Terry Pratchett knighted for services to literature Terry Pratchett has admitted he's "flabbergasted" to be awarded a knighthood for services to literature in the New Year Honours list. The 60-year-old Discworld scribe told the BBC: "There are times when phrases such as 'totally astonished' just don't do the job. I am of course delighted and honoured and, needless to say, …
Wonderful news, I recently finished reading Sir Terry's book, Nation, and it was a fantastic novel (non-discworld). I'm an avid fan and am really pleased that he now shares the same title as Sir Wogan....
Congratulations Sir Terry, may you write lots more books because genius like you is really once every several generations.
Well done, richly deserved. Who was the last fantasy/sci-fi author to be so honoured? I can only think of Arthur C Clarke, knighted ten years ago. A positive move for all fantasy enthusiasts and goes to reinforce that SF is not just for a minority but deserves a place in mainstream literature.
Ye gods... was this article penned by the Bursar or something?
"a voice for all those who cant shout so loud...." - because they are stoned out of their heads on the nursing home equivalent of dried frog pills perchance?
...so and so chipped in... so that'll be the tezumen suicide note reference then
TP is one of my favourite writers and its sad he has this condition but £500k wouldnt even run a decent sized lab for 15 minutes... you've got alot more money than that laying about, and, unless you are the Agatean Emperor you cant take it with you....
Knowing TP I wouldnt put it past him to use one of these classic quotes on his tombstone...
++?????++ Out of Cheese Error. Redo From Start.
-or- (and this is my personal favourite)
Morituri Nolumus Mori (We, who are about to die, Dont want to...)
I think the last one would be apt for NASA's new logo
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
And mine, sir, is that you must be telling the truth in at least one part of your comment because surely only someone who is, in fact, a dough-filled heart-attack-in-waiting could possibly be of the opinion that SIR Terry Pratchett has no talent.
You are, in fact, a pizza.
In fact, your crust must surely be stuffed with something unbeleivably bland. Something, you might say, which has absolutely <i>no taste at all</i>.
And he can stop being bitchy about JK Rowling and Tolkien.
The glow he got from being the highest paid and most shoplifted librarian's favourite went bitter on him when Harry Potter got popular ad when the LoTR films worked where his did not.
Hopefully he can settle down and work on enjoying his matbles while he has them, he hs my sympathy, it is a hellish thing to have
Yes..... Yes, I believe you are sir.
Probably one of those strange American ones with the funny little fish on, that everyone takes off before they eat it. Possibly a faint smell of frying onions as well.
I had the pleasure of meeting TP once (very briefly) - a true gentleman. Long may you continue to point out the absurdities of life.
Come, come, now. Maybe *you* don't like Terry Pratchett's writings but a lot of us think very highly of them. Not only for their sheer corny entertainment value, but for the sly commentary they make on modern times.
To contrast Pratchett-fantasy with Tokien-fantasy: who cleans the sewers in Gondor? Is there a garbage dump in Rivendell or in The Shire? Do elves and hobbits use condoms to control their fertility and if so, who makes them? The dwarves? Or are they gray-market imports from Mordor?
I admit that the same criticism applies to every other fantasy writer I can think of, bar Sir Terry of Ankh-Morpork. Let's have three cheers for infrastructure fantasy.
Icon of Gates-with-halo: is that the one ring to rule us all?
... Sir Terry!
And, iamapizza, if you think Terry Pratchett "lacks talent" or could be compared to those you mention, just stick to the books with the big pictures and the short words and don't bother trying to engage your brain (which you obviously didn't do in the first place).
Lacks talent? I take this is the usual "If loads of people like stuff, it must be rubbish" thing. I can assure you that real authors don't think so. Terry has taken over from where Dickens left off, holding up a mirror to the world. Ignoring the "fantasy" setting, which is now just an amusing background and plot device, the Discworld novels are one of the best humanist oeuvres of the last 100 years. I particularly like the line "You think the world is divided into good and bad people? There are, always and only, the bad people. But some of them are on opposite sides."
I have always enjoyed his books (even the ones meant for kids) and Sir Terry Of Ankh-Morpork has a certain ring (or possibly a clang).
I was saddened to hear of his alzheimers and hope that he gets all the support he can to make his life (and his familys) as bearable as possible for as long as possible.
I had the great pleasure of meeting him once at a book signing, and managed to have a small lil 5min chat with him. He was a wonderful fellow & a more kind, generous and rumour filled fellow I tihnk it would be impossible to find.
He thought me a new word too, Cornucopia. Reading his book is always a pleasure & I was greatly saddened by the news of his condition, it is good for the whole world he is carrying on his works.
Well deserved and by far too long delayed.
Well done Sir Pratchett :) You are the greatest & hopefully long may you continue.
p.s. I do so hope you get to tie up Death in knots & riddles, hopefully you can get Binky on your side ;)
they make no sense. They're giving pratchett a gong as he's going to die soon, despite all his talent (not my cup of tea but hey they seem ok) and yet 2 years ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Sarpong
was given an MBE for "services to telvision presenting". makes no bloody sense at all.
One of the things that Terry Pratchett has been trying to get over to people is that he Aten't Dead Yet and probably won't be for a long time!
Regrettably, as some comments on here suggest, there is still widespread ignorance about Alzheimers which, coupled with the lamentable lack of funding that the condition receives, means that many sufferers, whilst they still have their faculties, feel abandoned or get treated as if they have one foot in the grave already.
This doesn't have to be the case, but only if those who research into Alzheimers and treatments for it get the support that they need.
Michael is dyslexic.
Even if you didn't know that, it should have crossed your mind as a possibility. Then again, you don't seem to have bothered to engage your brain before putting your mouth in gear.
As far as Terry Pratchett goes, I've enjoyed his writing immensely, I'm just not sure that a knighthood is warranted for doing your job well. I've been making sure you get electricity on demand for the last 35 years, but I'm not expecting an award for it.
for services to shop-lifting... ;)
But seriously - I've read just about every single word this man has published, and he is quite possibly the greatest living British author - his social commentary is most certainly on a par with Dickens and the like, but his humour lifts his work to another level entirely.
Well done, Sir Pterry of Ankh-Morpork
I enjoy Sir Terence's novels immensely, no-one else manages such amusing satire quite like he does....Michael Moore perhaps but maybe he learned from Sir T? We also have him to thank for some of the best works of Neil Gaiman, among others; truly he is the John Peel of the Literary world (he even looks a bit like him now lol)
I also met him at a book signing many moons ago and was amazed by the way he dealt with his fans. The signing was due to end at 12 o'clock I think but the queue was huge and it was clear that not everybody would get even into the shop by that time, me among them. I was ready for disappointment then at five past, someone came out and told us that he was going to stay until he'd seen us all and bugger the schedule (I later spoke to his events manager who was in a fluster about in his words "that stubborn old bugger", they had to reschedule signings a lot it seemed as he made quite a habit of it!). I even asked terry about it when my turn came and he said that his fans bought his books and made him famous so the least he could do was see all of them when turned up to see him! I wonder how many other famous figures would do that? He saw every last person too, and had time for a quick chat with each one, a true gent in every sense!
an honour well deserved and let's ignore the fick trolls who are just trying to stir up an argument eh?
...TP's coat of arms! Or is this not high enough up the honours scale to get one?
If he is eligible can you imagine it? Elephants, a turtle, an orang-utang, luggage...
Totally and thoroughly disapprove of the honours system normally but I'm more than happy to make an exception on this occasion when finally somebody deserves it. As for those who are just trying to start a fight (AC @ 16:15 on 31st), the only reason his books haven't made it into film (I exclude the "made for-TV" adaptations) is because he has integrity and won't let Hollywood meddle with the story. I mean, seriously, how can anybody except a Hollywood producer suggest losing Death in a film of Mort?
..such a universally positive, unflamey and happy response to a story on the Reg. Rightly so, as well. He has made so many people nearly piss themselves laughing, and underneath it all he seems to have a humanitarian streak a mile wide. He really is a much-loved figure.
My respect for him only increased when he proved what a stubborn bastard he is in the face of Altzheimers, I really think he's doing sterling work to increase understanding of dementia- a lot of other people would just have wallowed in private. His bloodyminded and very public response to it made me grin. All-round good bloke, innit?
So yay, big ups to Sir Pterry. Raise a glass of apple-based* drink to a real one-off. Nice hat, too.
- The Invisible Opera Company
*Well, mostly apples.
And about time too.
Have been reading these books to dead people for ages and it always raises a laugh. Long may he continue to write what amounts to the best satire and fantasy in a rich and varied genre. He Aten't Dead yet!
Aside: Does anybody know when he's scheduled to get the Dubbing or whatever the actual process is called?
@ iamapizza.. don't touch yourself too much over the attention you've recieved.. you are entitled to your own opinion and i would suggest in future, keep it to yourself. As for an attempt at trolling, you obviously didn't have the hat with the little cooling fans on, did you.
And on the second occasion, approx a year or so after the first, he remembered my name and the book I got signed the first time. Even asked how the dog was doing (I'd just got a dog the first time, which was why I was replacing Sourcery on that occasion....). Of course, the response had to be "BAD DOG!!!" (a slightly-chewed coconut Quality Street to anyone who can name the book & character....)
That, folks, whether you like his writing or not, is the mark of a true gentleman. IMO, Good Omens is, partly due to the sheer brilliance, and partly due to it being a collaboration with one of my other favourite authors, amongst the top 3 of my all-time favourites, and he makes quite a few other appearances in my top 50.
Well done, Sir Terry. I'll cook up some old boots & mud for a celebratory feast!
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