Terry Pratchett diagnosed with alzheimer's

Iman al-Rashid ibn Aali · Yellow Belt Old Friend Posts: 64

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 backs 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/uk/7141458.stm

Danikat · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject:

That's horrible.

I just hope he's able to get some sort of treatment for it, and that it won't affect his writing too much. It'd be horrible if he had to give that up.

At least he sounds like he's staying optimistic about it.

Intyalle · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:38 pm Post subject:

DON'T DIE TERRY! WE LOVE YOUR BOOKS AND DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE US! STAY! STAY FOR ALL ETERNITY!

...

Ahem. I like the discworld series quite a bit. Razz

Cirrial · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:23 am Post subject:

D:

I love Terry Prachett's work, and this isn't exactly the greatest news one hopes to hear about anyone. Still, his optimism about the whole affair is inspiring.

After all, say if you're told you have a week left to left. Would it be better to spend that week moaning and curling into a ball depressed at the fact you're going to die, or spend that week having the time (albeit last) of your life?

Somefreakoverthere · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:11 am Post subject:

D: I heard at break in school from a learning support teacher, and I honestly didn't belive it.

I am a huge fan of his works, and this to me is not good news. His optimisum is very helpful 'cos he can still do some more books. ^^

Swix · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:10 am Post subject:

Having alzheimers doesn't mean you're going to die, it means that your mind will start to go, well, funny. My bfs grandma has it, she often thinks its years ago and does things like make dinner for her husband for when he comes back 'from his lorry work', even though he's dead now and he'd been retired for a while.

That's still awful though Sad

. Hope it really is only mild and it doesn't progress too quickly

Intyalle · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:28 am Post subject:

His leaving us in mind would be just as bad as his leaving us in body.

Iman al-Rashid ibn Aali · Yellow Belt Old Friend Posts: 64

That, and in some cases it does eventually kill you. It's just a long, slow process that's agonising for everyone involved. I know of people who have been killed by it.
In the immortal words of Morpheus, "the body can not live without the mind".

Shaon · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:20 am Post subject:

Cloud · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:20 am Post subject:

Well he does say it's an early form of Alzheimers and it's too soon to tell if it's life threatening. You people are melodramatic Wink

KC11 · White Belt Old Friend Posts: 567

Oh my.

Terry Pratchett's my favorite author!

PLEASE DON'T DIE PLEASE! /drama

Ahem.... I actually highly doubt that this is an actual threat. It will pass away into the backs of all our minds, the same thing that happened when JK Rowling announced that Dumboldor was gay.

Well, maybe it will take longer to pass than the latter bit of info. But still, it will pass, it will pass...

Danikat · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject:

The fact that a real, live person has been diagnosed with a highly damaging and potentially fatal disease is a little different to revelations about a fictional characters sexuality.

And considering Alzhimers doesn't ever 'pass', as far as I know it's not even curable it's not really going to be something people can just forget about and move on.

KC11 · White Belt Old Friend Posts: 567

Yeah, you're right. I really just said that so people would call me dramatic. Rolling Eyes

Kazumaru · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:10 am Post subject:

Ah, man... This sucks... Just bought Thud! the other day, too...