History Creator / TerryPratchett

* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: Terry was quite optimistic about humanity and the universe that we all live in. The ''Discworld'' series reflected peoples cynicism for everyday life even though they did live in a world that reflected his optimism.

Pratchett was also known to have been JustForFun/OneOfUs. [[Literature/{{Discworld}} The Luggage]], for example, was originally created for a game of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' he played; he further enjoyed a few computer games like ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'', ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' and fan missions of ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}''. His daughter Creator/{{Rhianna|Pratchett}} is a writer for video games, notably the ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' series, ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'', ''VideoGame/HeavenlySword'' and the reboot of ''VideoGame/{{Tomb Raider|2013}}''. He has stated that he is happy for her to take over running ''Discworld'', although she won't be writing new books. She once stated, "They're sacred, they're Dad's legacy and I’m the protector of Discworld and that means protecting it from myself as well."

Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 -- 12 March 2015) was a British Fantasy author and [[{{Troperiffic}} Archmage of Tropeomancy]].[[superscript:1]] A [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever Knight Bachelor]] (i.e. Sir Terry Pratchett OBE), he was described as the most shoplifted author in Britain.

He was a trustee of the [[http://www.orangutan.org.uk Orangutan Foundation]], by virtue of a liking for the animal and featuring it in the ''Discworld'' series as the Librarian.

Pratchett was also known to have been JustForFun/OneOfUs ([[Literature/{{Discworld}} the Luggage]], for example, was originally created for a game of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' he played) and enjoyed a few computer games like ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'', ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' and fan missions of ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}''. His daughter Creator/{{Rhianna|Pratchett}} is a writer for video games, notably the ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' series, ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'', ''VideoGame/HeavenlySword'' and the reboot of ''VideoGame/{{Tomb Raider|2013}}'' - he has stated that he is happy for her to take over running Discworld, although she won't be writing new books. She once stated, "They’re sacred, they’re Dad’s legacy and I’m the protector of Discworld and that means protecting it from myself as well."

Pratchett had said that the ''Discworld'' series would probably never end; what ''will'' end Discworld, he said, is sheer overcrowding -- the City Watch books were already problematic in that regard, as it's hard to write a story set in Ankh-Morpork that doesn't somehow involve the Watch (at which point it ''becomes'' a Watch book, [[SpotlightStealingSquad regardless of his original plot outline]]), which presumably explains the creation of protagonist Moist Von Lipwig, who by virtue of his past profession was able to become a powerful and influential city figure while wishing to have nothing to do with the Watch.

Pratchett became Sir Terry, after being included in the 2008 Christmas Honours list, and was reportedly "flabbergasted". In celebration, he [[http://www.news.com.au/technology/terry-pratchett-creates-a-sword-with-meteorites/story-e6frfro0-1225926584339 had a sword forged]] from ThunderboltIron. In 2010, he received his [[http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/newsletter/item/27-september-2010 coat of arms]]. That same year, he became [[http://www.tcd.ie/Communications/news/pressreleases/pressRelease.php?headerID=1604&pressReleaseArchive=2011 Professor at Trinity College, Dublin]]. In 2012, he ran Narrativia Productions, which is in charge of all future adaptations of his work, including [[Series/GoodOmens2019 the]] ''[[Series/GoodOmens2019 Good Omens]]'' [[Series/GoodOmens2019 TV series]] and ''Terry Pratchett's The Watch''. (Narrativia is the Goddess of Narrative, who manifests whenever aspects of a story neatly fit together in a way the writer hadn't expected.)

Pratchett's trademark was his sense of humor -- relying on wordplay, spoofing mythology and popular culture (though he usually didn't include current events in his work lest the books become dated), and publishing in genres ranging from fantasy to detective fiction to political thriller (often combining ''all three''), rarely has there been found a phrase that he could not turn, and there are few subjects that Pterry (as his fans have [[FanNickname affectionately dubbed him]]) wouldn't make at least a ''passing'' attempt to skewer on the end of a sharp metaphor.

Pratchett had said that the ''Discworld'' series would probably never end; what ''will'' end Discworld, he said, is sheer overcrowding -- the City Watch books were already problematic in that regard, as it's hard to write a story set in Ankh-Morpork that doesn't somehow involve the Watch (at which point it ''becomes'' a Watch book, [[SpotlightStealingSquad regardless of his original plot outline]]), which presumably explains the creation of protagonist Moist Von Lipwig, who by virtue of his past profession was able to be both a powerful and influential city figure while wishing to have nothing to do with the Watch.

* IronicallyDisabledArtist: Cruelly, the form of Alzheimer's that Pratchett suffered attacked his mental ability to process written words. He still managed to complete seven entire books via dictation.

* CreatorCameo: Has a cameo in each of the Discworld TV movies, and played a cop in one scene of the ''Literature/GoodOmens'' radio show. Since Pratchett's death, Paul Kaye who portrayed him in ''Back in Black'' also does his cameos: Kaye is the nuclear power plant PR man in ''Series/GoodOmens2019''.

* ''Literature/Discworld'', his most iconic work, a satiric fantasy/comedy LongRunner offering biting between-the-lines commentary on contemporary social amd political issues.

-->-- '''Terry Pratchett''', [[Website/{{Usenet}} alt.fan.pratchett]]

* LineToGod: He was active on the Website/{{Usenet}} group alt.fan.pratchett for a while in TheNineties.

Pratchett was most famous for the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series, but this was not his only work. Some of the other stuff he's written includes:
* ''Literature/TheCarpetPeople'' (his first novel) and the ''Literature/NomesTrilogy'' (aka ''The Bromeliad''), three further books on a similar theme, aimed at children.
* ''Literature/TheDarkSideOfTheSun'' and ''Literature/{{Strata}}'', his first two adult novels.
* The ''Literature/JohnnyMaxwellTrilogy'' for children. ''Only You Can Save Mankind'' has been adapted for radio, the other two for TV.
* ''Literature/GoodOmens'', a collaboration with Creator/NeilGaiman. A mini-series was released on May 31, 2019.
* ''Literature/{{Nation}}'' - a non-''Discworld'' fantasy children's novel, released 11 September 2008.
* ''Literature/TheLongEarth'' - A science fiction series co-written with Creator/StephenBaxter. The first book was released 19 June 2012.
* ''Literature/{{Dodger}}'', a Dickensian story featuring Creator/CharlesDickens himself, released 13 September 2012.
* ''Literature/TheUnadulteratedCat'': An allegedly nonfiction book about the wonders of Real Cats (1989)

* HumanityIsInfectious: He was fond of using this trope in his works. His interpretation of supernatural beings (i.e. [[Literature/{{Discworld}} Death]] and [[Literature/GoodOmens angels and demons]]), were commonly described as more human in virtue due to their interactions with humanity.

* RiddleForTheAges: As noted below, the hard drive containing the ten books he was still working on at the time of his death was destroyed in 2017. As such, the general public will never know their contents.

[-1. and [[FootnoteFever footnotes]][[superscript:2]]-]\\

[--2. Not Creator/DavidFosterWallace?--]

Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 -- 12 March 2015) was a British Fantasy author and [[{{Troperiffic}} Archmage of Tropeomancy]].[[superscript:1]] A [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever Knight Bachelor]] (i.e. Sir Terry Pratchett OBE), he was described as the most shoplifted author in Britain (belying an American critic who once claimed that he hadn't found his audience).

* AuthorAppeal: A self-confessed humanist (albeit a bad one by his own admission), his work carries a strong theme of supernatural beings developing a love/fascination towards humans. Death came to develop compassion towards humans and it nearly cost him his role as the grim reaper, Aziraphale and Crowley grew attached to humanity due to spending thousands of years together with them, and Granny Weatherwax's personality affected the vampires.

* CoolSword: Once he received his Knighthood, Sir Terry proceeded to commission a sword to go with his new rank. It, of course, was forged from MeteoricIron.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: Pratchett was never afraid of dying and made his Latin motto "Noli Timere Messorem"[[labelnote:?]]Don't fear the Reaper[[/labelnote]] on his [[http://i.imgur.com/Cjenh.jpg coat of arms.]] His interpretation of the grim reaper is his most praised character.
--> I think a wise man thinks of death as a friend. If that death comes later, rather than on the first day.

* PaintingTheMedium: He was ''extremely'' skilled at this. '''One character might have all their speech boldened to represent their inhumanly deep voice.''' ''Another might have it italicized to convey how seedy they sounded.'' Another Might Have The First Letter Of Each Word Capitalized To Convey A Slow And Robotic Tone. [[green:Another still might have their words printed in a different color to convey otherworldliness.]]

* HumanityIsInfectious: He was fond of using this trope in his works. His interpretation of supernatural beings (i.e [[Literature/{{Discworld}} Death]] and [[Literature/GoodOmens angels and demons]]), were commonly described as more human in virtue due to their interactions with humanity.

The events leading up to Pratchett's passing would honestly not look out of place in one of his own books. At a con in 2009, he announced, "I will not die of Alzheimer's. I shall make other arrangements; [[GallowsHumor I'm going]] [[TakingYouWithMe to take the disease with me.]]" Sure enough, he began the process that would lead to his eventual assisted [[InsistentTerminology death]] in 2011.

In 2010, he became the first-ever novelist (with the assistance of his good friend Creator/TonyRobinson) to give a Richard Dimbleby Lecture on this subject titled ''Shaking Hands With Death''. It can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM here]]. In 2014, he withdrew from public appearances due to the development of his Alzheimer's, and tragically succumbed to the disease on March 12, 2015. Though he had made all preparations for his death and had full intentions of carrying through with his earlier promise, he ultimately died of natural causes, passing away peacefully in his sleep while surrounded by his family and cat. The BBC broadcast a docudrama about his life, ''Back in Black'' in 2017.

Also in that year, his computer hard drive with all his unfinished work was destroyed by a steamroller per his request.