The Loss of a Master Author

Sir Terry Pratchett passed away today, aged just 66.
For those who don't know (as if anyone could not?) Terry was the celebrated comic author of the Discworld series of novels, creating many, many dearly loved characters.

In 2007 Terry announced that he was suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He made it clear that he would prefer 'assisted suicide' (for want of a better term) before the disease reached critical point.

It is a cruel injustice that a man with so active a mind should fall prey to an illness that would cause his mind to deteriorate. If there is a bright side to his early passing, it is that he was 'himself' to the end.

The last tweets from his Twitter account were from his daughter Rhianna - "Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night." and a quote from the character "Death" as saying "AT LAST SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER;" the final tweet of his account simply read: "The End."

I feel bereft. Silly really, since I never met the man. But his writing touched me; his novels weren't just humorous but also thought provoking, exciting and sometimes heart-breakingly sad. His characters took on a life of their own.

Rest well, Sir Terry. You did good.