On Sir Terry Pratchett

[raven]

I don't have a lot to say about Terry Pratchett's death that hasn't been said already, because of course he was important to so many people, and for so many reasons that are basically the same reason, which is: he was kind, in an unkind world. But here is a bit from The Wee Free Men:

"'Tis the First Sight and Second Thoughts ye have, and 'tis a wee gift an' a big curse to ye. You see and hear what others canna', the world opens up its secrets to ye, but ye're always like the person at the party with the wee drink in the corner who cannae join in. There's a little bitty bit inside ye that willnae melt and flow."

Whether I can see what others can't, I don't know, and I doubt it, in a world so large and unknowable, with so many others - and the rest isn't always true, these days, even. I have learnt the trick of it, with the right people at the right times - but long ago when I was fourteen and fifteen and twenty-three and had always the other self within watching, and thinking, that would not melt and flow, well, this was a kindness beyond kindness, and I carried it.

Along with Tiffany Aching, the girl who was a witch, who was so brave, so pragmatic, so inhabited by place and people, and whose name meant land under wave; and the angels who rose up, they rose feet up, they rose heads up, they rose tits up, all the little angels, they rise up high.

Comments

[msilverstar]

I was too old to read Diskworld as a kid but teengirl loves them and is reading all of them, in order.

Plus, Tiffany's name is Tiffany! When all the middle-aged guys made fun of the teenage girl names like that, Pratchett elevated it.

[raven]

I remember reading an interview that he'd named her that in defence of al the Tiffanies of the world, and also because it had occurred to him that given enough time, that's what the nursing homes will be full of! Old ladies called Tiffany and Tracey and Bryony and Saffy. :)

[highfantastical.livejournal.com]

There are so many things I want to say in response to this post, and don't have the words for. <3

this was a kindness beyond kindness

I love that. Oh, yes.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

<3 <3

[bibliotropic.livejournal.com]

<3 Yes.