After a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, beloved fantasy and science-fiction author Sir Terry Pratchett has died at 66.
He was first diagnosed with the disease in 2007 and, while it prevented him from attending fan events, it didn’t stop him from writing. His finished his final book last summer.
Pratchett is most famous for his Discworld series, a sprawling comic fantasy series that earned fans all over the world. The first novel of the series was published in 1983 and 40 novels set in the series have been published as of November 2013. There is a chance, now, that the series could continue with Pratchett’s daughter, Rhianna.
Another of his most popular books was Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, published in 1990, and co-written with his good friend and fellow author, Neil Gaiman.
Transworld Publishers’ Larry Finlay released a statement:
“In over 70 books, Terry enriched the planet like few before him. As all who read him know, Discworld was his vehicle to satirize this world: He did so brilliantly, with great skill, enormous humour and constant invention. Terry faced his Alzheimer’s disease (an ’embuggerance’, as he called it) publicly and bravely. Over the last few years, it was his writing that sustained him. His legacy will endure for decades to come.”
However, it’s the final tweets that Sir Terry’s family made that will remain with fans forever:
AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER.
— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015
Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.
— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015
— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015
The End.
— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015
