Terry Pratchett

April 2, 1948 – March 12, 2015

Terry Pratchett was the author of the best-selling, long-running Discworld comedic fantasy series. His works have been adapted into film, games, comics, radio, and theater.

Born in Buckinghamshire, UK, Terry Pratchett published his first story, “Business Rivals,” (1962) in his school's magazine at age 13. The story was published commercially as “The Hades Business” the following year.  Pratchett dropped out of high school at 17 to take a job as a journalist at a local paper. He published his first novel, The Carpet People, in 1971. It wouldn't be until 1987, however, that he would be able to quit his day job and become a full-time writer.

In 1983, Pratchett published The Color of Magic, the first book in his popular Discworld fantasy series. The series includes 41 novels, which have been translated in numerous languages and sold worldwide. His works have won many awards including a Carnegie Medal and Locus Awards, as well as lifetime achievement awards from the American Library Association and the World Fantasy Convention. Pratchett was awarded 10 honorary doctorates as well as a knighthood for services to literature.