Terry Pratchett, My Favorite Contemporary Author Just Died

I had a post all set to go today. Was just about to hit “Publish,” actually. And then I read this.

I have loved Terry Pratchett books since I first came across them. The Discworld series is just so much fun–so wide and sprawling and interesting. You never knew exactly what you were going to get when you picked one up, but over the course of the series, Pratchett was able to create so many memorable characters and have them do so many memorable things. He wrote books that were immensely fun to read aloud. I read the Wee Free Men series out loud to Denisa, and we both loved them. For years, he’s been my go-to recommendation whenever people asked me what to read or wondered who my favorite authors were. If there were any author I really wanted to be like–wanted to write like–it would be him.

And now he’s dead.

I’m really at a loss for words, and I don’t find myself in that position too often. I’m sad for his family, but I’ll admit I’m mostly sad for myself. Sad for all the books I won’t get to read now–everything he could have published in the next few decades. Yes, we knew he was ill, and yes, we realized this was going to happen at some point, but it’s one thing to know a thing and another thing to face it.

So I’m just going to shut up now and take some time to be bummed. In the meantime, might I suggest you all go out and find a Pratchett book and read it? The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents is a lovely place to start, though Wee Free Men is also great too. Who am I kidding? They’re all great. If you already know this, treat yourself to a reread. If you don’t, then you’ve got a bunch of hilarious, often moving books in front of you.

Here’s hoping there’s a thriving publishing industry in the afterlife. One of the things I could look forward to most is knowing there would be many new Pratchett books waiting for me when I get there . . .