Saturday, May 5, 2012

May We Suggest ...Terry Pratchett

Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. Pratchett was born in 1948 in England, the only child of David and Eileen Pratchett. Pratchett described himself as a "non-descript student", and in his Who's Who entry, credits his education to the Beaconsfield Public Library.

His early interests included astronomy, owned a telescope and wanted to be an astronomer, but lacked the necessary mathematical skills.However, this led to an interest in reading British and American science fiction. His early reading included the works of H. G. Wells and Arthur Conan Doyle and "every book you really ought to read" which he now regards as "getting an education".

At age 13, Pratchett published his first short story "The Hades Business" in the school magazine. It was published commercially when he was 15. In 1965, he went to work for the Bucks Free Press where he wrote, amongst other things, several stories for the Children's Circle section under the name “Uncle Jim.” One of these episodic stories contains named characters from The Carpet People.

Pratchett had his first breakthrough in 1971, with the publication of The Carpet People including illustrations by Pratchett himself. The book received strong, if few reviews. The book was followed by the science fiction novels The Dark Side of the Sun, published in 1976, and Strata, published in 1981.

The first Discworld novel The Colour of Magic was published in 1983. After the success of books #1-3, Pratchett gave up working after finishing the fourth Discworld novel, Mort, to focus fully on and make his living through writing. His sales increased quickly and many of his books occupied top places on the best-seller list. Pratchett was the top-selling and highest earning UK author in 1996. His latest Discworld book (#34 in the series), Snuff is the third-fastest-selling novel since records began in the United Kingdom selling 55,000 copies in the first three days. As of August 2010 had sold over 65 million books worldwide in thirty-seven languages.

Pratchett married his wife Lyn in 1968.. Their daughter Rhianna Pratchett, who is also a writer, was born there in 1976. In 1993 the family moved to Salisbury, Wiltshire, where they currently live. He lists his recreations as "writing, walking, computers, life". He describes himself as a humanist and is a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association and an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society. Pratchett is well known for his penchant for wearing large, black fedora hats, as seen on the inside back covers of most of his books. His style has been described as "more that of urban cowboy than city gent."

In December 2007, Pratchett publicly announced that he was suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's disease and, subsequently, made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust, and filmed a programme chronicling his experiences with the disease for the BBC.

On 31 December 2008 it was announced that Pratchett was to be knighted (as a Knight Bachelor) in the Queen's 2009 New Year Honours. He formally received the accolade at Buckingham Palace on 18 February 2009. Afterwards he said, "You can't ask a fantasy writer not to want a knighthood. You know, for two pins I'd get myself a horse and a sword."



READ-A-LIKES


Douglas Adams - Fans who enjoy Pratchett's humor and social satire will probably also enjoy the Science Fiction of Douglas Adams. The Hitchhiker series follows the adventures and exploits of Arthur Dent as he travels through the universe with a variety of unusual companions, human and alien. Like Pratchett, Adams makes creative use of the English language, and his satire spares no sacred cows. Start with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979).


Jasper Fforde Pratchett readers who particularly enjoy the City Watch sub-series will be delighted to discover Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next titles. Beginning with The Eyre Affair (2002) Fforde's heroine Thursday Next works for the Literary Detective unit of Special Operations in an alternative England in the 1980s. The book is filled with word play and literary allusions, and Fforde's heroine would be at home in Sam Vimes' City Watch. Those who are fond of Pratchett's cultural critiques and barbs towards contemporary society will find much to enjoy in Fforde's novel.