Goodbye and Thanks for all the Laughs – A Tribute to Terry Pratchett

It was January 1998 and I’d just started a new job.* The computer had Internet access, I’d never seen the Internet before. I’d used computers for documents, spreadsheets and letters, but this World Wide Web was totally new. I was lost.
“What do I do?”
“Well, start with a search, type something in the search box, maybe your favourite author”
I typed….Terry Pratchett

Can you remember the first Internet search you made?

Yesterday the round world lost a great author, a man who could make you laugh out loud when reading his books. He wrote about things so familiar yet in unfamiliar ways. His world was pure fantasy.

“Humans need fantasy to be human”

I began reading about the Discworld when someone** loaned me The Light Fantastic. Then I had to go and read the first book The Colour of Magic. I was hooked straight away. I can’t tell you my favourite book, I can’t tell you my favourite character, I love too many.

I love Death, everyone has a fascination with the Grim Reaper and the Death in Terry Pratchett’s books is just doing his job.

“DON’T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death. JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.” ― Terry Pratchett, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

I always had a soft spot for Carrot Ironfoundersson the six foot six inch dwarf (he was adopted).
Then there is the patrician Havelock Vetinari, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”

There was a time when I felt quite attached to the witch Magrat Garlick because I had a passion for magic charms and jewels (and lots of bad hair days)

Of course, having been a librarian myself, I can’t help but have a connection with The Librarian, Ook, who was turned into a monk….Orang-utan. Until you’ve visited the library stacks it’s hard to get a real impression of L-space.***

The Discworld is a whole world of characters to explore, from humans to witches, to vampires and trolls and many more. There are even other dimensions to discover like Death’s Domain or Valhalla. My heart breaks to think that it will grow no more, but there is plenty to read over again.

“I believe everyone should have a good death, You know, with your grandchildren around you, a bit of sobbing. Because after all, tears are appropriate on a death bed. And you say goodbye to your loved ones, making certain that one of them has been left behind to look after the shop.” Terry Pratchett

Reading this, I believe Sir Terry met my nan.

This is how his friend Rob made the announcement on Twitter

Apart from being a fantastic author which a huge fan base Terry also campaigned for Alzheimers Disease and he was the Patron for Dignity in Dying.

Fundraising for RICE in Terry Pratchett’s memory.

“….no-one is finally dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away…” The Reaper Man

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