History Creator / TerryPratchett

Most famous for the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series, but this was not his only work. Some of the other stuff he's written:

Known to have been JustForFun/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}}'', ''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.")

In 2007, he announced that he had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, which he typically referred to as an "embuggerance". He didn't let it get him down, though his condition advanced to the point where he couldn't write or type. [[{{Determinator}} Not that that stopped him releasing a book or two a year through dictation]]. Also in typical fashion, he said while he appreciated the sentiment, he asked that only those fans of his with a background in the study of brain chemistry ask him questions like, "Is there anything I can do?"

Pratchett had said that the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series would probably never end; what ''will'' end Discworld, he said, is sheer overcrowding -- the City Watch books were already problematic in that regard, as it's hard to write a story set in Ankh-Morpork that doesn't somehow involve the Watch (at which point it ''becomes'' a Watch book, [[SpotlightStealingSquad regardless of his original plot outline]]), which presumably explains the creation of protagonist Moist Von Lipwig, who by virtue of his past profession was able to be both a powerful and influential city figure while wishing to have nothing to do with the Watch.

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]]. That same year, he became [[http://www.tcd.ie/Communications/news/pressreleases/pressRelease.php?headerID=1604&pressReleaseArchive=2011 Professor at Trinity College, Dublin]]. In 2012 he ran Narrativia Productions, which is in charge of all future adaptations of his work, including [[Series/GoodOmens2019 the]] ''[[Series/GoodOmens2019 Good Omens]]'' [[Series/GoodOmens2019 TV series]] 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.)

The events leading up to his passing would honestly not look out of place in one of his own books. 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]]. 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 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM here]].

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. Though he had made all preparations for his death and had full intentions of carrying through with his earlier promise, he ultimately died of natural causes, passing away peacefully in his sleep while surrounded by his family and cat. The BBC broadcast a docudrama about his life, ''Back in Black'' in 2017. Also in that year, his computer hard drive with all his unfinished work was destroyed by a steamroller per his request.

!! Tropes Associated with Pratchett's Work

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]]. That same year he became [[http://www.tcd.ie/Communications/news/pressreleases/pressRelease.php?headerID=1604&pressReleaseArchive=2011 Professor at Trinity College, Dublin]]. In 2012 he ran Narrativia Productions, which is in charge of all future adaptations of his work, including [[Series/GoodOmens2019 the]] ''[[Series/GoodOmens2019 Good Omens]]'' [[Series/GoodOmens2019 TV series]] 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.)

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 [[Series/GoodOmens2019 the]] ''[[Series/GoodOmens2019 Good Omens]]'' [[Series/GoodOmens2019 TV series]] 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.)

* CoolSword: Once he received his Knighthood, Sir Pratchett proceeded to commission a sword to go with his new rank. It, of course, was forged from MeteoricIron.

The events leading up to his passing would honestly not look out of place in one of his own books. 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 - [[OutGambitted complications from his Alzheimer's took him first anyway]].) 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 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM here]].

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. Also in that year, his computer hard drive with all his unfinished work was destroyed by a steamroller per his request.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: [[http://www.bsfa.co.uk/www.vectormagazine.co.uk/article.asp%3FarticleID=42.html We almost had]] a ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' novel written by him.

** After his death, it was revealed that he had ten books that were left unfinished. Instead of [[PosthumousCollaboration being finished by others]] (his daughter ruled herself out of continuing his ''Discworld'' series), [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-41093066 the hard drive containing said works were crushed by a steamroller in August 2017 as according to his will, he didn't want anyone to either finish or publish them]].

* 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. [[RuleOfCool With a steamroller.]]

* PaintingTheMedium: He was ''extremely'' skilled at this. '''One character might have all their speech boldened to represent their inhumanly deep voice.''' ''Another might have it italicized to convey how seedy they sounded.'' Another Might Have The First Letter Of Each Word Capitalized To Convey A Slow And Robotic Tone.

* 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. [[CrazyAwesome With a steamroller.]]

* ''Literature/TheCarpetPeople'' (his first novel) and ''[[Literature/NomesTrilogy The Bromeliad]]'', three further books on a similar theme, aimed at children.

* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: One of the undisputed masters of this trope.

The events leading up to his passing would honestly not look out of place in one of his own books. 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 - [[OutGambitted 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 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM here]].

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 - [[OutGambitted 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 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM here]].

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 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM here]].

Terence David John Pratchett (April 28, 1948--March 12, 2015) was a British Fantasy author and [[{{Troperiffic}} Archmage of Tropeomancy]].[[superscript:1]] 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 and [[{{Troperiffic}} Archmage of Tropeomancy]][[superscript:1]]. 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 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).

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 ''Literature/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.)

Known to have been JustForFun/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.")

* FourthWallShutInStory: The short story "Final Reward" has a BarbarianHero, following his death, [[RefugeeFromTVLand arriving in the hall of his "creator"]]; that is, the fantasy writer who invented him. The writer has increasing trouble dealing with his houseguest, especially when the barbarian quickly adjusts to the real world, and is soon more successful and popular than the writer. At the end of the story, the writer escape by creating a new series set on the same world and writing himself in as the central character. The barbarian discovers the author gone, and on finding the unfinished manuscript realises what has happened. He decides to continue the series and write a good life for his creator.

Pratchett's trademark was his sense of humor -- relying on wordplay, spoofing mythology and popular culture (though he usually didn'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 could not turn, and there are few subjects that Pterry (as his fans have [[FanNickname affectionately dubbed him]]) wouldn'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.

[[caption-width-right:360: ''[[Discworld/GoingPostal A man's not dead while his name is still spoken.]]'']]

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

* FourtWallShutInStory: The short story "Final Reward" has a BarbarianHero, following his death, [[RefugeeFromTVLand arriving in the hall of his "creator"]]; that is, the fantasy writer who invented him. The writer has increasing trouble dealing with his houseguest, especially when the barbarian quickly adjusts to the real world, and is soon more successful and popular than the writer. At the end of the story, the writer escape by creating a new series set on the same world and writing himself in as the central character. The barbarian discovers the author gone, and on finding the unfinished manuscript realises what has happened. He decides to continue the series and write a good life for his creator.