sdelmonte | On Sir PTerry (Reply)

Despite being a long time attendee at SF cons, I never got to meet Sir PTerry at one, his trips to the US never taking him where I was. But I was able to attend a reading at a Barnes & Noble in Manhattan about ten years ago. So at least I can say I saw the great man in person.

And what an event that was. He won me over again and forever by telling us one of his influences was another writer I love, Donald Westlake. For some reason, the idea that the king of the comic caper (and also of the not-so-comic caper) and the king of the comic epic fantasy (and also of epic fantasies not that funny) were kindred spirits seemed right.

I didn't love everything from PTerry, and I suspect that we would have found a lot to disagree about had we chatted. But what I loved, I love with a passion. Sam Vimes, Tiffany Aching, Granny Weatherwax, Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson. The Librarian. Death. Ankh-Morpork and the Chalk. Night Watch, Thief of Time, The Amazing Maurice. He was a deserved superstar in the UK, a beloved figure among those of us who know his work here, a brave man for facing his end with honesty and integrity, and a writer with a skill that few have ever matched. The world is sadder for losing him, but much richer for having him for 66 years.

RIP, Sir PTerry.