Terry Pratchett, the fantasy author, has died. For the millions of people who read his books, it's a sad day. It took no time at all for the tributes to start rolling in via social media.
Writers, comedians, politicians, and fans united in praising Pratchett's wit and imagination.
Very sad to hear of the death of #terrypratchett. I vastly enjoy his playful, smart #Discworld books.
"It’s not worth doing something unless someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren’t doing it." RIP the brilliant Terry Pratchett.
Fantasy author Neil Gaiman, who co-wrote Good Omens with Pratchett in 1990, said on his site today:
There was nobody like him. I was fortunate to have written a book with him, when we were younger, which taught me so much.
Because so much of Pratchett's writing concerned Death – the Discworld character and the concept – people were quoting several lines of his on the subject:
"No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away...” ~ Terry Pratchett RIP you utterly wonderful man.
DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death, JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.
“It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.” ― Terry Pratchett #restinpeace
Many people were wondering what the chat between Death and Pratchett would be like.
You know what I want to read? The conversation between DEATH and Terry Pratchett. Fuck, that would be good. #RIP
There can't be many writers who have touched so many people through their writing about death.
Terry Pratchett's writing on death, both in his fiction, and, after his diagnosis, in his essays, meant so very much to me. Rest in power
Times columnist Caitlin Moran joined those who said their writing owes him a debt.
Oh man, Terry Pratchett died. I ripped off a good 80% of everything I know about writing from him. Fucking hell.
RIP Sir Terry Pratchett, without you, Mark Twain and John Steinbeck I may never have put pen to paper.
Others credited him for their love of reading.
RIP terry pratchett, I owe my love of books to you, growing up, your Discworld was my favorite place to be.
His friends remembered him as someone who was impossible to buy a drink for.
I'm going to remember PTerry as "one of those guys it was impossible to buy a drink for." (He always made a grab for the bill.)
There must be a few people are who considering doing this.
I'm going to try and read the discworld series from start to finish. RIP Terry Pratchett
An avid letter writter, there were recollections of the times he replied to his fanmail.
I used to write letters to Terry Pratchett in the 1980s, when I was a teenager. To my delight, he replied too, always amusingly.
Some people were quite literally crying at their desks over the news.
Weeping at my desk. Suspect Granny Weatherwax would not approve. #TerryPratchett
And this summed up the thoughts of pretty much everyone who ever read a Pratchett book.
I am going to miss Terry Pratchett so fucking much
Author Joe Abercrombie highlighted what a loss his death is to the fantasy genre.
Gutted to hear of the death of Terry Pratchett. What a loss to British fantasy.
And British comic book writer Kieron Gillen nailed what it is that makes Pratchett's writing special.
RIP Pratchett. Enormously sad. Understood Fantasy is a device for emphasising humanity rather than running from it.
The prime minister added his own tribute, praising the author's campaigning for dementia awareness.
Sad to hear of Sir Terry Pratchett's death, his books fired the imagination of millions and he fearlessly campaigned for dementia awareness.
And Penguin Books pointed out that there's a Just Giving page to raise money for the Research Institute for the Care of Older People.
A @JustGiving page for the Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE) has been set up in his memory http://t.co/E9hiKdtjCk