Sad news from Discworld

[The Grey Badger]

Terry Prachett calls this 'AN EMBUGGERANCE". He has early onset Alzheimer's.

http://www.paulkidby.com/news/index.html

:(:(

He wants to remind us, though, that he's not dead yet, and will keep on writing.

[vicki]

Thanks for starting a thread on this, Badger. Younger son posted about it in chit-chat (http://laurierking.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=4065#post4065), and I was so sad to hear this news. YS mentioned that Pratchett had been kind to his daughter at one point. I'll yoohoo to him over there and see if he'll come over and say more.

I wish, wish, wish they would do something about Alzheimers. It's such a freaking horrid disease and so many people get it.

[Kiyomi]

That is really a shame. I don't think there are many authors who have worked so hard for charity or who have so tirelessly signed books for lines of fans while iceing their aching wrists. He's been having health problems off and on for several years now. It just goes to show that it's always the people who least deserve it who get hit the worst. While I have never personally met the man I have had contact with him through his associates third hand as it were a time or two for charity auctions at Discworld events and even got him and his assistant to judge a fan contest once and I must say that even though the contact was second or third hand at best he was always a kind and generous individual in any dealings I have had with the Discworld community.

[vicki]

I've heard so many nice stories about him, I'd be bummed about it even if his work wasn't so top-notch and beloved by so many.

Oh, I was googling and found that my friend Kristjan from Readerville blogged about it (http://kriswager.blogspot.com/2007/12/bad-news-about-terry-pratchett.html) a few minutes ago--he's in Copenhagen, so it's first thing in the a.m. there (http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=69). Haven't seen K in a while--it's a small web after all! (I'll now have that song playing relentlessly in my head for the next 18 hours. :rolleyes:)

[Younger Son]

Younger son posted about it in chit-chat (http://laurierking.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=4065#post4065), and I was so sad to hear this news. YS mentioned that Pratchett had been kind to his daughter at one point. I'll yoohoo to him over there and see if he'll come over and say more.

I see I told this story briefly elsewhere (http://laurierking.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=3760&postcount=328), but here's the whole thing...

Kate was in second grade in a new school. Her sparkliness and verbosity concealed that she couldn't read very well. After a semester in that school, she was, I swear, worse. We tried to transfer her into a private school that would take better care of her, but were told she couldn't pass the placement exam.

My then-wife put her through three weeks of intensive cramming. It was hard and wearing work for Kate. I'd just read Witches Abroad, and undertook to read it to her and her sister Bess every evening, as a treat and a relief from the work. Maybe also to show that reading could be a worthwhile skill.

I read Granny Weatherwax as an elderly Katharine Hepburn, and her wicked sister Lily as an elderly Bette Davis. The girls loved it, and I think it helped. Kate developed a love for Terry Pratchett that endures to this day. She got into that school.

A couple of years later, the Internet had come into general use, and I wrote tpratchett to tell the story of how he had helped. He wrote back saying (as I remember), "What can I say? It's stories like this that keep me warm at night." He did worry about exposing an eight-year-old girl to Nanny Ogg.

Later still — six years? — Kate went to a fan convention and got to the head of the line for a Pratchett signing, where she recounted her story. He remembered! Kate was, as I said, on a cloud. He did repeat the worry about Nanny Ogg (I'd downplayed her, I assured Kate).

Even if he only said he remembered, it was a kind, kind thing to say. He is a good man.

(Kate tells me her actual breakthrough on reading came when she decided she had to learn for good, and picked up The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a book she was familiar with. First chapter, sounding it out; last chapter, fluency.)

[vicki]

What a great story! It's very consistent with what I hear of Pratchett. I sure do wish they'd find a cure for that odious disease in the next year or two. :(


First chapter, sounding it out; last chapter, fluency.


Wow--gives me chills! That's a great example of the power of good fiction.

[vicki]

Neil Gaiman reminds everyone that Terry P. is not. dead. yet. (http://journal.neilgaiman.com/) :)

Scroll down and hit the boingboing link for a terrific story about how Neil faciliated a marriage proposal at a recent signing--includes severely cute footage!

[jtb1951]

That proposal footage is seriously touching, and shows again what a good egg Neil G. is and why he and Terry P. get along so well!

John.

[Roxanne]

Neil Gaiman reminds everyone that Terry P. is not. dead. yet.

Scroll down and hit the boingboing link for a terrific story about how Neil faciliated a marriage proposal at a recent signing--includes severely cute footage!

Man, why can't I find this "bongboing" link? Can someone out there give this clueless, bleary-eyed woman a clue where on Neil Gaman's blog I should click to see this? I can use a nice moment. :rolleyes:

[Bachi]

Hi Roxanne,
Since this was posted on his blog back on December 14th, 2007 you have to go to the archives (menu choice on the very bottom of the web page).

I don't know how much this will cheer you up, its just a couple of sentences with a link back to the original Terry Pratchet announcment.
I hope it help, or something else comes along to brigthen your day!

[Roxanne]

Found it! Thanks, Wanda.

I don't know how much this will cheer you up, its just a couple of sentences with a link back to the original Terry Pratchet announcment.

Wanda, did you watch the video of the proposal? So sweet. It cheered me up immensely. :D Especially as I got a call from the used auto dealer a few minutes ago telling me that they have sold the car they were going to bring by for me to look at during lunch. :(

This Neil Gaiman guy is indeed a mensch. I will now have to get his books and read them.

[tangential1]

I've never been able to get into Neil Gaiman. He seems like a nice guy and I want to like his work, but I'm just not a fan. His movies are great, though. Really, really liked Stardust. Definitely recommend it as an uplifting fun fantasy (to rival Princess Bride even!).

[Bachi]

Roxanne,
I'm still sending out positive thoughts about you getting an affordable reliable car. :)

Roxanne and Tangential,
Added Stardust to my to my queue (I have blockbuster not netflex) had to be careful thought, almost added the wrong Stardust (there was more than one). Thank goodness I didn't pick the one with the "live" vacumn cleaner. Even if the thought is rather amusing I'm sure a whole movie would be to silly for me. ;)