Terry Pratchett -- To The Great A'Tuin in The Sky

Hello Gentle Reader

Sir Terry Pratchett has passed away at the age of sixty-six. The beloved English fantasy author, will be sincerely missed by many of his readers, not just in the English language, but also in the thirty-seven languages his novels have been translated into. Pratchett is best known for his fantasy novels “Discworld,” series. With the series Pratchett took fantasy away from the melodramatics of Tolkien’s “Middle Earth,” but did not move in the same direction of George R.R. Martin’s politically complicated, blood infused novels of “A Song of Fire and Ice.” Rather Pratchett’s novels moved into a satirical model, where both adults and children could enjoy his novels and the world in which he created. A world populated by incompetent wizards, slow-witted barbarians, among a multitude of other such creations. Its diverse pantheon of gods houses many gods with different purposes such as a goddess who is the patron of: “Things That Stick in Drawers,” and is praised by crying out:

“How can it close on the damned thing but not open with it? Who bought this? Do we ever use it?”

But also a god of hangovers; despite never drinking a drop, and yet doomed to suffer the torments of the punishment of overindulgence. A wind god whose name is referenced to that of flatulence . There is also a goddess of the sea, who takes on other patronages of apple pie, certain types of ice cream, and the ever important object of: short lengths of string. In what other fantasy novel is there a lawyer who refuses to die (remaining undead) until his own descendants pay him for his own legal counsel (despite defending himself)? Such is the world that Pratchett created, a world where reality was less tangible and more surreal, and absurd, and oh so funny. Despite however the humour of his novels, he was known to create nuanced characters, with depth and intrigue. Pratchett’s novels dealt with larger concepts of life, and death – death being personified as a wry creature, which had an apprentice, a beloved horse named Binky, an adopted daughter, and also has a fondness for kittens – not to mention an independent entity: “The GrimSqueaker.” Death is also fond and fascinated of life – which without it he would be unemployed. And it is with Death that Pratchett’s unfortunate end was announced to the world via twitter:

“AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER.”

Upon this announcement the literary world was saddened by Pratchett’s departure. Yet understood it was a blessing for the author, who had been suffering from Alzheimer’s since his diagnosis in two-thousand and seven; and was an eloquent advocate for euthanasia or the right to die. Yet Pratchett leaves behind forty “Discworld,” books; and seventy books in total and has sold over seventy-five millions books worldwide. He was beloved by adults and children, and rejuvenated the fantasy world from the melodrama of “Hark! There are Orcs in these woods!” To a much more different world, that defied reality, and even traditional fantasy concepts, with its own brand of logic. Authors from Dame A.S. Byatt, Neil Gaiman and Margaret Atwood each spoke highly of the author. Rest in Peace Sir Terry Pratchett who now heads to To The Great A'Tuin in The Sky.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
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M. Mary