I’m going to miss Terry Pratchett.
In fairness, he was never my favorite writer. I feel that I should make that clear as there is a tendency, after an artist has died, for people to hyperbolize their love for everything related to the departed and their body of work. I didn’t love everything Terry Pratchett did, but I did appreciate it. In a world where every fantasy and science fiction book that came out seemed to be a copy of the one before, he had a distinct voice. And that voice was full of joy.
I never met the man, and I’m not one to tell the story of his life, but based on what I’ve read, it seems to me that when he wrote he was happy to be writing. There is plenty in his works that is clever, but it doesn’t feel like he’s writing to prove how clever he was. There is plenty i his works that is unique, but I don’t think he’s writing to prove how unique he was. I think that Terry Pratchett wanted to share something with the rest of us. I think he wanted to share joy, and make people laugh. I think he wrote to express wonder in a world that likes to look bored and disdainful.
I’ve long been of the opinion that the responsibilities of any given human being can be summed up with these two rules: 1 be a better person today than you were yesterday. 2. Leave the world a better place for your having been a part of it.
I don’t know about his day to day life, but I think that Terry Pratchett added a lot to this world, and I wish he had stayed here with us a little while longer. But I’m grateful for the time he gave us.
leodfitz 