Terry Pratchett was undoubtedly a genius in many things. Be it his ability to humor you beyond reason with his vast fantastical ideas or completely emotionally disarm you with his ability to get right to the point of being a human (or not) without you even excepting it. Those are one of the main reasons I’ve always loved his stories, they are done right, with everything a good story needs. They make you laugh hysterically, they make you adore Death but they also make you weep and nod in agreement. Terry Pratchett is simply a brilliant writer and world is much emptier without him.
Even in his “autobiography” (it’s, not in the traditional sense of the word), he is utterly charming but also inspiring. I’d say that this collection of non-fictional stories are very fictional indeed. Those are small adventures where you sit next to Terry Pratchett as he explains his troubles with PC, back in a time where they were small bricks that could kill a man, or perhaps he takes you to one of his many signing sessions, or he tells you the frightening story of the kidnapping of his hat.
Whichever story you choose, you learn a lot. Not only about Terry Pratchett as a person, but also about Terry Pratchett the writer. It is definitely a book for devoted fans, but I’d say, it is also a must-read for anyone who aspires or desires to write their own stories. Many writers are asked “How do you write such a book”, “What is the secret”, “Give it to me”, and true is that there is no secret, you simply have to do it, you have to develop it, research it and you have to love it, else it shows.
This book is most definitely not a textbook for future writers, but I think its much more important, because unlike textbooks, its not only genuine but it also deals with important notes, such as what writer needs on signing session, what storytelling is, and how to be entertaining whilst talking about absolute nonsense or everyday moments. It doesn’t teach you these things directly, you need to find this journey yourself inside the stories Terry Pratchett provides. But, I say this, if you find it, you will learn a lot.
The learning comes in many chapters and in many kinds. The whole book is about life essentially, but also about the dying and Terry Pratchett knows a thing or two about this topic as well. In that sense, you really live a life for the duration of this book and you learn to say your farewell.
“But here is the interesting bit: forty percent of those who have the prescription to hand die without using it. They’ve known that they can, and every day they have decided not to. They know that, if they choose, it is they who are in control, not the disease. That is power. That is a triumph. That is how a human being should die.”
– from the chapter
“At last we have real compassion in assisted-dying guidelines”
TERRY PRATCHETT was an English fantasy writer known for his rich imagination, beautiful humor but also all fantastical things connected with the world he created known as the Discworld. Over his career, he wrote over forty novels, not counting the countless short stories, stage plays and collaborations. The most famous being “Good Omens” book Terry Pratchett wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett often took inspiration from such names as J. R. R. Tolkien or Charles Dickens, putting a whole new spin on it. His world which is completely flat and being carried by four elephants, who are being carried by a turtle called Great A’Tuin is loved over the whole globe. These books were translated into 37 languages and are still being rightfully sold by millions.
My Top 5:
Eric
Soul of Music
Mort
The Color of Magic
Good Omens
RETROVOLD 