Thought for the Day

"Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape."

~ from Hogfather, by Terry Pratchett

Sir Terry Pratchett - 1948-2015

I first discovered Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels in the late '80s when a friend of mine lent me a copy of Mort, saying, "Terry Pratchett could have been as famous as Douglas Adams."

In 1994 I joined the queue in WHSmith, Nottingham, to meet my idol and have my brand new hardback copy of Interesting Times signed. To cut a slightly longer story short, our meeting wasn't all I had hoped it might be and I was left mulling over the old adage, 'Never meet your heroes'. The experience certainly influenced how I interact with my own fans today, but the man remained an inspiration (even if I didn't dare speak to him in 2010 when we both attended the launch of SFX's Summer of Reading - because of what had happened 16 years previously), and it certainly didn't stop me from looking forward to every new Discworld release.

Of course, he wasn't only an inspiration to readers and writers. When he was diagnosed with his 'embuggerance', as he referred to the Alzheimer's, he became an inspiration to fellow sufferers and their families. And as a consequence he also ended up championing the assisted dying cause.

66 is no age, and it is certainly far too soon to lose our very own modern day Dickens. My thoughts are with his family at this time, but also with the rest of us, his readers, who won't get to enjoy another new book by our greatest comic writer, after The Shepherd's Crown is published later this year.

This book has sat on my 'To Read' pile for too long...

... so in memory of a great writer and an inspiration to thousands, including myself, tonight I shall start reading Raising Steam.

I don't normally feel the need to comment on the passing of public figures, but in the case of Sir Terry Pratchett, I'll make an exception. His passing earlier today has also brought to mind another old adage I used to live by, and need to remind myself of again, 'Carpe Diem'. Or to put it in the words of Sir Terry himself, "So much universe, and so little time."

Sir Terry Pratchett - 1948-2015

STORMSLAYER and the Fighting Fantasy re-launch

I am very excited to be able to reveal to you today that on 3 September 2009, my twenty-third book Stormslayer will be published - and it's another Fighting Fantasy gamebook!

That's right, Fighting Fantasy is back with a vengeance. The premier adventure gamebook series is being re-packaged and re-launched, with the first four titles being The Warlock of Firetop Mountain (of course), The Citadel of Chaos, Deathtrap Dungeon and Stormslayer, the first new title in two years.

Stormslayer - cover mock-up

Stormslayer is a classic FF adventure, featuring everything from dragons to giants, via wizards and a certain magical sword. I will be revealing more about it in the weeks to come, but one of the things I am most excited about is that it is being illustrated by the fantastically talented Stephen Player.

Stephen will be known to fans of Terry Pratchett's Discworld and, having contributed paintings to various Discworld calendars and illustrated The Illustrated Wee Free Men.

One of the things I enjoy most about writing a Fighting Fantasy gamebook is, once I've finished the text, waiting to see what the artist makes of my illustration briefs, bringing the world I have created to life. So far I've only had a taste of what Stephen's doing for Stormslayer, but that taste has made me hungry for more.

And in case this post has whet your appetite, to keep you going 'til the next one, here's the blurb from the back of the book.

After years of peace, the kingdom of Femphrey is at war again – and this time it’s with the elements! Devastating storms sweep across the country, destroying all in their path. Blizzards and floods threaten some areas while others suffer the worst droughts seen in centuries. But is this climate chaos all it appears to be? Or is there some dark design to this meteorological meltdown?

YOU are a seasoned adventurer, known throughout the land. You have battled giants and slain dragons, but how can even a veteran warrior like yourself fight the weather? Are YOU ready to take up the challenge and face the perils that await you within the eye of the storm?

A world without words

Surely a world without words would be the worst thing a writer could imagine, his stock in trade stolen from him; that which gives him pleasure and purpose denied him. So, imagine how Sir Terry Pratchett feels right now, having been diagnosed with PCA, a form of Alzheimer's Disease for which there is (currently) no cure.

Having heard about Sir Terry's condition on the news some months ago I was one of millions who sat down to watch the first part of Terry Pratchett: Living with Alzheimer's, on BBC2 last week. Not only was it a fascinating - learning more about the illness - and moving programme - the moment when after a long day the author tried reading from his new book in front of a crowd of dedicated fans - but it also gave an insight into another writer's world - all the Discworld paraphernalia cluttering his office with its six screens ('Because there isn't room for eight!') and the whole publicity machine of which Sir Terry is a part.

The part that really made me smile, though, was when Sir Terry's wife and assistant went through a list of symptoms of dementia and came to the conclusion that the list actually described a writer, so how could they tell the difference?

Part 2 is on tonight, BBC 2 at 9.00pm. If you missed Part 1, you can watch it again here. To find out more about this programme click here.