10 reasons to read Terry Pratchett

In 2008 Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's terrible news that became public through the press, took the opportunity to express their desire to die by assisted suicide in the clinker Dignitas in Switzerland. Years later participated in a controversial documentary titled Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die speaking about assisted suicide. It is not worth what I feel when thinking about this disease tremendísimo author, is something stronger mixed with genuine indignation. To think that one of the sharpest minds, bright and creative of the current literature suffers a devastating disease like Alzheimer's and unworthy is really sad.

Pratchett is an author that everyone should read but which, despite its wide acceptance, not like everybody. The novels of fantasy and fiction have always been viewed with suspicion and contempt by many who think that this genre can not conceive or give birth to masterpieces or great novels. It's their loss, those who read these books know very well that there are novels, stories and sagas literary quality they deserve great respect.

I dedicate this post to those who have not been lucky enough to read Terry Pratchett, and those who enjoy each new novel by this prolific author. Why you should read your novels?

The breadth of his work

39 Disc World novels , said soon is not it, not to mention the books related to this flat world that travels on the back of a giant turtle and audio books, movies, comics, video games and radio adaptations. But Pratchett has written more things that are not related to the World Disco, for example, The Dark Side of the Sun, Strata, the youthful Johnny Maxwell trilogy, the trilogy of the Exodus of the Gnomes, the novel Good Omens in collaboration with Neil Gaiman , Nation and The Long Earth book written with Stephen Baxter. And more much more but to start is not bad.

Humor

Fundamental to understanding his work and especially the series of World Disc . Humor and satire are very present in all his novels and the particular author's view of reality around him moved to his writings. It is not easy to be original, poignant, surprising and fun for so long but the intelligent humor of Pratchett does not end, will not rust and is always one step ahead of what the reader expects.

Criticism

I know people who talk about suffering for the common good. Never are they, dammit! When you hear a man shout, Forward, brave comrades!, You'll see that it is always behind the bloody big rock, and the only one wearing a helmet to the test of arrows. (Rincewind in Interesting Times)

The author picks on everyone and everything: religion, journalism, soccer, movies, music, university, war, labor exploitation, racism ... nothing escapes his pen and the reader can not help but nod to the opinions and analysis Pratchett makes today's society through the prism of fantasy.

Unforgettable characters

You can not go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. If not, is just a cage. (Witches Abroad)

It is difficult to choose a character in Pratchett's work, everyone has something, all grow, evolve, suffer, fight and you are in forever. Even in World Disco, the city of Ankh-Morpork is understood as a character and it is impossible to imagine the world without this bustling city level. Pratchett gives his creations of edges, of chiaroscuro, the reader come with baggage, with a past and a history and charm they unfold page by page.

Side necessary as breathing

Amazing, unique creations with character and strength to qualify the whole. A clear example is the Librarian of Unseen University, an orangutan banana lover, his "Oks" are a fundamental part of the magic of the character.

Sam Vimes

Sam Vimes could parallel process. Most husbands can. Learning to follow his own train of thought while listening to what they say their wives. And listening is important, because they can be challenged at any time and be prepared to quote the last sentence at face value. An important additional skill is being able to trace some phrases in the dialogue as indicative "and can bring it tomorrow" or "so I invited them to dinner," or "can do it in a heartbeat, and fairly inexpensive" (The Fifth Elephant )

When I started reading the novels of World Disco I loved the witches, Nanny Ogg in particular, over time I came to the saga of the Guard, the protagonist of these novels is Sam Vimes, a character who has grown so much and so naturally through the years that it is wonderful to continue this transformation. Vimes Vimes never stop being a man hardened by a thousand battles, a born fighter, a maverick, a cynical but with a code of honor and value chain. Read receipt is the saga of the Guard and enjoy this group of ragged and Vimes. In my humble opinion the best novel of the saga is Night Watch but all are very good and it shows that he is very fond Pratchett these characters.

Juvenile literature

The saga of Johnny Maxwell, the Exodus of the Gnomes and the saga of Tiffany Aching in the World Disco are the most noteworthy. Books for young and not so young with the unmistakable stamp of the author. They are not the only, Pratchett has been writing for the young since 1971 with The Carpet People. A good gift for children, nephews, cousins ​​... or an adult who enjoys diving into fantasy.

Nation

Fiction published in 2008. Some time ago I read it but I remember well how much I liked his sadness and beauty, its magnificent history, the pain that transmits the force of words, the issues you raised and doubts that arise as they move the pages. The story is set in an alternate reality, much like ours, where a giant tsunami will change the lives of young forever. This novel has several layers and levels of reading, that allows both a teenager as an adult with Nation enjoy, several themes appear throughout the story as faith, religion, the power of belief, cultural invasion, the death or maturation of a young man in extreme circumstances.

Death

I AM DEATH, NOT TAXES. I appear ONLY ONCE (Feet of Clay)

We all die and the author does not mind writing about it. It is a natural process whereby all / as we will at some point and Pratchett, not diminished to the point, it takes a very healthy by including it in their works, including the youth. In the saga of the World Death Disco, who speaks in capital letters, is one of the key characters and stars in several novels.

Much more than it seems

No matter how fast you are traveling light, always finds that darkness has come before and is waiting for (The Reaper)

Do not stay on the surface, depth, read, absorb, assimilate, laughs, reread, enjoy. Do not judge the literary heritage of the English on the cover or by what you say or what you read, you have to give it a try and discover the truth for yourself. We could spend hours talking about the novels, characters, humor and references but if you do not read ... I resisted for a long time it took to read a Pratchett and that they were several years recommending their work. How wrong I was! Why not start earlier? Do not wait, do not be like me, Lee.