Terry Pratchett

A friend we’d never met

 

I was 13 years old when a friend introduced me to the Discworld series written by English author Terry Pratchett. It took less than a paragraph for me to fall in love with the wit, wisdom and British humor that flavored each page. 

Pratchett molded the Discworld in the shape of a flat disc balanced on the backs of four elephants that, in turn, perch on the back of a giant turtle. Complete with wizards, witches, vampires and trolls, Discworld was everything you could expect from a fantasy world. But shortly, I began to realize it was a bit different. Pratchett’s grim reaper turned out to ride a horse names Binky and be fond of cats. When bitten by a vampire, Pratchett’s village witch managed to reverse the curse, causing her assailant to begin craving tea and biscuits.  

Yet, as I advanced through the series, a broader image emerged through the hilarious madness. Our own religions, ethnic strife, gender roles, economics, demagoguery, war and social injustice found their way into the magical world. At times affectionately poking fun at our humanity and at others shedding stark light on society’s afflictions, Pratchett created poignant satire that made you think, keeping you laughing the entire time. 

What drew me to Pratchett’s work was not only his wit, but his love for human beings. He truly loved us despite our faults, and used humor to help us see ourselves from a different perspective. My favorite quote of his is from an exchange between the Omnian priest, Mightily Oats, and the inspiring witch Granny Weatherwax:

"...Sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That’s what sin is.”

“It’s a lot more complicated than that “

“No. It ain’t. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they’re getting worried that they won’t like the truth. People as things, that’s where it starts.”

I was not alone in my penchant for Pratchett’s work. More than 85 million Discworld novels have been sold worldwide, making him the UK’s no. 1 best-selling author until J.K. Rowling came along. In 1998 he became Sir Terry Pratchett as he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This is why his announcement in 2007 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s came as a blow to millions.

I followed his fierce battle against the disease - both his own and that of others. He became a prominent advocate for Alzheimer’s research, donating a million dollars himself and calling on funding agencies to increase their own. All the while, he never stopped writing Discworld novels, sometimes by dictating to his assistant or using speech recognition software.

Upon his death in 2015, the internet exploded with tributes of many who, like me, saw him as a friend we had never met. Saddened by the news, I was consoled by one tribute especially: a fan created a petition to Death himself to reinstate Terry Pratchett, which was signed by over 30,000 people. Perusing the reasons the petitioners provided, I could see how deeply Pratchett had touched many hearts. One petitioner wrote: 

“Dear DEATH, [...] I know it’s a bit of a cheek but could you pass this message to the dude: "Thank you. You made me think. You made me laugh. I remembered to treat other people better because of you.” 

To quote Pratchett himself, “No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away...” In that sense, it may well be that Terry Pratchett will live forever.

 

Reading comprehension questions

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1. An appropriate title for the passage would be 

 

(A) The Discworld Novels: A Review 

(B) The Rise and Fall of Sir Terry Pratchett

(C) When Fantasy Meets Satire

(D) Terry Pratchett: through the Eyes of a Fan

 

Explanation:

The correct answer is (D).

Answer (D) is the best answer since the passage is written from the standpoint of a fan of Pratchett’s who describes not only his books but also the author as a person and provides information about his life. 

Answer (A) is incorrect because much of the passage speaks of the author and not of the Discworld series.

Answer (B) is incorrect because there is no description in the passage of how Pratchett rose to fame, nor does the passage tell us of a fall he endured (a ‘fall’ in the phrase “rise and fall” usually means fall from fame, not illness and death).

Answer (C) is incorrect because the passage deals specifically with the Discworld series and Terry Pratchett, not with fantasy and satire in general.

 

2. The examples of the grim reaper and the village witch in the second paragraph (lines 5-12) are most likely provided in order to

 

(A) illustrate Sir Pratchett’s sense of humor through his funny stories.

(B) show how uncharacteristic the Discworld series is compared to other fantasy novels. 

(C) demonstrate the kindness of Discworld’s characters.

(D) highlight the intrinsically British theme that runs through the books. 

 

Explanation:

The correct answer is (B).

Answer (B) is the best answer since the preceding sentences tell us that, “Discworld was
everything you could expect from a fantasy world. But shortly, I began to realize
it was a bit different.” Therefore, the following sentences are examples of the uncharacteristic nature of Discworld, as the mythic figure of Death usually does not mix with ‘cute’ things such as the name ‘Binky’ or cats, and when bitten by vampires most victims begin to crave blood, not the other way around.

Answer (A) is incorrect since this specific paragraph does not refer to the series as being funny. Although it is possible that its humor is what sets it apart from other fantasy works, answer (B) is more accurate and is therefore the best answer.

Answer (C) is incorrect since the paragraph does not refer to kindness and since the example of the witch does not clearly demonstrate her kindness.

Answer (D) is incorrect since this paragraph does not refer to a British theme in the series.

 

3. The third and fourth paragraphs (lines 13-29) imply that the narrator is drawn to Pratchett’s work due to

 

(A) Pratchett’s loving and humorous way of viewing our faults.

(B) Pratchett’s witty yet loving outlook on human beings.

(C) Pratchett’s poignant satire highlighting society’s ails.

(D) Pratchett’s way of presenting complex issues in a simple manner.

 

Explanation:

The correct answer is (B).

Answer (B) is the best answer since we are told that, “What drew me to Pratchett’s work was not only his wit, but his love for human beings,” (lines 19-20). 

Answer (A) is incorrect since it is partial. Answer (B) is more accurate.

Answer (C) is incorrect since it is partial. Answer (B) is more accurate. 

Answer (D) is incorrect since it is not supported in the text at all.

 

4. The word “penchant” in line 30 most nearly means

 

(A) fondness.

(B) obsession.

(C) impartiality.

(D) sentiments.

 

Explanation:

The correct answer is (A).

Answer (A) is the best answer since penchant means “a strong inclination or liking for something”.

Answer (B) can be eliminated since although the narrator seems to have positive feelings towards Pratchett’s work, obsession is too strong a word.

Answer (C) can be eliminated since impartiality means “neutrality”, while the narrator clearly has positive feelings towards Pratchett’s work.

Answer (D) is incorrect since it is not the meaning of penchant, although it could fit the sentence. 

 

5. According to the sixth, seventh and eighth paragraphs (lines 36-52), the reason the narrator writes at the end of the passage, “In that sense, it may well be that Terry Pratchett will live forever,” is that 

 

(A) Pratchett’s fans’ petition convinced Death to bring him back. 

(B) Pratchett made people think, laugh and treat each other better. 

(C) Pratchett’s great contribution to Alzheimer’s research will not be forgotten.

(D) Pratchett affected many people and the ripples he made will not die away quickly.

 

Explanation:

The correct answer is (D).

Answer (D) is the best answer since paragraph six (lines 36-40) tells us about Pratchett’s efforts to relieve the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, and paragraph seven (lines 41-49) indicates the powerful impact Pratchett had had on many people through their responses to his passing. Paragraphs six and seven describe the ripples Pratchett caused in the world, and the eighth paragraph (lines 50-52) quotes Pratchett’s saying that, “No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away.” 

Answer (A) is incorrect since it is not implied in the text (and also because it is highly unlikely).

Answer (B) is incorrect since it is partial and takes into account only the seventh paragraph.

Answer (C) is incorrect since it is partial and takes into account only the sixth paragraph.

 

6. The narrator’s feelings towards Sir Pratchett can be described as

 

(A) romantic infatuation.

(B) calculated appreciation.

(C) affectionate admiration.

(D) nostalgic longing.

 

Explanation:

The correct answer is (C).

Answer (C) is the best answer since it is the only one supported by the text. The narrator describes her positive feelings towards Pratchett’s work throughout the passage, but also expresses her admiration and affection for the author himself. She tells how she followed his battle against Alzheimer’s and recounts details that enhance his positive image, such as his donation to research and how he continued to write despite his illness (lines 36-40). She also tells us that the news of his passing saddened her and that she considered him a friend she had never met (lines 41-42).

Answer (A) can be eliminated since there is no indication for romantic feelings in the text.

Answer (B) can be eliminated because the narrator uses emotional terms to express her regard for the author and not calculated (unfeeling) ones.

Answer (D) can be eliminated since the narrator draws comfort from the influence Pratchett had on the world and in that sense feels that his presence endures. She does not express nostalgic longing.