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Original poster

sad news from Terry Pratchett

49 replies

welliemum · 12/12/2007 22:25

here

It seems he's in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

His press statement is really funny and typical though:

"I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else," he said.

"For me, this may be further off than you think. It's too soon to tell.

"I know it's a very human thing to say 'is there anything I can do', but in this case I would only entertain offers from very high-end experts in brain chemistry."

OP posts:
TheOldestCat · 12/12/2007 22:30

Oh no, what sad news.

CarmenerryChristmas · 12/12/2007 22:41

Oh the poor man

Tortington · 12/12/2007 23:02

oh no!

TenLordsaLapin · 12/12/2007 23:03

Oh no

madamez · 12/12/2007 23:03

How very sad. I met him once some years ago and he was lovely. WHat a shame.

edam · 12/12/2007 23:05

Terrible blow. And such a fab statement from him.

expatinscotland · 12/12/2007 23:06

They don't make them like Terry anymore.

OldfeckinsenseandSlur · 12/12/2007 23:07

That's bad news, poor bloke.

Original poster
welliemum · 12/12/2007 23:10

He's being cheerful and brave, but I can you imagine what it must be like to face a future like that.

OP posts:
SpawnChorus · 12/12/2007 23:11

Oh no

PrisonerCellBlockAitch · 12/12/2007 23:13

oh what a shame, poor bloke.

lucyellensmum · 12/12/2007 23:37

Thats awfully sad news. My father had alzhiemers/dementia, it was awful, just awful.

I have only read one of his books, a childrens book about a talking cat - it was amazing. Lots of my friends are big fans.

He says he will still write, i hope so, i imagine (perhaps niavely) that the changes in his brain might add a new dimension to his writing, if only for a while. Im not being trite, but it is perfectly feasable, and devestatingly sad, but happy in a strange sort of way.

Such a shame.

Original poster
welliemum · 12/12/2007 23:44

I don't know about the writing. So much of what makes it good is his sure sense of the ridiculous - he's very good at picking the hypocrisy out of things we all take for granted.

I fear that if he loses his finely-tuned judgement and sense of proportion, his writing will suffer badly.

But perhaps he can hang onto those things even if his memory goes - I hope so - for his sake, not just mine as a reader.

OP posts:
Original poster
welliemum · 13/12/2007 00:20

I'm so sorry about your dad, lucyellensmum. My great aunt, who lived with us, had the same and it was grim.

OP posts:
michie40 · 13/12/2007 09:13

This is really sad news - i have read every one of his books - and i have always thought they got better as he went on. He is a genius in many ways.
He appears to be a very brave man.

Saturn74 · 13/12/2007 09:15

What sad news, and a very brave statement.

FlamesparodyOfAChristmasName · 13/12/2007 09:22
Sad
AwayInAMunker · 13/12/2007 09:27

Amazing man - this is very sad news

Curmudgeonlett · 13/12/2007 09:28

I adore Terry Pratchett .. I hope that he can stave off the ravages for a good long while

throckenholt · 13/12/2007 09:31

that is an awaful thing for anyone to get (watch my grandad go through it) - but especially sad for such a clever and funny man who lives by using his brain rather than his brawn.

sfxmum · 13/12/2007 09:32

a lovely person

laundrylover · 13/12/2007 09:34

What sad news. I used to be a big fan and kept up with all the books each Xmas but nowadays just read one now and again and think - 'why have I missed so many??'

Typical Pratchett statement - very brave.

serenity · 13/12/2007 09:41

Gutted, absolutely gutted

SlubbersRingAreYouListening · 13/12/2007 09:46

Really, really sad news.

Such an amazing mind and imagination, but as he says he's not dead yet, so let's hope that the discworld novels keep coming for as long as possible.

SquonkaClaus · 13/12/2007 09:50

an embuggerance indeed