And depressing news to go to sleep on

[sparkindarkness]

It appears Terry Pratchett has early onset Alzheimers

http://www.paulkidby.com/news/index.html

In some ways I cannot think of a greater cruelty - a man of such talent, humour and creativty is not just going to die like all men will, but is going to have that brilliant mind degrade first.

This year has been an evil one for talented fantasy writers. I'm fighting the urge to run out and wrap all my favourite authors in bubble wrap.

Comments

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

Bubble wrap doesn't breathe well, so neither would the writers.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Ah.... this could be a problem.... Anyone know cpr?

[logophilos.livejournal.com]

I hope he dies of something fast and painless (like another stroke), before he loses his sense of self. To have it happen to anyone is appalling, but to a relatively young man of such brilliance, is a tragedy. I can only hope he gets some comfort from the collective good wishes from around the world, because there has been so much grief expressed over this. 'Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke' in this case, is meant literally and unironically.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

It seems like such a strange thing to wish for, but I would never wish that slow, horrible decline on anyone

It's is utter cruelty to anyone - but for someone of such creative talent? That is horrific. I hope that the very real and sincere grief people have felt over this is a comfort to him

[tanarill.livejournal.com]

He aint'nt dead yet, not even gone. And even if he dies tomorrow, he gave the world dozens of good books. That's one hell of a legacy.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

His legacy is sealed in stone... you just want some things to last forever, you know?

[lalajia.livejournal.com]

I hope Robin Hobb looks both ways before crossing the street :(

(is it evil of me to hope Eddings doesn't? but then, his mind's already degraded..)

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

My brother reaqds Eddings books. He objects to em locking them in lead

locking em in lead?

[lalajia.livejournal.com]

Not sure what you mean - the refusal to allow film/games/other commerical tie ins with his works? I can kind of see his point!

Didn't stop me writing fan-fic in his world though ;)
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.fan.eddings.creative/browse_thread/thread/57585310ed88fce3/ff582cdc807b196a?hl=en&lnk=st&q=lalajia+if+a+tree+dies#ff582cdc807b196a

[ladydyani.livejournal.com]

Oh, shit. That breaks my heart.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Doesn't it just?

[ladydyani.livejournal.com]

Now I've got to pull out a bunch of books I haven't read in a while and read them again.

[gnarlycranium.livejournal.com]

It makes no sense. People who heavily USE their brains are at the absolute lowest risk for that sort of thing. I don't get it. ...It's a fluke, the doctors are lying. I like that theory better.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I like that reality better. Yes yes I do

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

It's a different cause of Alzheimer's -- the one that is caused by protein tangles is the one where you can make some sort of difference by using the brain more. The kind PTerry has is related to the small stroke(s) he's had in the past; the end result is similar -- a slow gradual progression of memory loss and ultimately loss of brain function, depending on where and when the next stroke(s) occur.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

But we were just entering a happy denial place... Damn it, we can but hope

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

There are many different causes of strokes, but one of them is atherosclerosis (fatty depositions in the arteries). My grandmother had that, and ultimately died of stroke-related damage. If she had been given cholesterol-lowering drugs or other medication, it might have made the difference. I don't think she knew that there was atherosclerosis, as her blood cholesterol was within normal range IIRC.

There's still time for your brain to get stay healthy! Just, er, avoid all those foods you like. ;-) :-P

[cally7.livejournal.com]

Reading that the first time was one of the few occasions where I cried for someone I, strictly speaking, don't know. The only other occasions I can think of were for Ronnie Barker and Graham Chapman. Even my hero Isaac Azimov I didn't shed a tear for hearing of his death.

It leaves me with a cold lump in my heart and a hope to meet him just once more, while he is still the person I met before. If you understand my meaning.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I sometimes feel kinda wrong about this - I mean, there's an idea that it is somehow wrong or... selfish? - to be really upset about the health of someone you don't actually know and have only actually met at book signings

[jerril]

It's sad news, but I would like to remind people that he is not yet a drooling vegetable. It's natural to want to do a little mourning - it's a way of emotionally preparing yourself for what you see coming - but don't write him off completely.

People are sending him a flood of story ideas, as if everyone online has suddenly decided that PTerry has magically turned into a turnip and can't think any more. That's insulting to the man, who's shown no sign of running out of ideas, and has required PTerry to get helpers to sort through all his email and screen out the ones that try to send him ideas - it stops lawsuits later from people who claim that he "stole" their idea without credit, and it's cutting down on the avalanche of response.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Aye he has time yet.... but it's such a horrible thing to happen to such an intelligent person. Especially Alzheimers - a disease that seems to kill someone while being cruel enough to leave them alive.

I think sending story ideas to an author - especially one of his prolific nature - are an insult, to be honest. Really, it's just so very very wrong