Terry Pratchett (1948-2015)

Sir Terry being knighted by Queen Elizabeth: Feb 18, 2009

Sir Terry Pratchett died today at 66 with a cat in his lap, surrounded by his family. He was the author of more than 40 books about Discworld, a far funnier place than Larry Niven's classic Ringworld. (Ringworld is serious physics--held together by gravity and engineering; Discworld is serious parody, held together by magic -- and by Pratchett's unique brand of levity.) Although Pratchett's work  is consistently amusing, I also always feel a bit wiser after reading his stuff. I never met the man, but my nephew, Mark Herbert, while attending a science fiction convention in Memphis, TN, found himself at a party drinking beer and singing songs with Pratchett from the repertoire of Steeleye Span, Terry's favorite music group.

Here are a few Pratchett quotes for your edification.

If you don’t turn your life into a story, you just become a part of someone else’s story.

They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.

The pen is mightier than the sword if the sword is very short, and the pen is very sharp.

Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.

I think perhaps the most important problem is that we are trying to understand the fundamental workings of the universe via a language devised for telling one another where the best fruit is.

Sometimes it is better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness.

I mean, I wouldn't pay more than a couple of quid to see me, and I'm me.

It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living.

DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death, JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.


Sir Terry Pratchett has brought joy to millions of souls. He will be missed.