Sir Terry Pratchett published his first short story at the age of 13. Photo: Ian West/PA WireSir Terry Pratchett, creator of the long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels has died of a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease aged 66, his publisher said. He was among the most prolific and successful authors of his generation.
His characters became known in homes across Britain while his dark clothing, distinctive hats and white beard meant the author was equally well-recognised on screen.
Blighted by health problems in later life, Sir Terry would later divide opinion even among staunchest fans of his literary work by speaking out in favour of euthanasia.
Despite this, Sir Terry’s wit and sense of humour shone through even the darkest tales of both life and fiction.
This was no more so than in 2007 when Sir Terry was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. He told fans: “I am not dead. I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else.”
He would go on to sell more than 70 million books worldwide with translations into 33 languages and was also knighted for services to literature.
As a child, the young Terry was inspired to write after reading The Wind in the Willows, and discovering that Mr Toad could drive a car. His passion for the written word helped fire the imagination of millions of others.
Terence David John Pratchett was born on April 28, 1948 ,in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.
An only child, Sir Terry’s books typically featured young protagonists without siblings. He said: “In fiction, only-children are the interesting ones.”
Sir Terry wrote an average of two books a year and also held the dubious honour of being the most shoplifted author in Britain
He was educated at High Wycombe Technical High School and published his first short story, The Hades Business, at the age of 13. His headmaster condemned the ‘moral tone’ of the maiden Sir Terry offering, which told the story of the devil mounting an advertising campaign for hell. But the piece, which received full marks from young Terry’s English teacher, was snapped up by a sci-fi magazine − the money from which he used to buy a second-hand typewriter to indulge his early passion.
Various positions in journalism followed, including starting out as a cub reporter on the Bucks Free Press, due to the profession offering “indoor work with no heavy lifting”, Sir Terry remarked.
He became press officer for the Central Electricity Generation Board (CEGB) in 1983, the year in which his first Discworld novel was published.
Sir Terry gave up working for the CEGB in 1987 after finishing his fourth Discworld novel. His sales increased quickly, and many of his books occupied top places in the bestseller lists.
He was well-known for wearing large black hats but his sartorial style was once described as “more that of urban cowboy than city gent”.
He was an avid computer games player and collaborated in the creation of a number of game adaptations of his books.
By the 1990s he was Britain’s bestselling author. He was, at the turn of the century, Britain’s second most-read author, beaten only by J. K. Rowling, creator of Harry Potter.
Sir Terry wrote an average of two books a year and also held the dubious honour of being the most shoplifted author in Britain.
In 1998, he was awarded an OBE for ‘services to literature’. His modest response to that was: “I suspect the ‘services to literature’ consisted of refraining from trying to write any.” Even so, he said he felt “mightily chuffed about it”.
His concern for the future of civilisation prompted him to install five kilowatts of photovoltaic cells for solar energy at his house near Salisbury. And his childhood interest in astronomy led him to build an observatory in his garden. He also owned a greenhouse full of carnivorous plants and was a trustee for the Orangutan Foundation.
He described himself as an atheist and was a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association.
But health problems were to afflict him.
Following his diagnosis for Alzheimer’s, Sir Terry campaigned to raise awareness of the disease and improve research funding.
He went on to speak about assisted suicide, and made a documentary in 2011 following the final journey of a British man travelling to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland.
In the BBC film, millionaire hotelier and motor neurone disease sufferer Peter Smedley, 71, was seen taking a lethal dose of barbiturates. Sir Terry described the manner of the death, peacefully and in the arms of his wife, as a “happy event”.
Sir Terry was made a knight in the 2009 New Year Honours List.
He said at the time: “There are times when the words ‘totally astonished’ just doesn’t quite do it justice. Amazed, pleased, kind of puzzled that now I shall be married to a lady.
“I think somehow − and this is probably the wrong kind of word − I think it’s fun.”
“I have been given the knighthood for services to literature, so I don’t think I got the knighthood just for having a disease, but I must admit I have worked hard this year. It has cost me half a book, which I don’t regret at all, because I think we have achieved something, but I like to think of it as a reward for the writing.”
Sir Terry is survived by his wife, Lyn, and one daughter, Rhianna, who is also a writer.