Terry Pratchett diagnosed with Alzheimers

[Werthead]

Terry Pratchett - the bestselling author of the Discworld series of novels and many other books - has confirmed he's been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers.

 

Folks,

 

I would have liked to keep this one quiet for a little while, but because of upcoming conventions and of course the need to keep my publishers informed, it seems to me unfair to withhold the news.  I have been diagnosed with a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer's, which lay behind this year's phantom "stroke".

 

We are taking it fairly philosophically down here and possibly with a mild optimism.  For now work is continuing on the completion of Nation and the basic notes are already being laid down for Unseen Academicals. All other things being equal, I expect to meet most current and, as far as possible, future commitments but will discuss things with the various organisers.  Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there's time for at least a few more books yet :o)

 

Terry Pratchett

 

PS  I would just like to draw attention to everyone reading the above that this should be interpreted as 'I am not dead'.  I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else.  For me, this maybe 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.

 

Pratchett has sold 55 million copies of his novels and is the world's biggest-selling living fantasy author bar only JK Rowling (and Stephen King, if you consider him a fantasy author). 1% of all books sold in the UK, fiction or otherwise, are Pratchett novels. He is also the UK's most shoplifted author. After many years of indifference from the USA, American seems to finally warmed to Pratchett with his last two Discworld novels (Thud! and Making Money) appearing on the New York Times Bestseller lists and his children's novel, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, winning the Carnegie Award. Another of his novels, The Wee Free Men, is currently being developed as a movie by Spider-Man director Sam Raimi, whilst the British channel Sky One has adapted one of his books - Hogfather - as a mini-series. They are currently in post-production on another two adaptions - The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic (both starring Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin as Twoflower) - which will air at Easter 2008.

 

Best wishes to Mr. Pratchett and his family.

 

Seems horribly familiar though, doesn't it? :(

[Rufae]

Wow! Now another of my favorite author's (per my name) has come down with a serious illness.  :'(

 

I hope I am not bad luck or something....

 

I hope and wish the best for Mr. Pratchett and his family. He is truely a gifted writer and his characterisations are phenomenal. He seems to be able to find humor the strangest of places. As he says above, we all will die someday. I know Terry will have a smile on his face and a carrot in his pocket for Binky when his timer is called.

[Alys Kinch]

:( that's so incredibly saddening... he's my favorite author because of his wit. hope he's one that's able to push it off...

[Karana Majin]

I actually said, "No, no, nooooooooooo" out loud when I saw this.  Then when I saw it was posted by Werthead, I knew it was true.  I nearly laid my head down on the keyboard and started crying.

 

I adore Terry Pratchett, he's funny and witty and topical and sarcastic.  I hope that with the new medications they have nowadays, that they will be able to stave off the onset of full blown Alzheimer's.  Best wishes to him and his family.