# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/101 "2015-03-12T21:07:00Z")
Sad, truly sad. He was my favorite living author and having just lost Nimoy so recently. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/102 "2015-03-12T21:07:32Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > [BBC](http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31858156). > > This is the first time in a long time a celebrity death has hit me like it was a family member. Same here ☹ ---
**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, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/103 "2015-03-12T21:09:59Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > God, I hope not. We don’t need another Brian Herbert out there. \*\*Silenus \*\*has already confirmed that his daughter has said she does not plan to. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/104 "2015-03-12T21:20:35Z")
“Oook”\* \*Goodbye Sir Terry, each book was an like exploring a new world and returning home at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/105 "2015-03-12T21:23:25Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > God, I hope not. We don’t need another Brian Herbert out there. Agreed, though Rhianna is a much better writer than Brian Herbert. And in the worst case, good enough to know that no matter how good she is, it’s not a good idea to write any new Discworld novels. > [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > _The Shepherd’s Crown_ is due to be released June 23rd. Where’d you hear that? That would be exciting, if true. The publisher hasn’t announced a date, and the latest news was “Autumn 2015”. His fourth collaboration with Stephen Baxter, “The Long Utopia,” has a release date of June 18, though. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/106 "2015-03-12T21:29:14Z")
Crap. How am I supposed to look like I’m doing anything productive sniffing back tears like an idiot now… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/107 "2015-03-12T21:33:54Z")
From the [Discworld & Terry Pratchett Wiki:](http://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Main_Page) > [@](#): > > AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/108 "2015-03-12T21:39:07Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Was it ever confirmed that he used to lurk here? What? Really? I’ve never heard that rumour. ---
**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, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/109 "2015-03-12T21:40:52Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Here’s a link to the most current reading guide I could find. You might find it useful. > > [Discworld Reading Order Guide 2.2](http://imgur.com/qHa8Zf5) Is there any reason \*not \*to read them in publication order, which was my plan? ---
**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, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/110 "2015-03-12T21:58:09Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Is there any reason \*not \*to read them in publication order, which was my plan? Just that the first few were notably weaker. Enjoyable enough, but more of a generic pastiche of fantasy novels, rather than being definitively “Discworld”. I read them in publication order myself, but we don’t necessarily \*trust \*you to become properly addicted if you start with the weaker ones. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/111 "2015-03-12T22:02:01Z")
“big jobs!” seems appropriate here. I’m sad there’ll be no more but deliriously happy that we have what we have. I really hope that the last novel is a Tiffany Aching novel and that it lives up to Terry’s aspiration for her. She seemed to be an amalgamation of all the wisest, bravest, sharpest and downright _human_ of his characters. It’d be great way to go out. I’ve always made the claim to the uninitiated that his books represented the finest in humanist literature and I have no doubt that his work will be read and enjoyed for centuries to come. The exploration of the human condition is a neverending quest. I’m struck by the fact that in this thread we have all found it very easy to pluck quotes from his work that are both apt and powerfully moving, It would be a far harder task to do with the work of others. I was pondering which sort of book to read to my children next…pondering over. ---
**Author:** ![OHS201](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6de8d8/32.png) [@OHS201](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OHS201)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/112 "2015-03-12T22:05:48Z")
This is very sad news. He is one of the very few writers who can write humor that comments on the human condition. He’s both laugh-out-loud funny and very profound. He will be missed. ---
**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, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/113 "2015-03-12T22:13:59Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > God, I hope not. We don’t need another Brian Herbert out there. Or Todd McCaffrey… ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/114 "2015-03-12T22:30:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Prof. Pepperwinkle View Post > The Shepherd’s Crown is due to be released June 23rd. > Where’d you hear that? That would be exciting, if true. The publisher hasn’t announced a date, and the latest news was “Autumn 2015”. > > His fourth collaboration with Stephen Baxter, “The Long Utopia,” has a release date of June 18, though. My daughter told me. She’s also a big fan, but upon checking around I can find no site to confirm that, so it’s simply hearsay. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/115 "2015-03-12T22:31:44Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > Or Todd McCaffrey… Or Steve Tolkien. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/116 "2015-03-12T22:38:31Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > _The Shepherd’s Crown_ is due to be released June 23rd. It’s the last novel, and a Tiffany Aching one. I’m glad we are getting one more Tiffany Aching novel. > [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Or Steve Tolkien. Who? Is this a joke? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/117 "2015-03-12T22:43:47Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > “Oook”\* > > \*Goodbye Sir Terry, each book was an like exploring a new world and returning home at the same time. I’ve got a button that says “LIBRARIANS RULE OOK!” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/118 "2015-03-12T22:50:47Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Just that the first few were notably weaker. Enjoyable enough, but more of a generic pastiche of fantasy novels, rather than being definitively “Discworld”. And the milieu changes. Early Discworld is roughly like Conan’s Hyborian Age (or Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser’s Lankhmar, if you prefer); in _TCOM,_ the Patrician (who might or might not be Vetinari) threatens Rincewind with the arena, Hrun is doing the barbarian thing in the countryside, and no Morporkian is even familiar with the concept of “tourist.” In later Discworld, Ankh-Morpork at least is as civilized and advanced as any city in 18th-Century Europe, and aware of the importance of tourism to the economy (and as a way to defeat barbarian invaders). And the change, in-universe, is **fast** – it all happens within Rincewind’s adult lifetime, and he ain’t old yet. ---
**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, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/119 "2015-03-12T23:06:29Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > “big jobs!” seems appropriate here. > > I’m sad there’ll be no more but deliriously happy that we have what we have. I really hope that the last novel is a Tiffany Aching novel and that it lives up to Terry’s aspiration for her. She seemed to be an amalgamation of all the wisest, bravest, sharpest and downright _human_ of his characters. It’d be great way to go out. > > I’ve always made the claim to the uninitiated that his books represented the finest in humanist literature and I have no doubt that his work will be read and enjoyed for centuries to come. The exploration of the human condition is a neverending quest. > > I’m struck by the fact that in this thread we have all found it very easy to pluck quotes from his work that are both apt and powerfully moving, It would be a far harder task to do with the work of others. > > I was pondering which sort of book to read to my children next…pondering over. Completely agree. Tiffany, Sam Vimes, and Granny Weatherwax were three of the best-written, most-devoloped characters in modern literature. I’d put _Night Watch_, _Small Gods_ and _Wee Free Men_ in any list of the greatest novels of the last 100 years. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835/120 "2015-03-12T23:10:15Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Or Steve Tolkien. Or Chad Shakespeare. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-dead-at-66/714835.md?page=7)