For Pterry

I was thirteen when I read my first Terry Pratchett novel. It was Good Omens with Neil Gaiman and I loved that book as only a teenager could. I obsessed over Crowley and Aziraphale and it has been a favourite of mine for a long time. After Good Omens came the Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic which were okay but the novel that got me hooked was Wyrd Sisters.

As the cauldron bubbled an archaic voice shrieked: “When shall we three meet again?!!”
There was a pause.
Finally another voice said, in far more ordinary tones: “Well I can do next Tuesday.” Wyrd Sisters

Over the years I have devoured the Discworld, I have been every step of the way with Sam Vimes and Granny Weatherwax. I have related to Agnes Nitt more that is actually healthy but as an overweight ex goth with a lovely personality and good hair you recognise yourself.
These books have given me so much joy and solace over the years. I even wrote my very mediocre undergraduate dissertation on the Discworld novels.  These books have been part of life for over twenty years whilst I might not remember everything that happens in every novel but the world view, the sense of justice that pervades them and the characters journeys have stayed with me.

“She was already learning that if you ignore the rules people will, half the time, quietly rewrite them so that they don’t apply to you.” Equal Rites

I was always going to have some Discworld on my Great Re-Read list this year, I just hadn’t decided where to start and what to revisit.  Hearing about Terry Pratchett’s death today has of course made me revisit my plans and I have to shake up the reading order somewhat.  So the next book in my re-read this year will be Equal Rites because Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat were some of my earliest friends on the Discworld.

So for giving us this gift, for lending books to friends and then having to buy new copies of Guards Guards. For friends I have met and have shared love for this world and its creator.  For making Librarians cool. For creating a myriad of characters to cherish. For the jokes that were hidden and the jokes that were explicit. Thank you very much, Terry Pratchett, safe journey onwards.