In Memoriam, Sir Terry Pratchett

I was leaving for the airport when I learned about the death of Sir Terry Pratchett, one of my favorite authors. I set aside my emotions for later because I was going to one of my dream destinations, and I knew I needed time to grieve.

My first introduction to the Discworld universe was a preloved copy of the first novel, "The Colour of Magic", that I found at my favorite secondhand bookstore. Pratchett wrote with humor and wit and heart, and it was always a pleasure and a mental exercise reading his works. Ask any Pratchett fan what their favorite novel of his is and the answers would probably vary. Some of mine are "Thief of Time" and "Nation" and "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents" and "Only You Can Save Mankind".

Of all the storylines, I love the City Watch best, and it makes me sad that we will never read it in Pratchett's own words, if Captain Carrot really is the rightful King of Ankh Morpork, if Commander Vimes will mellow in his old age, or what unmentionables CMOT Dibbler will peddle next. Sergeant Colon and Corporal Nobbs will never again go on their rounds and shout "All is well", but Sir Terry will always live on on that flat disc supported by the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle hurtling through space.

book review: "Only You Can Save Mankind" by Terry Pratchett

ONLY YOU CAN SAVE MANKIND
Terry Pratchett

While playing the computer game “Only You Can Save Mankind”, 12-year-old Johnny Maxwell receives a message from the captain of the ScreeWee wishing to surrender. At first Johnny is bewildered; weren’t aliens in computer games only there to be shot at and die? But soon he accepts the mission to save the ScreeWee from annihilation by his fellow game players.

With this book Pratchett has written a commentary against the 1990s Gulf War, which can apply to all wars in general, in a way that is easy for his young readers to comprehend, and he manages to make it entertaining as well. To humans the ScreeWee are the enemy, and to ScreeWee we humans are the enemy. It is all a matter of perspective and of whose side you are on, so who is to say that what one side is doing is the right thing and what the other side is doing is wrong?

Pratchett also shows his readers that one need not be intelligent or talented like Kirsty/Sigourney to make a difference. Even someone as ordinary as Johnny can do it, because he was the only one who listened and was willing to try. Every one of us is given the opportunity for change, and it is up to us if we are willing to take on the challenge.

“Only you can save mankind.

If not you, who else?”

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book review: "Equal Rites" by Terry Pratchett

EQUAL RITES
Terry Pratchett

Esk is the eighth daughter of an eighth son, which makes her wizard material. Except no female can ever be a wizard. Or can she? Usual Pratchett-style humor, but I only paid attention during the last fourth of the novel with [SPOILER ALERT!] the budding courtship between Archchancellor Cutangle and Granny Weatherwax. :)





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