Shit.. Terry Pratchett just diagnosed with alzheimers..

[bhutocracy]

I've got Alzheimer's: Terry Pratchett

Bestselling fantasy author Terry Pratchett has been diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, he said in a message posted to his illustrator's website.

In a brief note to fans, Pratchett, 59, said he was taking the news "fairly philosophically" and "possibly with a mild optimism".

"I would have liked to keep this one quiet for a little while, but because of upcoming conventions and of course the need to keep my publishers informed, it seems to me unfair to withhold the news," he wrote on the website of Paul Kidby, who has illustrated many of his books.

Pratchett is best known for his Discworld series, which explores the residents of a very flat, very weird, and almost invariably hilarious planet dominated by the sprawling, chaotic city of Ankh-Morpork.

Pratchett wrote his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983, and 35 more books followed, many of which topped the bestseller charts.

Pratchett's website says his novels have sold more than 45 million copies and have been translated into 33 languages.

His latest work, Making Money, was published in September 2007 and Harper Children's is due to publish a non-Discworld novel, Nation, next year.

Pratchett said he would complete Nation and that he had already begun working on Unseen Academicals - another writing project.

"Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there's time for at least a few more books yet :o)," he wrote in his message.

"I know it's a very human thing to say: 'Is there anything I can do?' But in this case I would only entertain offers from very high-end experts in brain chemistry."


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One of my favourite authors, terrible news for such a wit and intellect.

[Azlord]

Thanks for the update, I forwarded this to a buddy who likes Pratchett

[Matt 26z]

Alzheimer's is a terrible way to go. I would rather die shortly after getting it than see it through until death. It strips you of your dignity and your life. The day you get it, little by little, you stop being you.

Short term memory is the first to go. Then over about a five year period the memory damage makes loved ones total strangers, reverses your mentality of that of an adult to that of a child and then of a baby, until eventually you don't even remember how to eat and you starve to death.

[needlive]

Sad to hear. I hope there's a way for him to get out of it. Science is improving very fast, is a positive thing in this world.

I just felt very bad when I heard that Phil Collins will lose his hearing. One of my favorites and still can't believe how bad karma can turn (must have other reasons, though).

[kaori]

That's horrible!
I love his books and am going to miss them! He was just picking up speed!

[GrouchyAdmin]

I never read Pratchett. He seemed like a lighter, less witty Douglas Adams. Then I turned twelve.

Good luck to the guy, anyhow. It sucks to have Regan's Disease.