Terry Pratchett (1948 – 2015)

Beloved Sci-Fi writer Terry Pratchett has passed away at the age of 66.

In a statement from Transworld Publishers, MD Larry Finlay said:

“I was deeply saddened to learn that Sir Terry Pratchett has died. The world has lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds.

In over 70 books, Terry enriched the planet like few before him. As all who read him know, Discworld was his vehicle to satirize this world: he did so brilliantly, with great skill, enormous humour and constant invention.

Terry passed away in his home, with his cat sleeping on his bed surrounded by his family on 12th March 2015” – http://www.pjsmprints.com/

Pratchett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in December 2007. Describing it as an ’embuggerance’ in a radio interview, Pratchett appealed to people to “keep things cheerful”, and proclaimed that “we are taking it fairly philosophically down here and possibly with a mild optimism.”

Since his diagnosis, Pratchett had been very involved with research into Alzheimer’s disease. In 2008 he donated US$1,000,000 to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, and the BBC began working with Pratchett to make a two-part documentary series based on his illness. Terry Pratchett: Living With Alzheimer’s was broadcast in 2008, drawing over 2m viewers. The programme won a BAFTA award in the Factual Series category.

The final tweets sent from his official Twitter account are a fitting eulogy.

AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER.

— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015

Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.

— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015

The End.

— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015

Neil Gaiman, Pratchett’s good friend, tweeted:

I will miss you, Terry, so much. This is the last thing I wrote about you. http://t.co/YKAFrKjkLc

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) March 12, 2015

He was my friend for thirty years and a month. I miss him. Donate to Alzheimer's research and make it so things like this don't happen.

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) March 12, 2015

As did Margaret E Atwood:

Very sad to hear of the death of #terrypratchett. I vastly enjoy his playful, smart #Discworld books.

— Margaret E. Atwood (@MargaretAtwood) March 12, 2015

I’ll leave you with a quote from the man himself.

‘DON’T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death. JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.’