Terry Pratchett has early onset Alzheimer's

[Itzena]

Discworld News © PJSM Prints

Folks,

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. I have been diagnosed with a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer's, which lay behind this year's phantom "stroke".

We are taking it fairly philosophically down here and possibly with a mild optimism. For now work is continuing on the completion of Nation and the basic notes are already being laid down for Unseen Academicals. All other things being equal, I expect to meet most current and, as far as possible, future commitments but will discuss things with the various organisers. Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there's time for at least a few more books yet )

Terry Pratchett

PS I would just like to draw attention to everyone reading the above that this should be interpreted as 'I am not dead'. I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else. For me, this maybe further off than you think - it's too soon to tell. 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.

Well, fuck

[DoctorSpooge]

Oh wow. I don't like his writing, but I woudln't wish this upon anyone. Horrible disease, and the early-onset is very rare, if I recall.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Major fuck. One of the great satirists for sure.

[Arbuste]

Fuck. Why not Goodkind or Donaldson? Why?

Seriously, sad news.

[Havelock]

<3 Terry Pratchett.

[Grooverider]

This has really upset me

[DoctorSpooge]

I'm stupid. Somehow, I read the post as Terry Brooks. Never read Pratchett, but I've been meaning to.

[Lonin]

Bad year for authors, jesus. After having two grandparents succumb to Alzheimer's, I wouldn't wish it on anyone, one horrible disease.

[Ilex]

Fuck me. There is no joy left in this world.

[Loftish v2]

Originally Posted by DoctorSpooge

Oh wow. I don't like his writing, but I woudln't wish this upon anyone. Horrible disease, and the early-onset is very rare, if I recall.

What's that? Having trouble remembering?

[Zora]

Originally Posted by Loftish v2

What's that? Having trouble remembering?

Much more than that. Your entire memory eventually disappears. You gradually stop knowing the people around you even those close to you. It's a terrible fate for anyone and especially a writer.

[tad10]

That sucks. I enjoy his stuff. Quick prayer for him and Alzheimer's research generally.

[DoctorSpooge]

Originally Posted by Zora

Much more than that. Your entire memory eventually disappears. You gradually stop knowing the people around you even those close to you. It's a terrible fate for anyone and especially a writer.

There's a dissociation. Explicit memory stores are destroyed. A lof of implicit memory stays intact. Not that that's any consolation to patients...

[Grooverider]

My grandmother had it. I hate it, and it needs to be removed from this planet as soon as possible.

[Azrayne]

Wow, that blows nuts

One of my favourite authors, not sure if there's treatment available for this or anything, but hopefully he'll be around to do his thing for a long time yet.