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Terry Pratchett

テリー・プラチェット

Terry Pratchett

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1948-04-28 （Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England）
Died
2015-03-12 （Broadchalke, Wiltshire, England） age 66
Nationality
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Religion
Atheism / non-religious
Residence History
Beaconsfield (birthplace) → Wiltshire (later life)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Author, Screenwriter, Journalist
Active Years
1965-2015
Influenced By
Douglas Adams, P. G. Wodehouse
Influenced
Neil Gaiman, Jasper Fforde, Rhianna Pratchett

Awards

Carnegie Medal
2001
Work: The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents
Organization: Carnegie Medal committee
Result: Winner
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
1998
Organization: UK Government
Result: Appointed
Knight Bachelor
2008
Organization: British honours system
Result: Knighthood
Locus Award
2008
Work: Making Money
Organization: Locus Magazine
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Carpet People

1971 Children's literature / Fantasy

An early, small-scale fantasy set in a microscopic world; Pratchett's debut novel (later revised).

Coming-of-ageAdventure

The Colour of Magic

1983 Fantasy

The first Discworld novel, mixing humor and parody in a fantasy-adventure setting.

ParodySatirizing heroic tropes
Adaptations
  • [Television] Discworld (TV adaptations / dramatizations)

The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents

2001 Children's literature / Fantasy

A children's fantasy about an intelligent cat and talking rats; winner of the Carnegie Medal.

MoralityTrickery and justice
Adaptations
  • [Animated film] The Amazing Maurice (film) (2022)

Making Money

2007 Fantasy

A Discworld novel satirizing banking, currency and finance.

MoneyInstitutional satire

Good Omens

1990 Comic fantasy

A comic, satirical fantasy co-written with Neil Gaiman about the apocalypse and humanity.

ApocalypseMoral ambiguity
Adaptations
  • [Television (series)] Good Omens (TV series) (2019)

Unseen Academicals

2009 Fantasy

A Discworld novel themed around university life and football (soccer) culture.

SportsSatire of educational institutions

Bibliography

  • The Carpet People
  • The Colour of Magic
  • The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents
  • Good Omens (with Neil Gaiman)
  • Making Money
  • Unseen Academicals

Adaptations

  • Good Omens (TV series)
  • Hogfather (TV film)
  • The Amazing Maurice (animated film)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Humorous, satirical fantasyWitty, economical prose
Recurring Motifs
Personified DeathSatire of bureaucracy and institutionsWitches and wizarding institutions

Health

  • Early-onset Alzheimer's disease
    2007-2015
    Publicly announced diagnosis in 2007. Affected later public activities and writing; he donated funds to Alzheimer's research.

Legacy

Widely regarded for bringing humor and satire to fantasy; the Discworld series secured a vast international readership and influenced many contemporary writers. His works have been translated widely and have sold tens of millions of copies.

Archives

  • British Library — collections / archives

In Popular Culture

  • Renewed attention from the TV adaptation of Good Omens
  • Multiple TV and film adaptations based on Discworld works

Quotes

  • In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.
    Source: Attribution: commonly cited line attributed to Terry Pratchett

Trivia

  • Appointed OBE in 1998.
  • Received a knighthood (Knight Bachelor) in 2008.
  • Announced diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's in 2007 and donated to research funds.
  • Best known for the Discworld series.