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Terry Pratchett has been diagnosed with a form of early-onset Alzheimer's.

I- I don't know what to think. I feel like this happened to a close relative, not an author I've met once. It's going to sound cheesy, but I look up to him so much. He, or rather his characters, are what I'd consider my role models.

I'm a b***h for saying this, but I feel kind of betrayed. Why did this happen? It isn't ******** fair.

Oh God guys. I can't deal with this. ******** ******** ********.

I know he's said that we'll get a good few more novels out of him but I'm so crushed by the news... cry If I could do something about it, I would. His mind is just too incredible to lose...

The if he's been dealing with it he might be taking some sort of medicine to slow the effects of it. Anyways it's not like he's dead.
(Also on a semi related topic anyone know like the fan mail address/e-mail?)

It's a stunning development....
gonk cry

Latest news from Terry:

Folks,

Happy New Year!

I'm going to keep this short because I'd like to finish Nation by the end of the week, but things here are looking up a bit since my last report.

I shall very soon be on medication that in theory should blow some of the cobwebs away and I hope my typing speed and accuracy will improve. Meanwhile, we are in contact with various organisation and researchers and keeping in touch with developments in the field, which is something of a Cinderella compared with other major illnesses.

In short, we are trying to set up a system so that if any researcher anywhere shouts "Eureka!" I'll be banging on his door even before he's found a towel.

I still expect to be able to go to the UK and US conventions. Apart from that, all my time in the office these days is spent writing, although there are a few events that I am taking on this year. I regret to say that I'm even cutting down on answering fan mail because my typing is so slow.

A new book or an answer to your fan letter - don't make me choose.

We're still getting lots of people saying "Is there anything we can do?" (Including high end brain specialists or other knowledgeable people who make up my "Greek Chorus" of advisors.) What will undoubtedly help, if you feel inclined, is to send some money. We will shortly be setting up a mechanism for you to do so and will post news on this when it is ready. This will be passed onto the Alzheimer's Research Trust, who have been very helpful.

This and future updates can be found at http://www.pjsmprints.com/news/index.html

Oddly, I have some advice for him that might help (can at least slow down disease progression), and references one or more practitioners in his country. But since he's an author and enjoys his privacy, I'm not really sure how to get it to him...I'll simply cross my fingers and hope he's heard of the acupuncturists in Leamington Spa...I'd recommend Worsley, the founder, but he died in '06.

Well, I suppose we all go at some point. I could wish for many more years of knowing pTerry's knocking about and waxing wry, but at least I know someone somewhere will send him off with several ham sandwiches when he's at the end.