[penguicon-general] Terry Pratchett news

[Michael Rudas (computer)]

Via Cory Doctorow at
<http://www.boingboing.net/2007/12/12/terry-pratchett-has.html>

"Terry Pratchett has rare, early-onset Alzheimer's"

Terry Pratchett has addressed an open letter to his
fans (on Paul Kidby's Discworld News) with some
genuinely awful news -- he has a rare form of
early-onset Alzheimer's. His note is incredibly brave
and chipper. The man's a real inspiration --
incredibly prolific, brilliant and talented, friendly
and clearly as happy as anything with where he's found
himself.

    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 :o)

    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.