Click here for a larger image, and move your mouse over it for a hidden message. Rather poignantly, it reads 'You know what really helps an existential crisis? Wondering how much shelf space to leave for a Terry Pratchett collection'.
It's sad because it's true. I genuinely believe that if, in 15 years, we have an enlightened young government which believes in public services, kindness, quality of life, basic decency and the value of nerds, it will be because those people have grown up, as have millions, on Pratchett's books. His last ten or fifteen novels have all been witty, fantastic expositions of liberal-left values - and they've sold millions of copies.
Now he has a variant of Alzheimer's disease, and we don't know how much more he can write. I think of him sitting in his bizarre study, pulsing with intelligence and yet feeling it all gradually slip away from him. Which is kind of selfish - his life matters, not the fans who just want more of his work.
Ever read 'Flowers for Algernon'?
1 comment:
I quite agree. I discovered Mr Pratchett's books at around 16 (thank goodness for the public library service!) and have devoured them without fail ever since. He has certainly faltered (there was a period around Fifth Elephant and Jingo that is best forgotten) but produced many great books.
It almost makes it cool to be a geek!
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