“Sometimes it is better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness.” –Terry Pratchett
Image from BBC article, click picture to read it.
You may have heard that we lost the great author Terry Pratchett yesterday. He will be dearly missed, but I also hope he will be celebrated. He left so many wonderful books for everyone to enjoy.
Pratchett was one of the foundation authors of my childhood. I moved pretty quickly from children’s books to fantasy and science fiction, devouring stories about dragons and wizards and spaceships. (This is part of the reason I read YA now. I missed it the first time around.) Of Pratchett’s work, I adored the Discworld series, which already had quite a few books published when I discovered the books.
I read, and re-read, and giggled over the footnotes. I flew on a faulty broomstick by Granny Weatherwax, fled from… well… everything with Rincewind, and kept the peace with Sam Vimes.
As I grew up, I found more and more in the books, which is a sign of a well-crafted story. They never fail to make me laugh.
Thank you for the adventure, Sir Pratchett.
caitlinsternwrites 
Well said, Caitlin. I was trying to tell someone about him yesterday, but I kept tearing up and couldn’t get the words out. 😦 The world is a better place for having had him here with us, and a sadder one without him. But we are blessed to have his words and humor at our fingertips, every time we open one of his many wonderful books! And I’m lucky, in that I still have a lot I haven’t yet read.
He did write quite a few of them–even I have a couple I haven’t read yet.
Yes, it’s devastating. I can’t believe he’s dead – and he wrote until the end, even with Alzheimar’s. He is the most inspiring author I’ve ever had the fortune to read from – the Discworld series is legendary and all his musings should be taken and noted.
I’m so glad he persevered to give us those last books, though I still have unanswered questions about some characters.
I love so many things about him, including his unconditional support of libraries, but I truly appreciate witnessing how his writing style and abilities grew and developed over the years. He was always imaginative and talented, but he worked hard at it, too.
I’m currently in mourning for not only Sir Terry, but for all the characters I love so much.
I will miss the opportunity to know more, but I am grateful for how many of his books end on a good note, characters having found some happiness and hope for the future. And that I can revisit them whenever I like.
Very true.