Not good news from Terry Pratchett

[Jan]

Since there's been some interest in Terry Pratchett's work here in the past, folks might be interested in this message on Diskworld News.

Briefly, he's been diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's Disease but seems to have a good attitude and assures people that he should have time for a few books yet.

My sympathy to him, his family, friends and fans.

Jan

[OmahaStar]

In an odd bit of timing, just last night, I watched part one of the Hogfather miniseries on Ion. For someone not familiar with his books, I would have to say it was rather bizarre, but there's enough to keep viewers interested. I love how all sorts of common things are twisted for his world ... Santa becoming the Hogfather, and Death becoming Santa ... for examples.

Sad to hear about this news. Having worked with a number of Alzheimer's patients over the years, I will say this ... I hope that any work he's thought about for future books, he writes down quickly, and with as much detail as he can, as Robert Jordan did with his Wheel of Time final volume.

It can come on slowly, over a period of several years, with declining health coming with it, or it could come up quickly, almost overnight. Either way, it sucks for both the person and the family.

[Talwyn]

This is indeed very sad news for Terry & his family & his huge fan base who love his work. For a man who's lifes work relies on his mind, getting Alzheimer's is probably one of the cruelest fates I could imgaine.
I've been a fan of Terry's diskworld novels for 20 years and to learn of the awful fate that awaits him is very depressing.

Let's hope that medical science & the good wishes & prayers of concerned people can give him those extra years of clarity so that he can enjoy the time with his family and doing what he loves most, writing great stories.

[NotSoWize]

I've really just begun to read (actually listen to) the Discworld books and have been loving them. This is very sad news indeed. Best wishes to Terry!

On a somewhat related note, is there a decent movie/mini-series/television show based on his work? It seems with CGI where it is today that someone would have made something based on Discworld. I've heard of the "Hogfather" mini-series that was mentioned above, how is it?

[edit] I visited the discworld website and it looks like they're in the process of making a movie/mini-series out of the first two books. Hogfather also won a couple of BAFTA awards, so it must be at least somewhat decent. I've added it to my Netflix queue, but it is listed as having an "unknown" release date.

[Talwyn]

@ NotsoWize

I bought the DVD of Hogfather & loved it! It's really very faithful to the book and the performaces are 1st rate.

The Colour of Magic & The Light Fantastic are being made right now for release in 2008. Sean Astin [ aka Sam-Wise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings] is playing Twoflower, the disks first tourist. I think though they have made a monumental blunder is casting though. David Jason, who plays Albert in Hogfather, has landed the role of Rincewind That has to be one of the most ridiculous choices of casting I've heard of! David Jason is a fine actor and played Albert very well but he is no Rincewind, who is supposed to be a wirery/lean figure of a man [read marathon runner who is always running from danger ] however David Jason is a short and slightly rotund elderly english man. Not the man I'd have cast for such an imnportant role

[Shr'eshhhhhh]

It came out (in Britain) for Christmas last year on Sky One and I think Sky wanted a David Jason role to plug on their station as his Del Boy is now as associated with the BBC Christmas as Morcambe and Wise once were.

It was also set up to try and take the wind out of last years Doctor Who special, which really is become the new Morcambe and Wise (right down to the celebrity guest stars, only nowhere near as much fun).

Yes it is a terrible shame about Terry.

We lost George Melly this year to Vascular Dementia which shares some of the most unpleasant aspects of this disease and he was getting on a bit.

Terry getting a rare variant of a disease associated with old age is particularly cruel.

Stem cell research (like so many diseases) may one day offer a cure.

Hasten the day.

If writing books gives him the up most joy in the world than I hope he does keep tapping away but if it is for him just a means to paying the bills I personally would prefer no more books in the hope he can get as much quality fun in before it gets too difficult.

We are a funny bunch.

When someone has to pull coal out of the ground for a living and they get bad news like this we all want them to drop tools and stick their feet up.
When someone works on the chalky cliffs of a blank page, scratching nuggets of gold from their imagination, we try and get them to work more and fast before the seam dries up.

[Jan]

We are a funny bunch.

When someone has to pull coal out of the ground for a living and they get bad news like this we all want them to drop tools and stick their feet up.
When someone works on the chalky cliffs of a blank page, scratching nuggets of gold from their imagination, we try and get them to work more and fast before the seam dries up.

Perhaps. But Terry himself said that there's time for a few more books yet so it doesn't seem like he wants to kick up his feet at this point.

Jan

[Shr'eshhhhhh]

Perhaps. But Terry himself said that there's time for a few more books yet so it doesn't seem like he wants to kick up his feet at this point.

Jan

As I also said in my post, if it's what gives him joy then I hope he has many moons of happy scribbling.

[Radhil]

Crap.

I like what he says about dying. True enough. It's still just a shock when, for certain, someone gets their appointment moved up.

But hell, I'll enjoy him while he lasts. Have so far.

[NotSoWize]

I hadn't heard of Ion TV (or Ion Network or whatever it's exactly called), but I looked it up and it is one of my cable stations. It looks like Hogfather will air again on December 23rd. So, if you are a U.S. fan of Discworld, here's your chance to check out the first mini-series. It airs from 6pm-10pm MST.

[jal]

as well as Hogfather there were three nice animated versions of Terry`s books, Mort , Witches and a third one that i forget.

Christopher Lee was Death in the animated ones, very cool.

[Talwyn]

as well as Hogfather there were three nice animated versions of Terry`s books, Mort , Witches and a third one that i forget.

Christopher Lee was Death in the animated ones, very cool.

The third story that has been turned into animation is Soul Music and it's great

[I love Lyta]

Still, happy Hogswatch everyone.