khay 10 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Author Pratchett has Alzheimer's Author Terry Pratchett is suffering from a rare form of early Alzheimer's disease, it has been revealed. In a letter published on the website of artist Paul Kidby, the writer said the condition was behind a "phantom stroke" he had earlier this year. Pratchett said his statement should be interpreted as "I am not dead" and that he had taken the news "philosophically" and "possibly with a mild optimism". The Discworld author, 59, has sold more than 55 million books worldwide. "I would have liked to keep this one quiet for a little while," he wrote in a letter headed 'An Embuggerance'. "But because of upcoming conventions and of course the need to keep my publishers informed, it seems to me unfair to withhold the news." The author said work was continuing on his latest works, Nation and Unseen Academicals, and that there was "time for at least a few more books yet". "All other things being equal, I expect to meet most current and, as far as possible, future commitments." "Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful," he continued, saying it was "too soon to tell" if the condition was immediately life-threatening. Parallel universe "I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else. For me, this maybe further off than you think. "I know it's a very human thing to say 'Is there anything I can do?' but in this case I would only entertain offers from very high-end experts in brain chemistry." Pratchett, whose work has been translated into 27 languages, was made an OBE in 1998 for services to British literature. The Discworld series is set in a parallel universe supported on the back of four elephants that stand on the shell of a turtle. Making Money, the 36th novel in the sequence, was published earlier this year. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7141458.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 So there is a God after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3626 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Could explain why he's been writing the same book over and over and over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Carr's Gloves 4042 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Could explain why he's been writing the same book over and over and over again. Have you read any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Carr's Gloves 4042 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 So there is a God after all. And the world looks forward to your rape and murder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 So there is a God after all. And the world looks forward to your rape and murder. More than one of your comedy gigs if that's owt to go by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Carr's Gloves 4042 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 So there is a God after all. And the world looks forward to your rape and murder. More than one of your comedy gigs if that's owt to go by. I was not being funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 So there is a God after all. And the world looks forward to your rape and murder. More than one of your comedy gigs if that's owt to go by. I was not being funny. That was my point. Did you take my original post seriously then? I don't like his books but I wish no harm to the bloke. He seems like a nice enough chap. I take it you never make any offensive jokes during your routine then? (I don't actually assume that btw). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 I wouldn't wish that disease on anyone, but I can't stand the prick, his books belong firmly in the "once I put it down I couldn't pick it up" catagory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RlCO 0 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 I think I read one as a kid, can't say I didn't not enjoy it enough to finish it, but I certainly wasn't moved enough to buy another. Can't even really remember what happened, it was pretty wierd stuff though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Carr's Gloves 4042 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 I think I read one as a kid, can't say I didn't not enjoy it enough to finish it, but I certainly wasn't moved enough to buy another. Can't even really remember what happened, it was pretty wierd stuff though. His books aren't for kids though. He is a satirist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RlCO 0 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 I think I defected to this stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Carr's Gloves 4042 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 I think I defected to this stuff Looks like the stainless steel rat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetleftpeg 0 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Bunch of bastids! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinofbeans 91 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 (edited) poor sod. alzheimers is awful. my gran had it, and she didn't remember me. can't blame her really mind! as for pratchett the author, well he was ok but the adage that one book is pretty much like another rings true.... maybe he forgot...! Edited December 13, 2007 by canofbeans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3626 Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Could explain why he's been writing the same book over and over and over again. Have you read any. Actually all of them, including the criven's series. Would you like me to post a photo of them in my bookshelf? And if you can honestly argue they are nothing more than a variation on the same theme over and over then I'd be glad to hear it. They have never been the same since the luggage was lost. By the way have you KCG? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3626 Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 I think I read one as a kid, can't say I didn't not enjoy it enough to finish it, but I certainly wasn't moved enough to buy another. Can't even really remember what happened, it was pretty wierd stuff though. His books aren't for kids though. He is a satirist. For one who is trying to be the authority on Pratchett's work you obviously don't know that much. The Bromeliad Trilogy are kids books. The Johnny Maxwell Trilogy are aimed at young teens. The carpet people, The Unadulterated Cat & wee free men were all primarily written for children. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14021 Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Fucking shocking disease to have. Im not into that kind of book like but respect to the bloke as he has a decent audience and obviously cares about his work! My mates Nan had that disease and she would wake up at like 5am and just hoover the same spot for hours on end. Good luck to the guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinofbeans 91 Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 what with, his hoovering? sorry... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14021 Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toonraider 0 Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers early this year by which time we suspected thats what he had. Although I'm very familiar with it in my work, its different when it happens to your own. Awful disease, Dad has changed dramatically in just 18 months The speed of his deterioration is scarey. Keep your mind busy and eat oily fish people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 I've always liekd his books and I know that he is very considerate about his fans - he spends a lot of time meting them and is apparently a really pleasant bloke with a great sense of humour................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetleftpeg 0 Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Aye, you fuckers, I'm a fan of Pratchett as well. If you do read any of his stuff, get the books with the witches in. Supoib imo. Chin up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gejon 2 Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 I swear my mate has Alzheimer's, you will tell him something then the next day (or sometimes even later the same day) you will get the "did you hear....[thing that I told him before] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Patrokles Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 I don't necessarily agree you should feel sorry for the people themselves. Mental disorders can sometimes seem a blessing in disguise. Complete obliviousness to anything isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's the families who suffer most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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