His time for cake is at an end.
I think just about everyone I know has something to say on the passing of Sir Terry Pratchett today and on this instance I don't feel a need to buck the trend.
The first Discworld novel I read was Equal Rites. I must have been about 13-14 at the time because I distinctly recall later reading Wyrd Sisters in the only part of the school library that had comfy chairs and saw sunlight. I've always suspected that this was the reason I always preferred the Lancre Witches to any other group of characters (most of my friends seem to prefer the Ankh-Morpork City Guards), because honestly, once Granny Weatherwax has been inside your head you're never going to forget it (or get over it?)
It may also explain why I've never had much trouble doing a number of things "they" say someone like me shouldn't (poor, fat, female, somewhat intelligent, etc.), because I always wanted to be a Witch that Granny Weatherwax would grudgingly tolerate when I grew up (and still do). I can't think of a finer goal in life than to out live all those disapproving naysayers and then pay young people to dance on their graves, because by then my hips and knees will probably be buggered completely. Perhaps it's a good thing I spend most of my time fighting my own brain, otherwise who knows what type of unstoppable force I'd have become already.
Reading and being interested in his books also directly led to me learning what "wyrd" meant, so I guess Sir Pratchett is indirectly responsible for the username I've had for half my life. I don't see me giving it up any time soon either.
One of the things I will always regret is missing my chance to meet the man himself. I very nearly did once as, for who knows what reason, he held a book signing in my backwaters town when I was in my late teens. The fool that I am I completely forgot about it on the day until it was far too late and he'd been and gone. I always meant to rectify that, but as I seem to exist on a schedule more suited to trees and immortal beings, I never quite got around to it.
No matter where he's heading on his next adventure, I hope he has as much of an affect on the people he meets there as he did in this one. Even those of us he never met.
The first Discworld novel I read was Equal Rites. I must have been about 13-14 at the time because I distinctly recall later reading Wyrd Sisters in the only part of the school library that had comfy chairs and saw sunlight. I've always suspected that this was the reason I always preferred the Lancre Witches to any other group of characters (most of my friends seem to prefer the Ankh-Morpork City Guards), because honestly, once Granny Weatherwax has been inside your head you're never going to forget it (or get over it?)
It may also explain why I've never had much trouble doing a number of things "they" say someone like me shouldn't (poor, fat, female, somewhat intelligent, etc.), because I always wanted to be a Witch that Granny Weatherwax would grudgingly tolerate when I grew up (and still do). I can't think of a finer goal in life than to out live all those disapproving naysayers and then pay young people to dance on their graves, because by then my hips and knees will probably be buggered completely. Perhaps it's a good thing I spend most of my time fighting my own brain, otherwise who knows what type of unstoppable force I'd have become already.
Reading and being interested in his books also directly led to me learning what "wyrd" meant, so I guess Sir Pratchett is indirectly responsible for the username I've had for half my life. I don't see me giving it up any time soon either.
One of the things I will always regret is missing my chance to meet the man himself. I very nearly did once as, for who knows what reason, he held a book signing in my backwaters town when I was in my late teens. The fool that I am I completely forgot about it on the day until it was far too late and he'd been and gone. I always meant to rectify that, but as I seem to exist on a schedule more suited to trees and immortal beings, I never quite got around to it.
No matter where he's heading on his next adventure, I hope he has as much of an affect on the people he meets there as he did in this one. Even those of us he never met.