An Embuggerance
By pgn
@pgntwo (22408)
Derry, Northern Ireland
November 21, 2015 1:38am CST
The author Sir Terry Pratchett is one of those who sadly passed away this year, after battling his illness, Alzheimer's - "an embuggerance", he called it.
In his Discworld series of books, one of the major towns of the fictional Überwald region is called "Bad Schühschein"...
This name is intended to be read like "shoeshine" and has the umlaut ü as well as the German spelling of the sound "sh". The German word "Bad" implies the location is a "bath" or "spa" town.
Terry's 50 or so Discworld books invariably weave two, three or more themes into a story that is unique and entertaining and always a delight to read.
Many of his books have also been translated into other languages. You will find many extracts from, even whole films based on, his books on YouTube.
Fantasy writer Sir Terry Pratchett has died at the age of 66, The Telegraph looks at why he was so loved by people around the world Get the latest headlines ...
10 people like this
8 responses
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
21 Nov 15
No need for embarrassment, it takes a while for British authors to take-off in the US - unless they up-sticks and move over there, like Adams did and like Gaiman has... Some of his earlier Discworld novels wander a little, the geography changes between books. It is possible to dive-in, but somewhere I found a reading sequence, must see if I can find it again and share it here...
1 person likes this
@Cristi_Ichim (3748)
• Bucharest, Romania
21 Nov 15
No need to be embarrassed because of that.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (149153)
• United States
24 Nov 15
His loss is a loss to the entire planet, pgn! He was a master storyteller!
I own every book he put out into print. I have probably read and re-read them a hundred times!
I've also found another book I would have sworn was written by Terry Pratchett... I read it online, then ordered the book from the author's online site. No, it wasn't Terry Pratchett or his twin brother who had written it.
It was written by Wayne Hicks. His book is titled "The Very Swift Witches".
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
26 Nov 15
@pgntwo for humerous SF I also recommend Grunts by Mary Gentle and The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison, and anything by Robert Rankin
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
26 Nov 15
@arthurchappell Good suggestions there, thank you. I have not heard of the Stainless Steel Rat for a long time!
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@annierose (21570)
• Philippines
11 Aug 16
I never know of him but he seems to be a very interesting person.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
12 Aug 16
@annierose If you have a quarter of an hour, settle down with a cup of tea or coffee and watch this, it will help give you the context of the Discworld better than I could:
RIP Sir Pratchett. As a student I had the great honour to meet and interview Terry. When I initially asked him to do the documentary he was both professional...
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11091)
• Calgary, Alberta
22 Nov 15
I am not a wide reader. This is my first time to know about Sir Terry Pratchett. I might as well check on his writings.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
22 Nov 15
Sad when someone creative goes. Not only are they missed, of course, but everything they might contribute stops too.
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
22 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace Perhaps. Lots of small things can have more of an effect than a single earth-shattering one. Onwards, upwards.... 
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@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
22 Nov 15
@pgntwo I think we are here to leave the place and other people better off than they were before we arrived. Maybe that's the "more" you seek. I did this while teaching and have found something similar to do now that I am retired.
2 people like this
@Namelesss (3364)
• United States
21 Nov 15
I have never read any of his books but just took a look at a list. He looks extremely interesting. If I ever come across any I grab up a couple.
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
21 Nov 15
@Namelesss More of the artwork at the WordPress site I added to a comment further down this chain, if you are interested.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3364)
• United States
21 Nov 15
@pgntwo That was the first thing I noticed, the cover art - love it! I totally love his genre. One of my favorite past times is digging through flea markets and yard sales looking for the old style sci-fi. I was actually amazed to find that I have never read anything by him. Or if I did I've forgotten 
Now that I know his cover art I will keep my eyes peeled.
Now that I know his cover art I will keep my eyes peeled.1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
26 Nov 15
A wonderful writer and a lovely man, who I met a few times at readings, signings and conventions - through his books he will live on forever
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
21 Nov 15
That he was, a bright spark that was slowly extinguished. Makes you wonder what led up to his first book success. I recall reading an early book of his called Strata decades ago, more sci-fi than fantasy, and reminiscent of the premise behind the fictional planet Magrathea from Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide as well as a couple of other renowned sci-fi authors at the time who decided that "terraforming" was plausible...
A great loss.
