Pratchett: Alzheimer's is an embuggerance

[Kahnee]

Poor b*****d. Still, he's not dead yet

 

Bestselling author Terry Pratchett has revealed that he is suffering from a rare form of early onset Alzheimer's.

The writer behind the Discworld fantasy books released a statement online reassuring readers that "there's time for at least a few more books yet".

Pratchett, 59, who has sold more than 55 million books around the world, called the diagnosis "an embuggerance".

He said the Alzheimer's lay behind this year's "phantom stroke".

Pratchett was told by doctors in the summer that he had suffered a mini stroke in the past few years, although he had been unaware of it.

The writer had medical tests after having problems with his dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

Pratchett wrote in a statement: "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'.

Pratchett said: "We are taking it fairly philosophically down here and possibly with a mild optimism.

"For now work is continuing on the completion of Nation (Pratchett's next book) 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."

He added: "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 may be 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."

Pratchett is most famous for his Discworld series of humorous and satirical fantasy novels.

Making Money, the 36th in the series, which began life as a parody of the fantasy genre, was published earlier this year.

Pratchett has also written children's books, including Carnegie medal winner The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents.

He was awarded an OBE in 1998 for services to British literature.

The statement was released on the website of Discworld artist Paul Kidby.

[oakie bob]

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[Kahnee]

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