History Creator / TerryPratchett

Terence David John Pratchett (April 28, 1948--March 12, 2015) was a British Fantasy author and [[{{Troperiffic}} Archmage of tropeomancy]]. A [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever Knight Bachelor]] (i.e. Sir Terry Pratchett OBE), he was described as the most shoplifted author in Britain (belying an American critic who once claimed that he hadn't found his audience).

Terence David John Pratchett (April 28, 1948--March 12, 2015) was a British Fantasy author. A [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever Knight Bachelor]] (i.e. Sir Terry Pratchett OBE), he was described as the most shoplifted author in Britain (belying an American critic who once claimed that he hadn't found his audience).

At a Con in 2009, he announced "I will not die of Alzheimer's. I shall make other arrangements; [[GallowsHumor I'm going]] [[TakingYouWithMe to take the disease with me.]]" Sure enough, in 2011 he began the process that would lead to his eventual assisted [[InsistentTerminology death]]. (Ultimately, though, he never got the opportunity to go through with it - complications from his Alzheimer's took him first.) In 2010 he became the first ever novelist (with the assistance of his good friend Creator/TonyRobinson) to give a Richard Dimbleby Lecture on this subject titled ''Shaking Hands With Death''. It can be seen at [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM]].

* AuthorExistenceFailure: Pratchett passed away on March 12, 2015. The last book he wrote (''The Shepherd's Crown'', the fifth Tiffany Aching book in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series) was published posthumously, and since his daughter Rhianna has stated that she will be the "caretaker" of ''Discworld'' but not write any books for it herself, this book marks the end of the series. Per his wishes, his in-progress works were all destroyed.

* ''Literature/GoodOmens'', a collaboration with Creator/NeilGaiman. A mini-series is set for release in May 2019.

* ''Literature/GoodOmens'', a collaboration with Creator/NeilGaiman. A mini-series is currently in development.

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* NiceGuy: It has been said Pratchett was a very nice man in real life.
* RousseauWasRight: Pratchett believes that anybody that knows the difference between the right and the wrong would never WANT to choose wrong.

* RousseauWasRight: Pratchett believes that anybody that knows the difference between the right and the wrong would never actually CHOOSE wrong.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: Pratchett was never afraid of dying and made his Latin motto "Noli Timere Messorem[[labelnote:?]]Don't fear the Reaper[[/labelnote]] on his [[http://i.imgur.com/Cjenh.jpg coat of arms.]] His interpretation of the grim reaper is his most praised character.

Known to have been OneOfUs ([[Literature/{{Discworld}} the Luggage]], for example, was originally created for a game of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' he played) and enjoyed a few computer games like ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' (for which he provided the iconic page quote), ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' and fan missions of ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}''. His daughter [[Creator/RhiannaPratchett Rhianna]] is a writer for video games, notably the ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' series, ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'', ''VideoGame/HeavenlySword'' and the reboot of ''VideoGame/{{Tomb Raider|2013}}'' - he has stated that he is happy for her to take over running Discworld (although she won't be writing new books: "They’re sacred, they’re Dad’s legacy and I’m the protector of Discworld and that means protecting it from myself as well.")

Fantasy author (April 28, 1948--March 12, 2015). A [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever Knight Bachelor]] (i.e. Sir Terry Pratchett OBE), he was described as the most shoplifted author in Britain (belying an American critic who once claimed that he hadn't found his audience).

Also the [[Pantheon/{{Philosophy}} TV Tropes god]] of Trope Identification[[superscript:1]].

Known to have been OneOfUs ([[Literature/{{Discworld}} the Luggage]], for example, was originally created for a game of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' he played) and enjoyed a few computer games like ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' (for which he provided the iconic page quote), ''{{VideoGame/Half-Life 2}}'' and fan missions of ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}''. His daughter [[Creator/RhiannaPratchett Rhianna]] is a writer for video games, notably the ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' series, ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'', ''VideoGame/HeavenlySword'' and the reboot of ''VideoGame/{{Tomb Raider|2013}}'' - he has stated that he is happy for her to take over running Discworld (although she won't be writing new books: "They’re sacred, they’re Dad’s legacy and I’m the protector of Discworld and that means protecting it from myself as well.")

In 2014, he withdrew from public appearances due to the development of his Alzheimer's, and tragically succumbed to the disease on March 12, 2015. There is debate over whether this was assisted suicide but, having written his Autobiography and released several short stories that he had written earlier in his life, most agree he had made all preparations for his death. The BBC broadcast a docudrama about his life, ''Back in Black'' in 2017.

In 2014, he withdrew from public appearances due to the development of his Alzheimer's, and tragically succumbed to the disease on March 12, 2015. There is debate over whether this was assisted suicide but, having written his Autobiography and released several short stories that he had written earlier in his life, most agree he had made all preparations for his death.

At a Con in 2009, he announced "I will not die of Alzheimer's. I shall make other arrangements; [[GallowsHumor I'm going]] [[TakingYouWithMe to take the disease with me.]]" Sure enough, in 2011 he began the process that would lead to his eventual assisted [[InsistentTerminology death]]. (Ultimately, though, he never got the opportunity to go through with it - complications from his Alzheimer's took him first.) In 2010 he became the first ever novelist to give (with the assistance of his good friend Creator/TonyRobinson) to give a Richard Dimbleby Lecture on this subject titled ''Shaking Hands With Death''. It can be seen at [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM]].

At a Con in 2009, he announced "I will not die of Alzheimer's. I shall make other arrangements; [[GallowsHumor I'm going]] [[TakingYouWithMe to take the disease with me.]]" Sure enough, in 2011 he began the process that would lead to his eventual assisted [[InsistentTerminology death]]. (Ultimately, though, he never got the opportunity to go through with it - complications from his Alzheimer's took him first.)

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Pratchett's trademark was his sense of humor -- relying on wordplay, spoofing mythology and popular culture (though he usually doesn't include current events in his work lest the books become dated), and publishing in genres ranging from fantasy to detective fiction to political thriller (often combining ''all three''), rarely has there been found a phrase that he cannot turn, and there are few subjects that Pterry (as his fans have [[FanNickname affectionately dubbed him]]) won't make at least a ''passing'' attempt to skewer on the end of a sharp metaphor. What Creator/DouglasAdams was to science fiction, Pratchett was to fantasy.

Fantasy author (April 28, 1948--March 12, 2015). A [[KnightFever Knight Bachelor]] (i.e. Sir Terry Pratchett OBE), he was described as the most shoplifted author in Britain (belying an American critic who once claimed that he hadn't found his audience).

He became Sir Terry, after being included in the 2008 Christmas Honours list, and was reportedly "flabbergasted". In celebration, he [[http://www.news.com.au/technology/terry-pratchett-creates-a-sword-with-meteorites/story-e6frfro0-1225926584339 had a sword forged]] from ThunderboltIron. In 2010 he received his [[http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/newsletter/item/27-september-2010 coat of arms]]. As of 2010 he also became [[http://www.tcd.ie/Communications/news/pressreleases/pressRelease.php?headerID=1604&pressReleaseArchive=2011 Professor at Trinity College, Dublin]]. As of 2012 he ran Narrativia Productions, which is in charge of all future adaptations of his work, including the ''GoodOmens'' movie and ''Terry Pratchett's The Watch''. (Narrativia is the Goddess of Narrative, who manifests whenever aspects of a story neatly fit together in a way the writer hadn't expected.)

-->--'''Terry Pratchett''', alt.fan.pratchett

[-1. and [[FootnoteFever footnotes]]-]