[quote="51A"]Never read him, always felt a bit too old to do so but my daughter loved him and I admire anyone who inspires kids to read. Terrible loss, great advocate in his final years. Enjoy the new work, those of you who read it.[/quote]

Take it from me, as one who is rapidly closing in on 60, that there really is no need to feel 'too old'. Though they're told through the trappings of fantasy, Pratchett's stories are about being human, what we need, want and desire, and how to be what we should be. I'd recommend 'Wyrd Sisters' as a starting point but frankly it's the City Watchstrand that, for me, are the books people will still be reading in 100 years times, and Sam Vimes, as others have said, is an astonishing portrayal of a good, decent man, struggling with himself to do the very best he can for those to whom he is ultimately responsible.

Incidentally, 'Going Postal' is a very strongly and powerfully convincing argument for a highly socialist infused small c capitalism.

And they're all bloody funny with it.

Never read him, always felt a bit too old to do so but my daughter loved him and I admire anyone who inspires kids to read. Terrible loss, great advocate in his final years. Enjoy the new work, those of you who read it.

Me too. On both counts.

Just got some news in my email inbox that there is one last Discworld novel in the pipeline, "The Shepherd's Crown", the fifth novel in the Tiffany Aching series. Apparently he finished the book last summer, before his final deterioration.

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-shepherd-s-crown/terry-pratchett/9780857534811" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

While I'm delighted that we get one more story, I have to admit that I am typing this with a tear in my eye. Unbearably poignant. :(