RIP -Terry Pratchett

[Beanz]

"In the end there is no master plan, we just tell ourselves there is to make ourselves feel better. Life. Now. The Present. That is what is important. Not some future reward or punishment."

Good philosophy, though I would stress a little moderation too. Too much of a good thing in the now can mean nothing in the well for tomorrow and that can be a pit of despair too and often an early death. Even politics is all about the now....but what about unfunded liabilities? A little forward thinking is always good. Live today, but think about your future a bit, and try to come to terms with your past the best you can is how I try to approach it, but there is no right and wrong in this tiny speck of forever that we are. If devices such as God help some, then fair enough I say. It doesn't make sense to my way of thinking, but I guess we all find our own ways and Pratchett seems to have done it his way and good for him.

I haven't read any of his books, but know of him and that he made a difference is of course a good thing. Nothing against fantasy myself and I often regard this reality as a kind of fantasy with the absurd things going on constantly. What would you say his best works are?

When I said "Not some future reward and punishment" I was referring to the afterlife. So NOW refers to life on earth as humans.
Where to start ? Remember it's entertainment. It's witty and intelligent but don't go in expecting Satre or John Updike. If you like Douglas Adams, Robert Rankin etc you should love it

Good Omens (with Neil Gaiman) - An angel and a demon try to save the world from an apocalypse.

Mort - DEATH takes on an apprentice

Small Gods - Pratchett takes a healthy skeptical swipe at religion

Nation - Survivors of a devastating tsunami wave band together on an island called Nation (it's for younger readers but lovely none the less)

Guards!Guards! - dragons, secret brotherhoods and the introduction of Sam Vimes, firm believer in social justice and the value of old boots

The discworld series starts with The Colour of Magic but it's not his best work and the later books move away from it. You may love it but I would leave that until you have tried one of the five above.

[Gandalf]

Wasn't fully sure how to read it, but got you now. Douglas Adams was very good. A guy at work is really into fantasy stuff, so might pop into his office and have a gander. Loads of books on his shelves, so must be something like that in there.

[brocktonblockbust]

Let's talk about Discworld, undoubtedly what Pratchett is most well known for. I say its a decent work indeed. There's no denying that Pratchett was a popular author.. He has twenty million books in circulation and is the second most read author in Britain. I can say without a doubt that he is far from a bad author and that while not my first pick for second most author in Britain, there are many worse choices. His books are fun, but are they truly some of the finest literary works the universe has ever seen? Personally, I can't see it. A lot of his books are parodies, and while they're clever, that's all they are: clever. They don't reveal deeper truths about the nature of man, nor do they really deal with deep themes about society. Pratchett flirts with these things, sure, I remember the part about when Vimes kills the werewolf. ETC... And that's fine, that's what makes his books enjoyable. He takes something familiar like say Conan the Barbarian, Genghis Khan, or whatever and rolls it up in his particular brand of parody. Nothing wrong with that. May he rest in Peace, a solid author and thinker. The world would be better with more people like him.

[Master]

RIP never heard of him until his death but sounded like a legend.

[Dia bando]

Yes I have read a few Pratchett books, a fine fantasy sci f writer RIP.

[Andre]

RIP never heard of him until his death but sounded like a legend.

Me too.

[Beanz]

RIP never heard of him until his death but sounded like a legend.

Me too.

He was interesting too Andre because of developing a rare kind of Alzheimer Disease that made him an unwitting advocate of not only those suffering from it, but also for the right to die with dignity, should a person so wish.

[ryanman]

RIP never heard of him until his death but sounded like a legend.

I'm honestly stunned you had not heard of him Master.

[ryanman]

I haven't read any of his books.
I was though impressed and humbled by the bravery and dignity with which he faced Alzheimers.