# Terry Pratchett dead at 66. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835 "2015-03-12T15:12:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/41 "2015-03-12T16:18:25Z")
Crap, damnation and fuckitude \>.\< I was lucky enough to meet him twice. What a great person he was. I gave him a gift of a gold-inlaid hourglass from Toledo. I should have got him a bigger one… Time to re-read everything he wrote. Thanks for the memories, you magnificent individual you. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/42 "2015-03-12T16:21:24Z")
He didn’t end his own life? If that is the case, it must have really progressed too rapidly. Is it confirmed he died without his own choice on the timing? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/43 "2015-03-12T16:24:13Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > He didn’t end his own life? If that is the case, it must have really progressed too rapidly. Is it confirmed he died without his own choice on the timing? Ah, I just realized the BBC states that he did not end his own life. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/44 "2015-03-12T16:25:13Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I hope they’ll publish a Complete Works sooner rather than later. It would break the damn shelf! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/45 "2015-03-12T16:26:08Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I just got\* Raising Steam\*. Part of me says, “Read it right now.” Part of me says, “When you’re done, there’s no more new Pratchett for you, ever.” Maybe not. There might still be something in the pipeline. _Scouting For Trolls_ has been listed as “Upcoming” for quite a bit. Maybe he got it finished. [clinging to any scrap of hope.] ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/46 "2015-03-12T16:26:12Z")
Sad. I have \*just started \*reading the Discworld books–the only thing I’ve read of his before was _Good Omens_. This morning I got to the part in \*The Light Fantastic \*where Rincewind finds Twoflower in Death’s house. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/47 "2015-03-12T16:27:41Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > “… there’s no more new Pratchett for you, ever.” This is what really gets to me. I had hoped for one more installment. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/48 "2015-03-12T16:27:51Z")
> [@Lemmytheseal2](#): > > He had early-onset Alzheimer’s or something similar, and had long announced his plan to die on his own terms before drifting into the mental abyss. It doesn’t look like he managed it. “The author of more than 70 books died at his home ‘with his cat sleeping on his bed, surrounded by his family.’” There’s a lot worse ways to go out than that. I’m just glad he was surrounded by his cat’s family at the end. When I saw the thread title, it took my breath away. Still, I can’t say it was completely unexpected. I’m sad, but I’m also thankful that he lived as long and wrote as much as he did (and that he was fully recognized and appreciated during his lifetime). ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/49 "2015-03-12T16:27:56Z")
Fuck. Wow, this hits hard. RIP, Sir Pterry, and thanks for all the stories. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/50 "2015-03-12T16:29:24Z")
When Leonard Nimoy passed I thought the only other celebrity death that would hit me that hard would be Sir Terry’s. I didn’t think it would happen so soon. At least I got to meet him once at a sci fi convention many years ago. I was too nervous to talk much when I had him sign my book, just told him I was a big fan. We stayed in the same hotel on the same floor so I ran into him a couple more times; buying a Darwin fish in the exhibit hall, in the elevator a couple times and at the floors continental breakfast. I was always too nervous to talk so I’d just smile at him and every time he’s smile and nod back. It is still my favorite celebrity encounter. > [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > iSQUEAK. Indeed. Alzheimer’s is a bitch. It doesn’t just make you sick and eventually kill you, it takes away who you are. I’d like to think that he remained Pterry until the end. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/51 "2015-03-12T16:31:39Z")
I would rather it had been a near death experience ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/52 "2015-03-12T16:32:13Z")
A great man with a great mind and a great imagination. A very great influence on me and millions of others. I had long held the philosophy shown in my former sig line. To see it echoed in Hogfather was very touching and validating. “Justice and Fairness are Human Ideological Concepts. They do not exist in the real universe.” One of the few people that I didn’t know personally that I shed tears for on hearing the news. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/53 "2015-03-12T16:32:54Z")
well Damn Helena, now my sleeves are all wet. That was fabulous, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/54 "2015-03-12T16:38:59Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > “The author of more than 70 books died at his home ‘with his cat sleeping on his bed, surrounded by his family.’” There’s a lot worse ways to go out than that. Indeed. Sadly, my wife is 550 miles away, when I most need to hug her and tell her how much I love her. A friend of mine is dealing with a form of early onset Alzheimer’s, and it has been heartbreaking seeing his mind whittled away. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/55 "2015-03-12T16:41:21Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Sad. I have \*just started \*reading the Discworld books–the only thing I’ve read of his before was _Good Omens_. My introduction to Terry Pratchett was _Good Omens_. My best **fiend** gave it to me as a Christmas present in the early-'90s. **Shayna** and **Spiny Norman** gave me three of his _Discworld_ books one year for Christmas. The first one I read was _Reaper Man_. For my tastes, this was the perfect book to start with. After reading the other gifts, I read the rest of the series in order of publication except for the YA books and the last two. I’ve now ordered _Snuff_ and _Raising Steam_, the ones I have not read yet. I feel bad for his cat. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/56 "2015-03-12T16:48:43Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > After reading the other gifts, I read the rest of the series in order of publication except for the YA books and the last two. I’ve now ordered _Snuff_ and _Raising Steam_, the ones I have not read yet. Surely, you’re not implying you haven’t read the YA books! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/57 "2015-03-12T16:49:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > After reading the other gifts, I read the rest of the series in order of publication **except for the YA books** and the last two. I’ve now ordered _Snuff_ and _Raising Steam_, the ones I have not read yet. Whatever you do, do not skip his young adult books. The Tiffany Aching books are some of his finest writing, particularly _I Shall Wear Midnight_. They are “young adult” only in their themes. _What was it that Granny Weatherwax had said once? “Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.” And right now it would happen if you thought there was a thing called a father, and a thing called a mother, and a thing called a daughter, and a thing called a cottage, and told yourself that if you put them all together you had a thing called a happy family._ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/58 "2015-03-12T16:50:35Z")
Crivens! ---
**Author:** ![InfernoOrangeSS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@InfernoOrangeSS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InfernoOrangeSS)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/59 "2015-03-12T16:53:38Z")
I saw this earlier today. I hated to hear it. Wonderful author. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/60 "2015-03-12T16:54:37Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Whatever you do, do not skip his young adult books. The Tiffany Aching books are some of his finest writing, particularly _I Shall Wear Midnight_. They are “young adult” only in their themes. I heartily agree, Midnight reduced me to tears more than once, it was a fantasic book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835.md?page=4)