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'Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?'
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Mar 12, 2015 17:56
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| # ? Jun 4, 2024 17:25 |
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drat. Pratchett dominated my reading lists in my adolescents and is still my favorite author. I know most of Discworld was kind of wrapped up by this point but I still wish I could read about a few the characters one more time. 
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Mar 12, 2015 17:56
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 RIP Terry
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Mar 12, 2015 18:01
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RIP Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Rincewind and all the wizards, the City Watch, and Death himself 
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Mar 12, 2015 18:05
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Rᴇᴍɪɴᴅ ᴍᴇ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏʀsᴇ-sʜᴀᴘᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴇs ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ? I ᴄᴀɴ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:09
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Man this sucks RIP Terry
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Mar 12, 2015 18:12
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Well, that's a bit of an embuggerance
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Mar 12, 2015 18:17
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First Sam Simon, now Terry Pratchett. Bad week for a kid who spent multiple summers watching The Simpsons reruns all day and reading Discworld paperbacks all night. This is how I felt when Kurt Vonnegut died, a small part of me is missing now. The impact Pratchett had on my world view is immeasurable, I know I would not be the same person if I had not picked up an anthology of short stories with one written by a guy named Terry years ago. Talk about a bummer two days before I'm going on vacation. I don't even want to go to work today, but I guess I can't tell them someone I never met died and I need to go cry a bunch.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:18
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drat, I guess I'll try to write some today. Feels like the only real kind of homage I could make, as shallow and threadbare as it is by comparison.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:18
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Is the Long Earth worth looking at?
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Mar 12, 2015 18:28
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Well this is pretty dreadful. Knowing it was coming hasn't made it any better, though going out on his own terms does... Sir Terry's writing have been a huge part of my life for decades now. I just finished re-reading Small Gods yesterday in fact. But I think that I'll be able to move on from sadness at his passing to tremendous gratitude for what he'd written, because that's what he deserves. Thank you.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:29
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Mort said it best.quote:Tʜᴇʀᴇ's ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴍᴇ
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Mar 12, 2015 18:30
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Oh man I just noticed the thread title
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Mar 12, 2015 18:30
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His writings really helped me get through some tough times in my life and as corny as it sounds changed the way I looked at the world. drat it hits hard.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:30
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Is it the proper time for a eulogy? I got Night Watch as a Christmas gift from a distant cousin when I was maybe 14 or 15. Most of what I read at the time was that sort of generic fantasy trite most people gorge themselves on at that age, and opening up Night Watch was like getting served a steak dinner by comparison. Even though I hadn't a clue who any of these people were, I got an immediate grasp of the world and how the people there fit into it. It was uproariously funny - funnier than any other book I had read by that time - and it was dark. All the stuff I'd read in the past that had tried to be "dark" had missed it by a country mile, and it only became obvious when presented with lines like:quote:In this room there was a big wooden chair. In this room there was, by the chair, a rack. The chair was bolted to the floor. It had wide leather straps. The rack held clubs and hammers. In this room, that was all the furnishings. I hope I'm not the only one who mostly appreciates these books for how they never tried to shy away from uncomfortable issues. Pratchett knew how to leaven the darker moments of his books with an appropriate amount of humor (e.g. when he kills Wolfgang at the end of The Fifth Elephant), and he rarely let the things descend into pure silliness. More than that, he specifically wanted to deal with the sort of things that most fantasy authors were content to let pass by. Yes, there were themes of love, and sacrifice, and all the other stock standard elements, but these were books that also dealt heavily with racism, nationalism, police violence, faith, revolutions, politics, economics, feminism, and a whole bevvy of other topics that most people would be afraid of bringing up. They would occasionally dip into outright sermonizing, but were otherwise built with that kind of subtle, fantastical style of Johnathan Swift that Pratchett inherited. Even the "preachy" parts, to me, were part of what made the books interesting and worth reading. Pratchett wasn't shy about letting his ethics poke through his work, and you could tell that he saw engaging with the issues of his times as part of his author's duty, rather than trying to present a "disinterested" or "neutral" artistry. If I had to give my biggest inspiration for any writing that I do, it's Pratchett. More than anything, I think he opened my mind to the possibilities of fiction. He proved over and over that it's possible to tell a drat good story that tugs you in six different directions at once at the same time that you're giving the audience something substantial to think about.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:31
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Goddamn Particle posted:Oh man I just noticed the thread title Oh, man.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:36
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RIP
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Mar 12, 2015 18:38
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Vermain posted:I hope I'm not the only one who mostly appreciates these books for how they never tried to shy away from uncomfortable issues. Pratchett knew how to leaven the darker moments of his books with an appropriate amount of humor (e.g. when he kills Wolfgang at the end of The Fifth Elephant), and he rarely let the things descend into pure silliness. More than that, he specifically wanted to deal with the sort of things that most fantasy authors were content to let pass by. Yes, there were themes of love, and sacrifice, and all the other stock standard elements, but these were books that also dealt heavily with racism, nationalism, police violence, faith, revolutions, politics, economics, feminism, and a whole bevvy of other topics that most people would be afraid of bringing up. They would occasionally dip into outright sermonizing, but were otherwise built with that kind of subtle, fantastical style of Johnathan Swift that Pratchett inherited. Even the "preachy" parts, to me, were part of what made the books interesting and worth reading. Pratchett wasn't shy about letting his ethics poke through his work, and you could tell that he saw engaging with the issues of his times as part of his author's duty, rather than trying to present a "disinterested" or "neutral" artistry. This is one of the things that always amazed me most. Look at The Hogfather. The premise is absurd, but it works amazingly well because Pratchett made his readers care about his characters, and the world they lived in.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:39
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gently caress fuckity gently caress gently caress gently caress. It's been so long since the first diagnosis that I had almost slipped into complacent wishful thinking that the books would just keep coming. There's still so much room on my shelf for him. 
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Mar 12, 2015 18:40
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Words In The Heart Cannot Be Taken WHAT MORE CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, BUT THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN The turtle moves Etc etc etc I knew I could rely on this thread to have remembered the quotes that were elusively slipping away from me as I walked into a bleak, cold wind that drew tears from my eyes, on my way home from work; the inspiring, intriguing, heartfelt, funny, cool words that put better what I feel than I ever could. The world is a poorer, less funny, less clever place, for the absence of a man whose words have, perhaps more than any other's, shaped my childhood, my adolescence and my adulthood. I could always rely on Pratchett, from my youngest days, to lighten a mood, cheer up a train journey, make me laugh, smile, think, and occasionally, cry. I feel like I've lost an old friend. I know that's daft, maybe, I met him all of once (he presented my bronze Duke of Edinburgh's award, and signed my programme; I'm pretty sure I lost it) but nonetheless, I've probably read more of his words than anyone else's. Is it strange to think he's met an old friend, now? Rihanna's tweet made me think that. Death is his longest-running character, after all. I will miss him.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:42
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Bugger. Lot of death happening around me of late. I'm a late comer to the Discworld books but still sad news. Best to his family. NO YOU HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN QUITE ENOUGH WOULDN'T YOU SAY? COME ALONG NOW.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:47
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When I was 14, I responded to one of those "Sci-fi Book Club" things where you get 5 books for a dollar, and then they send you books every month at full price. I had every intention of cancelling after I got my super-cheap books, but, being 14, I promptly forgot to do so. At the beginning of the next month, I received a book titled "Men at Arms" by an author I'd never heard of. The cover was downright silly, and the descriptive blurb made no sense to me at the time. Still, I was going to have to pay for it...so I figured I might as read it. I fell in love pretty much immediately, and never stopped being a fan. Pratchett's writing made fantasy something more than I got from other authors. It was well-written, and hilarious, and showed me that fantasy could teach you things about society, people, and yourself. And it did it in a much different way than something as heavy-handed as Sword of Truth (though Terry could get heavy-handed from time to time, it still wasn't as glaring or as galling as being beat over the head by Goodkind). The Watch books have always been my favorite. Likely because that's the characters I was first introduced to, but the entire Death series is a close second in my heart. Nothing has really helped me come to terms with my own mortality quite like those books. It likely sounds cliche at this point, but Discworld and its inhabitants shaped who I am in a lot of ways. "Jingo" really opened my eyes to the danger of Nationalism and Jingoists. The near-constant undercurrent of the various races and species vying for their civil rights made me look at the same fight in the real world with a different set of eyes than the ones I had been raised with in the deep south of America. "The Truth" drove home how powerful the written word can be, and the lengths some will go to to stop it. I could go on, and on. I feel like a family member has passed, and burst into tears when I read the news...though I'd been dreading it for some time. RIP Sir Terry, and know that your ripples spread far and wide. Devorum fucked around with this message at 18:54 on Mar 12, 2015 |
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Mar 12, 2015 18:47
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In 2005 Terry Pratchett was nominated for a Hugo, which he almost certainly would have won. He turned it down, on the basis that while he appreciated the esteem, it would do little to further his career, whereas the nomination spot or win could help a newer and less established author immensely. Very kind man
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Mar 12, 2015 18:47
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RIP
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Mar 12, 2015 18:49
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thespaceinvader posted:Words In The Heart Cannot Be Taken The way they announced it on twitter was the best. It is what he wanted. Its a god damned shame. Today is going to be a rough day.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:50
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Vermain posted:Is it the proper time for a eulogy? I got Night Watch as a Christmas gift from a distant cousin when I was maybe 14 or 15. Most of what I read at the time was that sort of generic fantasy trite most people gorge themselves on at that age, and opening up Night Watch was like getting served a steak dinner by comparison. Even though I hadn't a clue who any of these people were, I got an immediate grasp of the world and how the people there fit into it. It was uproariously funny - funnier than any other book I had read by that time - and it was dark. Oh good lord, Night Watch. I still get chills every time reading the confrontation between Vimes and Swing in the Cable Street Watch House and the final fight between the lilac lads and Carcer's men in the alley. Send it back into the dark until you need it...
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Mar 12, 2015 18:52
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I am being 100% sincere when I say that getting into Discworld at age 13 fundamentally changed me for the better. I know lots of you can relate so I'm just going to leave it at that. RIP.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:56
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Guess it's time to start reading again from the beginning. Are the British versions of his ebooks notably higher quality than the American ones? A lot of HarperCollins stuff seems to be a bit iffy, especially ebooks that were made at the beginning of the ebook era.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:57
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I remember reading every one of his books then handing them to my dad to read and later just sitting and talking about them.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:58
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supermikhail posted:drat, I guess I'll try to write some today. Feels like the only real kind of homage I could make, as shallow and threadbare as it is by comparison. “Writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.”  It's also the best homage we could make, too, and I would do it if I knew how.
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Mar 12, 2015 19:01
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I haven't read Discworld since I was a teenager but this news still hit me pretty hard.
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Mar 12, 2015 19:01
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A Little Advice For Life I have been blessed with good fortune in my life. I've turned a passion into a profession, and those who know me know that I know that they know that I still enjoy it immensely. Through what some might call my 'craft' I've brought interesting characters and worlds to life and through the power of words I have, I hope, shone a little light into some of the darker corners of the human condition. I've always maintained that it is better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness. But my prime purpose has always been to tell good stories. The fact that people seem to like them is simply a bonus. While I may have ten doctorates (who's counting?), I confess that I never had the educational opportunities people have today. I never attended or completed university; my learning came from doing and from reading and from experiencing life as a husband, father and journalist. I have occasionally been accused of literature. Some say I have a pack-rat mind, and I've learned over time to put this to good use - sharing my knowledge in the way that I know best, through my stories. In university parlance, this is known as knowledge transfer and I, right here and now, would like to transfer some of my knowledge over to you. I know first hand that Fate can be cruel and unusual at times, but she is hardly ever deliberately malicious: she just suffers from bad timing in the main, so use your gifts and your talents to greatest possible effect while you can. Spread joy whenever possible. Laugh at jokes. Tell jokes. Make puns and bugger the embuggerances. Read books. Read my books. You might like them. You might find something else you like even more than them. Look for these things in life. Question authority. Champion good causes. Speak out against injustice. Do not tolerate bullies or bigots or racists or anti-intellectuals or the narrow minded. Use your education to challenge them. Broaden their perspectives. Make the world you interface with a happier place. These are your choices. Choices you have been fortunate enough to have been given, so don't waste them while you have them. Don't look back in years to come and wish you had grasped a fleeting opportunity. Grasp it now with both hands. Live. Strive. Love. I don't smoke, but Sam Vimes enjoys a cigar or two and there's possibly more of me in Sir Samuel than in any other player on my pages. He would probably tsk at so blatant a plug for good. He's been known to harness darkness, but he puts it to good use. Love changed his life and life is now something that he loves. I believe that the sum of our experiences, good and bad, is what makes us who we are. That has the making of real magic. Please. Go out into this world and experience its wonders. We live in interesting times and so it is best to enjoy the journey while you can. I find the occasional brandy helps. Good luck! The End [1] - TP [1] Or perhaps I should say, 'To be continued...'
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Mar 12, 2015 19:08
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Oh hell. Guess it's time to find the few Discworld books I haven't managed to get around reading. I still maintain that the Death half of Reaper Man is some of the best he ever wrote. I can never remember the other half with the wizards, but the parts with Death are still as clear in my mind as if I read it yesterday. I'll never forget the first time I read Death's plea to Azrael. Helped me through an emotionally rough patch when I was a teen. THERE IS NO HOPE BUT US. THERE IS NO MERCY BUT US. THERE IS NO JUSTICE. THERE IS JUST US. That always helped somehow.
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Mar 12, 2015 19:11
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Jedit posted:A Little Advice For Life Oh man. I was just about holding it together, but this did it for me.
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Mar 12, 2015 19:19
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Konec Hry posted:I am being 100% sincere when I say that getting into Discworld at age 13 fundamentally changed me for the better. I was about the same age when I started reading him. I was babysitting my step-mom's niece and nephew, and brought along a Hitchhiker's Guide collection to read. Their British mother saw it, asked if I'd read it before, then brought out The Color of Magic for me to read when I said yes. I read some of it that night and enjoyed it, so she pulled out the next four books (The Light Fantastic, Equal Rites, Mort, and Sourcery) and let me borrow all five of them, along with a little dictionary of Discworld people, places, and things. And that was it. He quickly became my favorite author. I've read and re-read his books so many times now. But it has been a long time since I've read Reaper Man. Guess it's time to break that one out again.
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Mar 12, 2015 19:28
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Fried Chicken posted:In 2005 Terry Pratchett was nominated for a Hugo, which he almost certainly would have won. He turned it down, on the basis that while he appreciated the esteem, it would do little to further his career, whereas the nomination spot or win could help a newer and less established author immensely. Actually that was because he didn't want the suspense of waiting to see if he won the reward and instead just wanted to enjoy himself in the lead up to the award, which is honestly a much better reason.
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Mar 12, 2015 19:28
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“Sometimes I get nice letters from people who know they're due to meet him (Death) soon, and hope I've got him right. Those are the kind of letters that cause me to stare at the wall for some time.” - The Art of Discworld
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Mar 12, 2015 19:31
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I'm glad the first and last Pratchett books I read were ones I enjoyed.
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Mar 12, 2015 19:31
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THERE IS NO JUSTICE. THERE IS JUST US.
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Mar 12, 2015 19:34
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I just got my wife and youngest to start reading him. I'm going to reread several of them next week.
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Mar 12, 2015 19:49
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