Sir Terry Pratchett passed away yesterday at the age of 66 from complications from Alzheimer’s. His death was announced on Twitter in a funny and touching and altogether perfect way, and all day and continuing through this morning, tributes both hilarious and poignant have shown up in every place where people with words gather to read and write words.
Elyse had to tell her husband, who is a huge Pratchett fan, and says it was terribly difficult to break the news to him. Pratchett means so much to so many.
Elyse: I felt sick when I called my husband to tell him that Terry Pratchett had died. Normally I’m not particularly affected by the deaths of people I don’t personally know, but there’s a special sort of sadness that comes when you lose a much beloved author. Maybe it’s because authors impact me in a way that actors and musicians don’t or maybe it was just the hours I spent in Discworld or maybe it was the way his passing was so perfectly announced on Twitter, but I cried a little when I called my husband.
When an author leaves us, they take their magic with him, and that can be especially hard to bear. I have the utmost sympathy for Pratchett’s family and friends who were with him during his battle with Alzheimer’s, but I feel too for all the readers who are feeling bereft. Pratchett touched so many lives with humor and warmth, mine among them. He was the best sort of satirist–his fantasy world, Discworld, was a mirror of our own, reflecting absurdities and injustices, but his writing was never caustic or cruel. The beauty of his humor was it’s warmth, it’s humanity and it’s delight in the ridiculous.
Even as I’ll miss Pratchett, I’ll miss all the characters he introduced me to: Death (WHO ALWAYS SPOKE IN ALL CAPITALS), Sam Vimes, Granny Weatherwax, The Luggage, Carrot, The Librarian, and Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler. I’ll never forget that Pratchett coined L-Space, which I am 100% convinced exists.
I sincerely hope that if you loved Terry Pratchett, you find some comfort reading this weekend. If you’ve never read him, then I can’t recommend him strongly enough. I personally loved the City Watch series, starting with Guards! Guards! My husband recommends you start with Mort.
I owe many many hours of laughter to Sir Terry, the kind of laughter that makes you wheeze, and tinkle, and wake up the cat. I can’t think of a better legacy to leave behind than laughter and a little incontinence. Goodbye Terry, you will be missed.
Sarah: The tributes I’ve seen online are powerful in unique ways. From XKCD:
Meka on Twitter told me that long ago, she used to play a Discworld mud: “an online text-based rpg and yesterday, lots of us old players logged in just to share, just to be around one another, just to talk.” His books were her entrance to the Discworld mudding community, where she made friends that are still connected to her today, years after she first logged on.
The way readers connect over books, over shared experiences in shared worlds in text, is a wonderful and powerful thing. You can see pieces of that connection in all the tributes to Pratchett, whose world was one where many, many readers lost and found themselves repeatedly. This JustGiving page in memory of Pratchett is collecting donations for RICE, The Research Institute for the Care of Older People, a British charity based in Bath which provides services and support for those living with dementia. The tributes are for Pratchett, and for the readers who loved his books. One in particular said, “In memory of my Father, David, who loved reading Mr Pratchett’s books.”
The shared world of reading creates a unique and innately positive bond between people, I think. As I said on Twitter, I think the common love we share for a book, a world, or an author’s collective work is one of the best things about humanity. It’s beautiful that we can do that. When an author publishes a story, that story creates a chance for readers to connect over a shared world. It’s a gift to every person who may read those words. Each book is a potential connection.
The loss of the creator of that connection hurts, especially for those who spent so much time in the created world- as the XKCD comic illustrates. I know Carrie, who reviewed Hogfather and talked about how she reads it annually, is grieving Pratchett’s death deeply. Hogfather and the Discworld series were part of a personal ritual for her:
Carrie also reviewed Pratchett’s September 2014 book of nonfiction essays, A Slip of the Keyboard. She wrote in her review:For me, though, the real draw of the particular book is that it reminds me of things that I need to be reminded of. It reminds me that life is not fair but it bloody well should be. It reminds me that fantasy is vital to humanity. It reminds me that regardless of one’s religious beliefs, and mine seem to change approximately once every five to ten years, the rebirth of the sun at winter is a glorious thing. And it doesn’t hurt to try to be a decent human being, too, especially if you can keep it up all year.
I happened to read this collection during a week in which my Twitter feed was flooded with bullshit. If there’s anything I adore about Terry Pratchett, it’s that he is bullshit free. Whether he’s talking about book tours, being a lackluster student, his struggles with early-onset Alzheimer’s, or orangutans, he’s forthright, funny, and unpretentious, with great tolerance for human foibles but no tolerance for injustice and stupidity. As Neil Gaiman says in the foreword, people think of Terry Pratchett as “a jolly old elf” but in fact “There is a fury to Terry Pratchett’s writing. It’s the fury that was the engine that powered Discworld.”
I know many of you are feeling the same loss, the grief at the absence of the person who gave you a world that you love. I’m so sorry for that loss. For those of us who have not read a Pratchett book (hi there!), where should we start, to enter the world that you love? What’s your favorite? What book have you reached for first?
I’ve never felt so sad to hear of an author’s passing. Terry Pratchett was truly one of the greats. For new readers I would highly recommend The Wyrd Sisters. It’s the first in the Discworld books that revolves around the witches of Lancre (who live in the town of Bad Ass — named after a particularly stubborn donkey). Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg are everything I aspire to be.
While I’m usually a begin at the beginning type, my favorite book is Mort. Thought I was going to get tossed off an airplace once, reading it while flying. Godspeed, pTerry….
I was introduced to Sir Terry many years ago by a co-worker who loaned me The Colour of Magic. I really didn’t want to read it because I never liked sci fi or fantasy. I only read it because my friend kept insisting I’d like it and, well…it was short. I was immediately drawn in that day in 1992. I am immensely sad that this brilliant, lovely gentleman is gone.
I first fell over Terry Pratchett in the late 80’s. Radio 4 had serialized Equal Rites & I as I listened avidly to Granny Weatherwax sort out the Disc World in her own inimicable way, a literary love affair began. Curiously enough it was the news report on Radio 4 yesterday afternoon that informed me of Sir Terry’ s death .
I really don’t shed tears over the death of public figures, but I found myself weeping quietly at the loss of such a vital, acute, acerbic & downright lovely man.
I’ll put my neck on the block, and state that he was the finest satirist this country has seen since Jonathon Swift.
So tonight we’ll eat a really good curry & toast a man whose writing made this world a much better & funnier place, whilst listening to A Monstrous Regiment …because an Igor always makes a dull day brighter .
My son has never liked reading. We have bonded over our love of Good Omens. Terry Pratchet is his favorite author because of that book (which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman), and his young adult book Wee Free Men. If you have a reluctant reader in your house, give one of these a try. Just an FYI though, Good Omens is hilariously funny but is about the birth of the anti-Christ, so may not be appropriate for or appreciated by all readers.
I haven’t yet read him, figuring out were to start in his large volume of work is a bit daunting. However I felt so much sadness for him, his family and his many when my twitter feed became full of sorrow and amazing quotes yesterday. All readers understand the connection one has to an author and his work. It also seems clear that he influenced and meant a great deal so many wonderful people. That is quite a legacy.
I’ve been weeping on and off all day. I didn’t know it would hit me like that. Why do we lose the best people far too soon? But it would always have been too soon.
Witches Abroad was my first Discworld novel and remains my favourite (I appreciated the first Witches book, Wyrd Sisters, more after I knew more Shakespeare.) It is very much about the power of stories to shape the world we live in. A few years ago, Sir Terry signed my battered old copy. I’m so glad I had the chance to meet him and hear him talk.
The Discworld novels had such a huge part in getting me through a couple of really bad years. They made me laugh, when all I wanted to do was curl up and cry.
Like Carrie I re-read the Hogfather at least once a year and still discover new passages that resonate with me in a way that the words of few other authors do. I am sad that he is gone, but my immediate reaction to his death was to grab one of his books off my shelve and start reading.
And I agree with Amelia. Wyrd Sisters is a good way to start. I’ve come to appreciate the earlier two Rincewind books on their own terms, but they’re a bit slow as far as pacing is concerned.
I have only read one of his works, Good Omens-and I loved it. He is an author that I keep thinking “I have to read his stuff, I loved that one book”, but was never really sure where to start. So thanks to the comments advising on that.
This is really a lovely post, and I couldn’t agree more about the connections we make over the love of a good book.
The following link (if it works) takes you to a great chart of all the individual story lines in the Diskworld novels.
http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg
I can’t recommend a starting point because everytime I start to focus on one, I’m all “But what about….” I like The Truth or Monstrous Regiment as excellent stand-alones if you want to get the flavor of the books. I love the Witches and Watch novels equally and like Rincewind least, yet the Rincewind novels include the Luggage, Archchancellor Ridcully, and–one of my absolute favs–the Librarian (He’s an orangutan and don’t call him monkey!). I love Maskerade, Soul Music, and Thief of Time, but none of them is a perfect starting point.
For a new reader, the most amazing thing about Terry Pratchett is that he seemed to know everything. Pop culture, academic culture, Western culture, culture culture. He knew them all and he sent them up, mocking human life without mocking human beings. I never finished one of his books without laughing my ass off and learning something new. I don’t know whether I’m more grateful for the fecundity of his imagination or more more bereft at its loss. Those who were fortunate enough to know him have my very deepest sympathy.
My favorite Discworld stand-alone: Small Gods A truly civilized meditation on fundamentalism. Funny and sad.
I also loved the Wee Free Men, which kicks off the Tiffany Aching books, which are about growing up and the horror behind fairy tales.
Anything where DEATH is a protagonist. Try Reaper Man or Mort.
BTW, most of his books are fabulous reads, but even more wonderful as audiobooks.
I’m still reeling over this, can’t believe there forever will be no more books from my favorite curmudgeon author. I will have to go read them all again now. Right now. Putting my phone on silent.
Add my name to the weepers yesterday. The Twitter announcement was perfect. The tributes have been wonderful, too, especially the ones that capture favorite quotes.
My favorite book is Men at Arms. I’ve been wanting to read them all in order for a while now — seems like this would be a good time to start.
I was sitting at a soda fountain reading A Hat Full of Sky and the counter woman asked me about it; I wound up telling her all about witches at length… Perhaps Pratchett may have inspired more of these passionate sharing moments than any other writer of our time. As for my favorites, hard to say, but I think the City Watch books gave me the most fiercely mind-expanding moments. And The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents is extraordinary — dark and complex for a YA book, and very thinky.
My 34 yo daughter was in tears off and on all day – she has been going crazy with a #GoneToDiscworld hashtag.
Thanks for writing this, Sarah. I was introduced to Sir Terry and the inhabitants of Discworld through the happiest of circumstances – completely by chance. I was perusing the library shelves one day looking for an author when I came across “Interesting Times.” I gave it a try and was hooked. I mean come on, a character named Cohen the Barbarian? How could I not fall in love?
I’ve lost count of how many Discworld stories I’ve read, and while I love every character, except maybe Lord Ventinari – I’m scared of him – I think my favorite has to be dear Sam Vimes. He’s the kind of copper we all want looking out for us.
If I had to recommend a starter book to a Pratchett newbie, I’d have to go with “The Colour of Magic.” As the first Discworld book, it introduces us to an incredible, zany universe like no other book could.
Farewell, Sir Terry. It has been a pleasure and honor.
There’s a fabulous poem, by one Andrew Barber, in the comments of this article.
Broke my heart in pieces to hear this. I didn’t know about Terry Pratchett’s work until about ten years ago, and the discovery gave me the joy of exploring an incredibly talented and imaginative author’s bloody enormous backlist. I think the first one I ever spotted on a shelf was Pyramids, but the first ones I read cover-to-cover were Monstrous Regiment and Maskerade. My all-time favorites are Small Gods and Feet of Clay, but there’s something to love in every book of his.
He will not be forgotten. Godspeed, sir.
Longtime lurker here.
Our whole house is saddened over Pratchett’s passing. We introduced our daughter to the first few Tiffany Aching books at a young age on audiobook, and they are still among her favorites. (Speaking of which, if you like audiobooks, the Stephen Briggs narrations are pitch-perfect.)
Tiff provides a pretty good introduction to Discworld for newbies because she’s on the edge of it, yet interacts with some of the main characters (the witches particularly). And the stories grow more mature as she does — she’s 9 in the first installment, 16 by the latest (and the final Tiffany book was apparently the last Discworld novel that Pratchett finished — it’s planned to come out later this year).
First inclination is to call the bff to commiserate, but after Bertrice Small then Leonard Nimoy, if I’m the one to tell her about this, she will never take another call from me. This has been a very sad month so far.
I was first introduced to Terry in
“Good Omens, the nice and accurate prophesies of Agnes Nutter witch” which he cowrote with Neil Gaimen. Of the thousands of books I’ve read in my life, that one is my favorite, simply because of the way it made me feel. Joyous.
I have never laughed so hard while reading in my life.
GOOD OMENS was my launch pad to all things Pratchett and Gaiman. THE COLOUR OF MAGIC is in my TBR, unread, although I’ve hopped all over Discworld in the meantime.
If I were making suggestions for new-to-Pratchett readers, I would say listen to THE WEE FREE MEN read by Stephen Briggs. Even though the series is considered YA, it’s universal in its appeal and message. “I can see we’re going to get along like a house on fire,” said Miss Tick. “There may be no survivors.”
Crivens! Where’s the kleenex when you need it?
I always go to Carpe Jugulum as my comfort read. It has the witches, who I absolutely adore, plays with vampire tropes (that somehow still manage to be hot stuff), and some really lovely religious satire. I used a quote from this book as an epigraph for a poem I wrote about my mother, my grandmother and myself (“there was the Mother, the Maiden and the Other One…”) It just sticks with me, and I will be rereading it this weekend and probably consuming an entire bottle of wine.
Pratchett had such an amazing way of getting to the heart of things. That is the true power of humor. There is such depth and resonance to his work. Anyone who dismisses it as “just fantasy” or “just parody.”
I always want to make asides in my work because of this man, but no one will ever use footnotes quite like Sir Terry. Those were frequently the moments when I laughed the hardest and often within the first pages of a book (that might make me cry by the time the book is ending). What a guy. Such good work. I will continue to learn from him.
I picked up Reaper Man at a train station 20-odd years ago and was hooked. Pterry will be sorely missed.
Like other commenters, I first encountered the wonderful mind of Terry Pratchett through his collaboration with my favorite living author (I can say that today), Neil Gaiman, in the pages of Good Omens. I promptly started the Discworld series at the beginning and devoured them all in order of publication. I also shared The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents and the Tiffany Aching books with my son. There’s just no way to pick a favorite book, there is something special about each. I guess I’ll just settle for a favorite character and moment: Granny Weatherwax lying on her bed holding a sign reading “I ain’t dead.” I want to be her when I grow up. He was brilliant, wise, touching, and oh, so funny. Sir Terry will be sorely missed.
I’m still weepy today. Such a brilliant writer and while I can’t say I knew him personally, I think his readers felt a personal connection with him, since he was so clearly present in all his stories.
For romance readers, Going Postal might be a particularly good introduction to Discworld. Romance isn’t a large part of the story, but there’s a romantic subplot that’s both amusing and heartfelt. There’s also a nice bit of background romance for Sam Vimes in the subseries that features the Watch, and another one for Captain Carrot in that subseries. The books wouldn’t be classified romances by any stretch of the imagination, but they do have the requisite uplifting endings, and emotional connections are strong motivators for the stories.
I’ve been inconsolable since yesterday. I was extremely fortunate to have discovered Pratchett in my late teens. Pratchett was the actual real reason I went on the internet which in 1993 mostly consisted of ftping, gopher, muds and usenet. I found fans, especially on the usenet newgroup alt.fan.pratchett on which Pratchett occasionally posted to and interacted with fans. L-space.org has a collection of his best quotes from there. I can’t count the ways this author has been an influence on my life and a part of it for my entire adulthood.
My favorite book by any author is Guards! Guards! with Reaperman in the top 10. Like others I’ve been meaning to re-read the series from the beginning for years. I’ll start with the world’s most inept wizzard.
To Sir Terry Pratchett, simply thank you for letting all of us come along with you.
Thank you so much for this article. I’ll freely add my name to the list of weepers. I was on a school trip to England in 1990, at age 15, and desperate for something to read during the long drives. I wandered into a London bookshop and idly picked up “Wyrd Sisters”, which I decided to buy because I liked the idea of a takeoff on the Scottish play. That was a life-changing day.
I also think “Small Gods” is a must-read for everybody. And “Good Omens” is genius–the recent BBC radio play they did of it was utter perfection.
I’m sure there are snooty proponents of “Literature” (note the capital L) out there, the kind that wouldn’t be caught dead reading Fantasy or anything with the slightest whiff of humour about it, that would sneer at the books he wrote.
The rest of us mourn the passing of a brilliant and creative author, while starting to reread the treasures he provided us.
It’s my first time commenting, but I don’t really have anyone to share the grief and the love with right now. I started reading the Discworld when I was 10 because I’d finished all the school curriculum books and I just fell in love. A lot of went straight over my head of course but it didn’t really matter at the time. The Discworld was somewhere I could escape to when I was bullied. When things got bad, I got to join Rincewind bumbling his way across the Counterweight Continent with his Luggage or watch Death trying to teach his apprentice the tricks of the trade. Terry made a lonely girl very happy and not quite so alone. He will be missed by so many.
I don’t have a particular favorite Discworld novel, but, if you check PamG’s link, my favorite portions are the Death novels, Watch novels, and Industrial Revolution. If you prefer audio books, I love hearing Stephen Briggs read anything by Pratchett. I’ve probably listened to Going Postal five times now.
I’ve never felt this sad over an author death before. Adore Pratchett and have re-read all the books many times. As for starting points, well, I’d say Good Omens if you want a flavor of his style but I always say with Discworld, begin at the beginning. Yes, The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic are more straight comic fantasy and definitely early books but it’s astounding to read through and see what he does with the world he sets up in those books and how he just gets better and better as he goes along. Otherwise, I’d start with Mort or Wyrd Sisters or try Tiffany and start with The Wee Free Men (though I kind of think Tiff is more fun when you know more about the witches through reading the Discworld books, she’s still awesome regardless). Hugs to all my fellow sad Pratchett fans. It’s going to be hard to read that very last book when it comes out.
Thank you for this article. I found out about Terry Pratchett’s death very soon after it was announced and haven’t really been able to process it until I came here. Reading everyone’s words, I’ve finally been able to cry about it, which I apparently really needed to do.
I’ve been reading Pratchett’s books for most of my life, and they’ve gotten me through some tough times (e.g. my entire adolescence). They’ve also preemptively made me more joyful in day-to-day life and in the face of times that could have been tough.
As to where to begin…I would say begin wherever you like. The Discworld goes on through space, and there is none of the nonsensical beginning and ending of spherical worlds — go wherever in the world you like and it won’t matter too much whether the events you read you read about will have already happened in the next book you read, or are about to happen, or are happening at the same time.
If you are good friends with a fan, ask for a personalized recommendation based on their knowledge of you. (For example, my blanket rec for readers of this site might be THE TRUTH, any Witches ones, GUARDS! GUARDS!, or MASKERADE.) If not, go to your local bookstore and just start reading the blurbs on the back of his books until one captures your imagination. … Then prepare to Hide Your Wallet in a big way, because there are already 40 published Discworld books, and several other series to work through!
For young readers, I echo suggestions of THE AMAZING MAURICE AND HIS EDUCATED RODENTS. I also highly recommend the Johnny series: ONLY YOU CAN SAVE MANKIND, JOHNNY AND THE BOMB, and JOHNNY AND THE DEAD.
Thank you, Terry Pratchett. For everything.
Though he will be sorely missed, he left an incredible legacy. So incredible, in fact, that he can never truly die, because he left so much of himself – his philosopy and humor and wit – in his works. So long as we read, remember, and pass on the books, he too shall live on.
(My introduction was Hogfather, purely by accident. I had seen a couple of students read a variety of his titles before but never made a connection, till one day whilst browsing the high school bibloteca I stumbled across Hogfather. I dont know what made me pick it up but I’m very glad I did. As my first Discworld book, it holds a very special favorite spot in my heart. And is also why Susan Sto Helit is my favorite character (followed by the Witches, of course). I dont think there is any *single* starting point. Just find a book and dive right in!)
I am convinced you never forget your first Pratchett. Mine was Equal Rites (picked it up from Yeovil library because I loved the title). It’s not the best, IMHO, but it made me laugh like a drain, and since then I’ve read the entire Discworld opus. So sad that there won’t be any more words from the genius that was Sir Terry, and I shall be rereading my way, chronologically, through all his books, and remembering…
I think my first one was Small Gods, and then I gulped everything had written. My sci-fi and fantasy bookstore that was two hours away in a college had a standing list for orders of his new books and used ones. I loved it when I got a call (yes, a phone call) about a “new” book being available.
I’m hoping this is the day I get through without crying. I met the man several times at conventions and thank God that I got a chance to tell him how much his books meant to me and my family. He impressed me as someone who did not suffer fools, but was generous and approachable to fans, a master story teller and natural raconteur. Most importantly, he was incredibly funny. He said that writing was like chain smoking. He started the next book the minute the last one was done.
Starter books: Feet of Clay (CSI Discworld) Reaper Man (If you want comfort that PTerry has made his own afterlife) or a short story called The Sea and Little Fishes (perfect character study of Granny Weatherwax and proof that he wrote women like he was one. And the Hogfather every Christmas, and Going Postal, and, and, and…
I have been a bit weepy ever since hearing, myself. OK, who am I kidding, I had a full-on cry at one point.
Pratchett was a favorite author of mine; in particular I loved any of the books featuring Death, and any storyline with the Watch, but really, I liked them all. He helped wash my mind clean of the dislike of satire and wit that had been placed there by too many Piers Anthony Xanth novels in middle school followed by too many midlevel English Lit classes. I still compare the best boss I ever had to Sam Vimes; he doesn’t know it, but what a compliment, yeah?
But the hardest part about Sir Terry’s passing for our family is that my 12-year-old daughter discovered him just over a year ago, and in finding Discworld, found herself. As an author he has been largely responsible for the sharp, dark wit that my daughter’s developing, to say nothing of her willingness to take nothing at face value. It’s Pratchett’s books that she gives to her friends, when she wants to help them understand how she sees the world. So it was no surprise that last month at school when assigned to do an intensive author biography project she chose Sir Terry. The project culminated in her dressing up as Susan, Death’s granddaughter, and giving a three-minute speech about Terry Pratchett’s life. She was handing out books the next day.
SBTB ladies, thanks for giving us all a space to grieve and reminisce. I think I’m going to go do my annual reread of Night Watch a couple weeks early, and keep the Kleenex handy.
When I learned that Terry Pratchett passed, I stared at my laptop screen in shock for a good minute. It sunk in that he was really gone, the brilliant, wonderful man to whom I owed so much joy and wisdom. I cried on and off off the following day, because I had lost a dear, dear friend and the world had lost something precious forever in his passing.
Like so many, there’s no overstating all that Terry Pratchett and his writing has given me. I remember the first day I picked up The Color of Magic on a whim, because I had been hearing about this Discworld thing forever so why not.
I read it on the bus home from work. Then returned to the bookstore the next day and promptly bought the next six books in the series. My buying binge would see me owing every Discworld book (artbooks and even the cookbook included). Among my most valued possessions-as in, “this is one of the things I grab when that earthquake finally hits”-is a copy of Making Money my aunt got him to sign for me before his illness made such things impossible.
I’m still grieving, to be honest, but I will pick up his books and know “a man is not dead while his name is still spoken”. Rest in peace, Terry. And thank you for everything.
I really liked this cartoon tribute as well – sorry I’ve been unable to track down the artist’s name https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=953540801324673&set=a.100536183291810.1086.100000062861669&type=1