Bugger. · 1:35am Mar 13th, 2015

I'm not ashamed one little bit to admit that I'm crying as I write this.

As I'm sure you've probably all read by now, Sir Terry Pratchett has passed away. I found out about three hours ago; after the initial shock, I started crying. I'm still crying a bit now.

It probably comes as no surprise that Sir Terry has been beyond influential to me. I first came across his Discworld novels in my high school library. I think Equal Rites was the first I read, which I found interesting and amusing. It was the second book of his that I read where I fell in love with his writing. It was Wyrd Sisters, and by pure coincidence my English Literature class had just finished studying Macbeth. Reading the two almost side by side opened my eyes to what an incredible mind Terry Pratchett possessed. Pyramids, Small Gods, Guards! Guards!, Mort, The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Eric, and any other works I could lay my hands on quickly followed.

I remember staying up until 3 A.M. on more than one occasion so that I could devour a novel in a single reading. I would then re-read it at a much slower pace to make sure I didn't miss anything.

I remember exchanging a couple of messages with Sir Terry via the alt.fan.pratchett newsgroup when I was in University in 1997. He was writing The Last Continent, and was after suggestions from his Australian fans regarding idiosyncratic Aussie food that he poke fun at in the novel. (Sadly, none of my suggestions made it.)

Without a doubt, the highlight of my experiences is having had the enormous pleasure of meeting Sir Terry in 2007 at "Nullus Anxietas", the first Australian Discworld Convention. I have far too many memories of that event to talk about now, but you can read my livejournal blog of it if you're interested.

Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, or PTerry as we loved to call him, was one of the most enchanting, amazing, magical individuals this world has seen.

I'll miss him.