (previously linked) and the Times (of London).

Gelee — maybe a title change would be in order.

[gelee]

Gelee — maybe a title change would be in order.

Good point.  I knocked the "?" out of it.  Let me know if you think it should be ammended further.

Really terrible news. I was just shocked :/ On the other hand, the fact that he is a writer and undoubtedly has a very active and sharp mind should help him fight off the ravages better than your average person, I would think. So I'm trying to be optimistic.

That's exactly why I was so shocked to hear the news.  I just hope he has plenty of time left with his family. 

[qwints]

I normally don't read fantasy, but ever since my little sister insisted I read the Discworld series, I have come to greatly admire the man and his work. It's always when someone who is creative and spreads joy to millions like he did if afflicted with a serious illness.

[Heradel]

First one I read was The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents. I don't think I'd ever laughed as much at a book before or since, with a possible tie to HHGTTG. Granted, I was in middle school, so I got a lot of "he's gone mad and reverted to elementary school" looks when I tried to get other kids to read it, due to the title.

I don't think I'd be as funny as I am (sometimes) now if I hadn't read it and the others.

Gelee — Maybe just put something like "Terry Pratchett — Not dead, but has Alheimer's"?

[eytanz]

The first Terry Pratchett book I read was "Reaper Man", which I picked up on a whim in an airport. I was 15, and flying for the first time without my parents, to visit my grandparents in Sydney. Over the next two weeks, I bought and read each of the books he had released at the time (I was a really fast reader as a teenager. I can't do it anymore).

I hope he has many more years ahead of him - not necessarily writing, that's less important, just years of being alive and aware and able to enjoy himself.

[DKT]

God, this is sad news.  I've read a limited number of Terry Pratchett books, but enjoyed what I read.  My daughter loves his "Is That My Cow?" Discworld picture book.

[Loz]

I'm obeying PTerry's injunction not to write him off just yet. I've been a fan since about 1990 and managed to get my Mum, who normally wouldn't touch fantasy or sci-fi with a fifty foot pole, into this. We working on converting my Dad at the moment but he doesn't read too much and is busy with Alexander Kent's canon at the moment.

[Listener]

The first Terry Pratchett book I read was "Reaper Man", which I picked up on a whim in an airport. I was 15, and flying for the first time without my parents, to visit my grandparents in Sydney. Over the next two weeks, I bought and read each of the books he had released at the time (I was a really fast reader as a teenager. I can't do it anymore).

I hope he has many more years ahead of him - not necessarily writing, that's less important, just years of being alive and aware and able to enjoy himself.

My first one was Moving Pictures, and I read it so many times that the cover's gone tatty and the pages are yellowed and the spine is bowed (even though I don't bend back books -- I find that a travesty).  I will continue to enjoy every Pratchett book that comes out in the next few years, and keep reading them over and over again after he's gone.

God, this is sad news.  I've read a limited number of Terry Pratchett books, but enjoyed what I read.  My daughter loves his "Is That My Cow?" Discworld picture book.

I read it to my daughter, but she's not quite old enough to get it just yet.

The "Where's My Cow" moment in "Thud", though, is mega-awesome.  (The part at the climax.)

[DKT]

God, this is sad news.  I've read a limited number of Terry Pratchett books, but enjoyed what I read.  My daughter loves his "Is That My Cow?" Discworld picture book.

I read it to my daughter, but she's not quite old enough to get it just yet.

The "Where's My Cow" moment in "Thud", though, is mega-awesome.  (The part at the climax.)

Oooooooooooooo.  I haven't yet read Thud.  I'll have to check it out.  Thanks!

[Listener]

God, this is sad news.  I've read a limited number of Terry Pratchett books, but enjoyed what I read.  My daughter loves his "Is That My Cow?" Discworld picture book.

I read it to my daughter, but she's not quite old enough to get it just yet.

The "Where's My Cow" moment in "Thud", though, is mega-awesome.  (The part at the climax.)

Oooooooooooooo.  I haven't yet read Thud.  I'll have to check it out.  Thanks!

"Where's My Cow" was introduced in "Thud" as the book Sam Vimes reads to his son every night at 6pm.

No.  Matter.  What.

He sets the stage in the first section with a great cross-city "chase" so the payoff at the end is that much better.

[DDog]

My first one was Moving Pictures, and I read it so many times that the cover's gone tatty and the pages are yellowed and the spine is bowed (even though I don't bend back books -- I find that a travesty).  I will continue to enjoy every Pratchett book that comes out in the next few years, and keep reading them over and over again after he's gone.

I did a "book report" presentation on Moving Pictures for English class in high school--we had to dress up as someone from our book and talk about the story from the point of view of that character. So, of course, into class I marched as Gaspode.

[Thaurismunths]

My first one was Moving Pictures, and I read it so many times that the cover's gone tatty and the pages are yellowed and the spine is bowed (even though I don't bend back books -- I find that a travesty).  I will continue to enjoy every Pratchett book that comes out in the next few years, and keep reading them over and over again after he's gone.

I did a "book report" presentation on Moving Pictures for English class in high school--we had to dress up as someone from our book and talk about the story from the point of view of that character. So, of course, into class I marched as Gaspode.

How did you dress like a terrier??

[Kurt Faler]

My first one was Moving Pictures, and I read it so many times that the cover's gone tatty and the pages are yellowed and the spine is bowed (even though I don't bend back books -- I find that a travesty).  I will continue to enjoy every Pratchett book that comes out in the next few years, and keep reading them over and over again after he's gone.

I did a "book report" presentation on Moving Pictures for English class in high school--we had to dress up as someone from our book and talk about the story from the point of view of that character. So, of course, into class I marched as Gaspode.

How did you dress like a terrier??

I think in this case impersonation would be more a matter of smell...

eww.

 

[Russell Nash]

My first one was Moving Pictures, and I read it so many times that the cover's gone tatty and the pages are yellowed and the spine is bowed (even though I don't bend back books -- I find that a travesty).  I will continue to enjoy every Pratchett book that comes out in the next few years, and keep reading them over and over again after he's gone.

I did a "book report" presentation on Moving Pictures for English class in high school--we had to dress up as someone from our book and talk about the story from the point of view of that character. So, of course, into class I marched as Gaspode.

How did you dress like a terrier??

I think in this case impersonation would be more a matter of smell...

eww.

 

I would have walked in and raised my leg to the teacher's desk.

[shwankie]

This is very, very sad news; but, as Talia says, I am holding out that his creativity and writing help him stave off the disease. There's a lot of progress being made in holding Alz. at bay, esp. if you catch it early; so, I think he's got many years and many books left in him.

My first book was "The Color of Magic," and I was pretty immediately in love with the world. I've read almost all of his work now, with the exception of a scant few I just haven't been able to get my hands on, and he's one of my all-time favorite authors. He's certainly my favorite humorist and my favorite political commentator in the SF genre, and he manages to get those two things to be complimentary instead of forced. That's talent.

[DDog]

My first one was Moving Pictures, and I read it so many times that the cover's gone tatty and the pages are yellowed and the spine is bowed (even though I don't bend back books -- I find that a travesty).  I will continue to enjoy every Pratchett book that comes out in the next few years, and keep reading them over and over again after he's gone.

I did a "book report" presentation on Moving Pictures for English class in high school--we had to dress up as someone from our book and talk about the story from the point of view of that character. So, of course, into class I marched as Gaspode.

How did you dress like a terrier??

Nondescript gray sweatshirt and pants, and I made myself a pair of mongrel dog ears. Also sported an atrocious accent while crawling around on the floor trying to make Gaspodey speeches from note cards.

[Heradel]

A bit of life imitating his art — Going Postal come to life.

[Chivalrybean]

I wrote this article about this whole thing. It contains a link to his speech on the matter, in case you haven't heard/read it yet.

[Boggled Coriander]

Thanks for bumping the thread.  As it happens, I just finished my first Pratchett book, Jingo - I picked it up at a used bookstore, figuring I may as well jump head-first into the middle of the Discworld series.

Pratchett's younger than my parents.  This isn't supposed to be happening to him, dammit.  I hope he has a couple of good years left in him.

[Chivalrybean]

Start at The Light Fantastic. That's where I did anyways. Snag the next one too so you can find out what happens. You wont want to be kept waiting. I haven't read them, I listened to the Audiobooks, in case it matters. I reccomend them, but if I had the time, I'd love to just read them, too.

[Troo]

I started with Sourcery, then went back to The Colour of Magic and read them chronologically ever since.

[Chivalrybean]

I wrote this story to raise awareness for Alzheimer's research and to support JOGLE (link in my post of story) which is also raising funds for research. It is also a nod to Mr. Pratchett in the fact it is a story about a wizard. Read it here. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think!

[stePH]

Start at The Light Fantastic. That's where I did anyways. Snag the next one too so you can find out what happens. You wont want to be kept waiting.

ITYM start with The Colour of Magic, as The Light Fantastic is its immediate sequel.

[lieffeil]

Alzheimer's has got to be the most tragic disease for intellectuals and authors, I would think.
Does anyone remember the movie Iris, based on Iris Murdoch? I saw it once when I was younger, and I can't recall the specifics, only the overwhelming feeling of tragedy that hung over me for days afterwards.
I only recently discovered Pratchett, starting with Soul Music. I thought he was wonderful. And that's one of the great things about literature, I suppose. No matter what happens or how many books he writes, they'll always be there, and his influence will continue long after he's stopped writing.
Terrible news.

[Chivalrybean]

Start at The Light Fantastic. That's where I did anyways. Snag the next one too so you can find out what happens. You wont want to be kept waiting.

ITYM start with The Colour of Magic, as The Light Fantastic is its immediate sequel.

Oops, my bad. Sorry about that.

[stePH]

Oops, my bad. Sorry about that.

Hey, these things just happen sometimes. 

[Russell Nash]

Start at The Light Fantastic. That's where I did anyways. Snag the next one too so you can find out what happens. You wont want to be kept waiting.

ITYM start with The Colour of Magic, as The Light Fantastic is its immediate sequel.

I agree, start right at the beginning.  The first few books aren't as good as the others, but they're easy reads.  Whenever I start a Stephen King, I have to decide if I'm in the mood to  slog through 700 pages until it gets to the good parts.  With Pratchett 700 pages has you on at least the third book. 

[MacArthurBug]

Good gosh that stinks to the high heavens. I seriously hope for the best in this case. I've loved Pratchett for years now.

[Chivalrybean]

I can't remember if I posted this here before, but here it is: A story to raise awareness, and maybe money, for Alzheimer's Research.

[tazo]

I will say though that while you should start at The Colour of Magic like everyone suggests, one of the really amazing things about Discworld is that you can pick up the series just about anywhere and not really be overly confused.  Lord knows I read the books way out of order and never really felt particularly lost. 

The orders was known as "Whatever our library happened to have.  And then the order they came in."

[stePH]

I will say though that while you should start at The Colour of Magic like everyone suggests, one of the really amazing things about Discworld is that you can pick up the series just about anywhere and not really be overly confused.  Lord knows I read the books way out of order and never really felt particularly lost. 

The orders was known as "Whatever our library happened to have.  And then the order they came in."

I think one should at least make the effort to start at the beginning of a particular subseries.  So if one is interested in the City Watch, pick up Guards! Guards!, and if one wants the lowdown on Death, start with Mort, for example.

[Boggled Coriander]

I think one should at least make the effort to start at the beginning of a particular subseries.  So if one is interested in the City Watch, pick up Guards! Guards!, and if one wants the lowdown on Death, start with Mort, for example.

That's not a bad idea.  My first Pratchett was Jingo!, which is about as random a Pratchett novel as one can find (it's in the middle of the City Watch subseries).  I didn't have any trouble following the plot, but it felt like Pratchett just assumed I knew about the background of a couple of specific characters.  Still, it was nothing a few quick Wikipedia searches couldn't cure.

[eytanz]

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted here before:

The Discworld reading order guide

[stePH]

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted here before:

The Discworld reading order guide

That looks pretty good, except that I'm inclined to dispute that Pyramids and Small Gods are of a series.  To be fair though, I haven't read/listened to Pyramids but I thought both were completely stand-alones.  One can certainly pick up Small Gods as a first Discworld novel.

[Russell Nash]

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted here before:

The Discworld reading order guide

Been posting a couple of times before.  Most recently here.

[eytanz]

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted here before:

The Discworld reading order guide

That looks pretty good, except that I'm inclined to dispute that Pyramids and Small Gods are of a series.  To be fair though, I haven't read/listened to Pyramids but I thought both were completely stand-alones.  One can certainly pick up Small Gods as a first Discworld novel.

Well, note that the line between them is dotted unlike the straight line connecting proper series.

That said, I agree with you. Small Gods is a perfectly good place to start.

[stePH]

That looks pretty good, except that I'm inclined to dispute that Pyramids and Small Gods are of a series.  To be fair though, I haven't read/listened to Pyramids but I thought both were completely stand-alones.  One can certainly pick up Small Gods as a first Discworld novel.

Well, note that the line between them is dotted unlike the straight line connecting proper series.

I saw that, but the shading also indicates Pyramids as a "starting" volume.

[deflective]

just noticed it's discworld's 25th anniversary.

thanks Terry! you've made the years lighter and i think i speak for everyone when i say one book every eight months isn't nearly enough. =)