Honoring the life of Terry Pratchett

[Eric the Orange]

I recently found out that Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with a fatal medical ailment (admitedly this was like a year ago, i'm a bit behind on the news). This saddens me greatly as he is my favorite author.

While he is not dead yet i'd like to honor his life by talking about his writing. It was some 10 years ago I was introduced to Diskworld and i've been hooked sence. My first book was Guards!Guards! and after reading it I had to go and buy the rest. His worlds are filled with lively likable charicters and humorus narative. While mainly a satierist his books are more than just about humor, they have interesting plots and deeper meaning. To quote a review "Pratchet should be considered great author, insted of just a sucsessful one".

So I invite all of you to share in you expeirences with his novels. What was your first Diskworld book. Favorite Book, Charicter, or set of charicters (the watch, the wiches, ect). Why is it that you feel he is a great author and should be celebrated.

EDIT: As I have been made aware he's not dying he has early onset alzheimers. Which means in 5-10 years or so he will not be able to write books, but he'll still be alive.

 

[oliveira8]

My first was The colour of magic(Think that its the english title.) Which is if not wrong the first one in the series, with Rincewind and that strange turist and its crazy bag.

Best Book: The Night Watch or Mort

Best Character: The one and only Sam Vimes

He is one of the best authors in doing comedic/satire books(Second only to Douglas Adams.) and Discworld is awesome!

 

[Hatredcopter]

Good Omens for sure. My brother heard about it from a friend. I read it, and passed it on to a friend who has since become an extreme Terry Pratchett fan. It's just a fantastic book.

 

[roboosh]

Maurice and his Educated Rodents. So great.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Oh, man, don't scare me like that! I read the thread title and thought he'd actually died!

*sigh*

Well, gotta admit, I haven't read very many of his books yet, but I read Guards! Guards! a while ago and just finished Men at Arms last week. I think I'll finish up the City Watch books and move on from there...

 

[pffh]

Yeah it's sad he is my favourite author. Though it's good that he is still writing with the help of his wife, he dictates and she types.

Also I'm a Vimes fanboy. Any book with mister Vimes and I'm a happy panda.

 

[Aedwynn]

First Discworld book: The Colour of Magic. (I've actually only read three DW books: Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic and Thud!)

Favourite set of characters: Aziraphale and Crowley from Good Omens. I loved their whole 'best of enemies' thing they had going on. (Although Neil Gaiman gets credit here too.)

... and of course DEATH. The Grim Reaper that you'd just love to have a pint with!

The Discworld books are excellent satire: Interesting, exciting, frequently hilarious, fantastic and occasionally even sombre and thoughtful.

 

[beholdmycape]

I first read the colour of magic over ten years ago and read quite a few discworld books since then as they all seem to have a few levels of humour and are great for killing a long train/plane trip.
Favourite character by far is Vetinari, anyone know of a book where he is the main character rather than just popping in and out of the story here and there?

 

[Shaenightbird]

Reaper Man, and Small Gods were my faves, so far, but I really like everything I've ever read that he's written so far.
Best character~ A minor one, but funny as hell~ Reg Shoe, the dead people's rights advocate in Reaper man.
Alzheimer's is a hideous condition anyway, but to happen to Terry Pratchett...NOOOO. so sad.

 

[oliveira8]

I first read the colour of magic over ten years ago and read quite a few discworld books since then as they all seem to have a few levels of humour and are great for killing a long train/plane trip.
Favourite character by far is Vetinari, anyone know of a book where he is the main character rather than just popping in and out of the story here and there?

I think theres none.

 

[Izakflashman]

shit I thought you were going to tell me he was already dead. Don't scare me like that. I knew about the disease thing..
Disc world is one of the best series ever. I was first introduced to his work when I was like 7. I found an audiobook of his, "the Carpet people" It was so epic and magical. I loved it so much I listened to it heaps.
Later on I came in contact with his discworld series purely by mistake. And loved them as well.
He came to Auckland at one point and I went and saw him. He's the man!

 

[GyroCaptain]

Serendipity here, I was just cataloging my Discworld collection. I'm up to 27/32 of the adult ones. I'd put him over Douglas Adams simply on body of work. I'd agree with those so far that Guards Guards! is one of the best overall. The mindscrew prize would go to Thief of Time, I think.

 

[ThaBenMan]

I've only read three Discworld books: Mort, Hogfather, and whatever the color-illustrated coffee table-type book is called. They were good, but in my opinion, Discworld is a little over-rated... or maybe I just need to read some more of them. But it's still sad about Mr. Pratchett, he's a very talented writer and it's a shame what he's going through.

From my limited exposure to the setting, I think my favorite characters are the inept faculty of the magic school.

 

[beholdmycape]

I first read the colour of magic over ten years ago and read quite a few discworld books since then as they all seem to have a few levels of humour and are great for killing a long train/plane trip.
Favourite character by far is Vetinari, anyone know of a book where he is the main character rather than just popping in and out of the story here and there?

I think theres none.

I guess it would dilute alot of the mystique surrounding Vetinari if the reader got to know him too well, saying that a story where he's taken out of his comfort zone and put into a challenging situation, with Drumknott of course is a discworld book id definitely buy.

 

[Scunner]

Funnily enough he is my favorite author and I hadn't heard of this either. :S

The first book I read of his was Good Omens and I then found The Light Fantastic on the shelves of a Library. I now have all the Discworld except Witches Abroad and a few other he has done (The Carpet People, Strata and The Dark Side Of The Sun). I'd have to say my 3 favorite would be Jingo, Interesting Times and Small Gods, but Guards! Guards! would be number 4. My favorite character would have to be Rincewind.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

I love the Discworld and Pratchett is my favourite author ,and after hearing the news a while ago, and reading the latest book Nation, I actually found myself feeling guilty for not enjoying it as much as his other stuff.

I have to admit I prefer his discworld stuff to his other works however.

As for Vetenari, I do believe he ends up slung in jail to rot in one book, tho I'll say no more.

Also was pleased to see Jeremy Irons playing the role in the Colour of Magic TV Movie, he's only second to Alan Rickman as ideal Patrician material.

 

[oliveira8]

Also was pleased to see Jeremy Irons playing the role in the Colour of Magic TV Movie, he's only second to Alan Rickman as ideal Patrician material.

Theres a TV movie? :O

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Also was pleased to see Jeremy Irons playing the role in the Colour of Magic TV Movie, he's only second to Alan Rickman as ideal Patrician material.

Theres a TV movie? :O

there's two!

Hogfather and Colour of Magic, the latter combining Light Fantastic, both weighing in around 3-4 hours, and imo, both well done and worth seeing. Of course, nothing could please the more rabid fans, but I felt they were well done. Both available on DVD too.

 

[ChickDangerous]

WTF? A TV movie? Must check that one out! I know once upon a time there was a Discworld MUD (am I showing my age here?) which I used to play.

The first book of his that I read was Mort and I have to say I thought the very idea of Death taking a holiday was hilarious and then kept reading the rest of his books.