October 2008

Terry Pratchett speaks out about Alzheimer’s at Tory party conference

14 October 2008 (12:56) 2 Comments

Terry Pratchett spoke at the September 29th Tory party conference, opening up about his experience with Alzheimer’s and explaining why the U.K. needs to increase its funding for Alzheimer’s research, concluding his speech to a standing ovation.

The non-conservative Pratchett slowed several times during the speech, saying the disease was “making the letters dance.” He compared Alzheimer’s to a “slow motion car crash.”

“Always, at the back of your mind, [is] the thought that sooner or later you’ll go through the windscreen,” Pratchett said.

He continued his ongoing comparison of Alzheimer’s to cancer, saying that while cancer is no longer a taboo subject, Alzheimer’s is still “stuck in a medieval fog of superstition, misunderstanding, and silence.”

The U.K. faces one million of Alzheimer’s sufferers by 2025, he told the audience, saying “I am just a little wave ahead of the rest. Technically, I have early onset, but growing older behind me are the baby-boomers.”

“We are facing a tsunami,” which will put too much strain the NHS and carers, with effects on the society as a whole, he said.

The cost of care for “a large population of helpless elderly” may be in the billions of pounds if something isn’t done soon, as Pratchett said, “what is unthinkable is to do nothing at all.”

Pratchett asked for more funding for research, saying healthcare and technology must advance if the nation is to deal with the problem. In addition, he said, he wants Alzheimer’s “to be dragged into the light and stay there and seen for what it is–a random disease and no cause for shame.”

He asked the audience, “Is there going to be a government of any stripe willing to put its money where its mouth is … or will dementia remain the most feard disease of the over-55s?”

1. AFP, Sept. 29, 2008.
2. The Press Association, Sept. 29, 2008.

Update: The full text of his speech can be found on PJSMPrints.

Terry Pratchett on Second Life (Updated: transcript)

9 October 2008 (14:40) Comment!

Terry Pratchett answered questions on Second Life in a live chat starting at 3:00 EST today in a promotional event for the release of Nation. Terry Pratchett (second life name TerryPratchett Morpork) introduced himself, after much digital applause, with “Hello everybody! Sorry, I’m new at all of this kind of stuff and so can anyone tell me how to get the rocket launcher?” to much lol-ing.

After some initial banter with the fans (”As far as I am concerned, my books are Second Life.”), the questions and answers started. (The banter never really stopped.) Some highlights:

[12:03] Matty567 Dallagio: Why was “Nation” not set on Discworld?
[12:04] TerryPratchett Morpork: Good question; for one thing, the fact of it being on Discworld would change all kind of things that I could do. After all, Nation is hardly full of laughs. Setting Nation on a thinly disguised “alternate” world does, I think, give it more power and urgency.

[12:05] Matty567 Dallagio: Why a slightly alternate Earth instead of the real one?
[12:07] TerryPratchett Morpork: Because the real one has already happened. I wanted this world, but with a few interesting alterations. One details I’m sure you will have noticed is that Carl Sagan is still alive in that alternate earth.

Full transcript:

[11:59] Robby Pomeray: .-’`'-. APPLAUSE APPLAUSE .-’`'-.
[11:59] Kelli May: *applause*
[11:59] IYan Writer: ***** APPPPPPPLLLLAAAUUUSSSSEEEEEEE***********
[11:59] Carl Blue: YAY
[11:59] Dedric Mauriac: YaY!
[11:59] Salaamata Afarensis: applause!!!!!!!!
[11:59] iAlja Writer applauds!
[11:59] Rain Runningbear: hurrah
[11:59] Matty567 Dallagio: applause
[11:59] Riss Altman: appluses
[11:59] Morrigan Vendetta: hooooo
[11:59] Mocksoup Graves: YAY!
[11:59] DeutroJesaja Gothly: Loud cheers
[11:59] Jo Sapeur claps
[11:59] Ron Khondji: clap clapclap clap
[11:59] Dedric Mauriac: lol
[11:59] Riss Altman: woohoo!
[11:59] Murdock Pennell: clap calp
[11:59] Vernes Veranes: Yaj Terry :D
[11:59] Tioh Fluffy: SQUEAK!
[11:59] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: clap clap

[11:59] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: made it
[11:59] Charis Parx: welcome!
[11:59] Tatsuki Kurosawa: Gday Mate!
[11:59] Brett Usbourne: Isn’t this romantic?
[11:59] You: clap
[11:59] iAlja Writer: lol
[12:00] Nick Gloucester: first question please
[12:00] Nick Gloucester: Vernes you had some good ones
[12:00] Vernes Veranes: jay! :D
[12:00] TerryPratchett Morpork: Hello everybody! Sorry, I’m new at all of this kind of stuff and so can anyone tell me how to get the rocket launcher?
[12:00] Roxette Wise: lol
[12:00] Mocksoup Graves: lol
[12:00] Dedric Mauriac: lol
[12:00] Robby Pomeray: lol…
[12:01] Samantha Poindexter giggles.
[12:01] IYan Writer: I think it’s “5″ ;)

[12:01] Kelli May grins
[12:01] IYan Writer: (plasma on 6 ;) )
[12:01] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: i love the fact we’re all papping Terry and taking pictures as in RL!!
[12:01] Jo Sapeur: sure, I have a few to spare! ^.^
[12:01] SignpostMarv Martin: lol, Terry’s first pulbic appearence in Second Life and he asks for a rocket launcher X-D
[12:01] Vernes Veranes: Must be odd, virtual Q&A
[12:01] TerryPratchett Morpork: …and I’m not really into all of this YourTube into MyFace kind of stuff!
[12:01] Vernes Veranes: But we’re all real behind our pc’s
[12:01] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: I missed the rocket launcher :(
[12:01] Michaelx Beerbaum: Question is if Second life will appear in one of the books
[12:02] Robby Pomeray: i bet, he’ll have a zillion in a minute ;-)
[12:02] Vernes Veranes: I though roundworld was secondlife? :P
[12:02] TerryPratchett Morpork: As far as I am concerned, my books are Second Life.
[12:02] Brett Usbourne: Hi Nick - yep, Gav is here! - so is Zeb
[12:02] Vernes Veranes: yeah
[12:03] Matty567 Dallagio: Why was “Nation” not set on Discworld?
[12:03] TerryPratchett Morpork: Okay, I know that you have to get the shotgun first, but sometimes you get lucky.
[12:03] Multi Gadget v1.55.2 by Timeless Prototype
[12:03] Mocksoup Graves: lol
[12:03] Mocksoup Graves: closest thing I have to a rocket in my inventory… now if you had asked for a nice pair of stillettos…
[12:04] Charis Parx: I have an extra black hat
[12:04] Samantha Poindexter: Indeed. SL tends toward Make Clothes, Not War. :-)
[12:04] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: i have ice skates :(
[12:04] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: and a snowball fight thingy he he
[12:04] Dedric Mauriac: Should we be giving our questions to someone else to hold in a queue?
[12:04] TerryPratchett Morpork: Good question; for one thing, the fact of it being on Discworld would change all kind of things that I could do. After all, Nation is hardly full of laughs. Setting Nation on a thinly disguised “alternate” world does, I think, give it more power and urgency.
[12:05] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: should we IM them to Terry?
[12:05] Michaelx Beerbaum: Most books are so realistic, I guess the banking disaster might be a nice topic
[12:05] Sweetie Saunders: wasnt there a notice from nick in the group as to how to do questions?
[12:05] Matty567 Dallagio: Why a slightly alternate Earth instead of the real one?
[12:06] Carl Blue: IM HERE TO LISTEN TO TERRY NOT EVERYONE ELSES COMMENTS
[12:06] Nick Gloucester: can you im your quiestions to TYerry direct
[12:06] Roxette Wise: We would like to hear the questions too
[12:06] Robby Pomeray: yep
[12:07] Nick Gloucester: yes we will copy them back before answering
[12:07] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: why dont we all IM them to one person then one person asks the questions on our behalf? That would work and that way we would see the questions that terry is answering
[12:07] TerryPratchett Morpork: Because the real one has already happened. I wanted this world, but with a few interesting alterations. One details I’m sure you will have noticed is that Carl Sagan is still alive in that alternate earth.
[12:08] Sweetie Saunders: nods.
[12:08] Nick Gloucester: ok immortality you are nominated
[12:08] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: okay dont mind
[12:09] Nick Gloucester: thanks thats great Imotality….
[12:09] Nick Gloucester: first question please
[12:09] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: okay first question: What was the inspiration behind the book?

[12:11] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Q: Hi Terry, how does it feel to be in a virtual world were everything is possible and wierd is excepted as normal
[12:11] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: hmm thats two questions there and there are a lot more. I shall wait for answers on those two first!
[12:11] Vernes Veranes: Let’s hear his answer first, yes
[12:12] TerryPratchett Morpork: I came up with the idea in 2003 and it was not long before I was going to do a talk and signing in Folyes in London. I was so excited that I told Sarah Lefanu and I’m glad that I did because she is one person who can vouch that I came up with the idea before the big Asian Tsunami.
[12:12] Sweetie Saunders: lol
[12:12] FromRimToHub Morpork: That tsunami is such a copycat
[12:13] April Kohl: haha
[12:13] Sweetie Saunders: bit like making money and the northern rock crisis :)
[12:13] TerryPratchett Morpork: I think I’ve lived in one of those for the past 60 years :o)
[12:13] Kelli May: hehe
[12:14] Charis Parx: yes, it’s weird to be normal these days
[12:14] TerryPratchett Morpork: Another question, please.
[12:14] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Question: Hi Terry, how does it feel to be in a virtual world were everything is possible and wierd is excepted as normal from Carl
[12:14] Charis Parx: ithink he just answered that
[12:14] Sibella Starbrook: When is the next discworld book ?
[12:14] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Have you any thoughts on how your characters (from Nation, Discworld, Carpet People ) SignpostMarvMarvinmight react if they found themselves in Second Life ?
[12:14] TerryPratchett Morpork: I have just answered that one…
[12:15] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: sorry just trying to track them up argggghhh
[12:15] Angel Slocombe shouts: Please submit your questions to ImmortalitySou Ballinger in IM
[12:15] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Any plans to do another non-Discworld book soon? from Charis Parx
[12:16] TerryPratchett Morpork: I think Sam Vimes would be very annoyed, whereas the witches would just deal with it. I have to say that I quite like the idea of Second Life, because it is a totally human activity. Monkeys wouldn’t be able to join.
[12:16] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Q: Q: What are you views on people in second life creating people, places, and things from your books and either giving or selling them to other players. from Dedric Mauiac
[12:16] Jo Sapeur disagrees!
[12:16] SignpostMarv Martin: I think the Librarian might object to that comment :-P
[12:16] IYan Writer: Oook.
[12:17] Jo Sapeur: SL is ape-friendly
[12:17] Matty567 Dallagio: The Librarian Isn’t a Monkey!
[12:17] Tenebrous Pau notes that the librarian is not a monkey ;)
[12:17] Dedric Mauriac: SL is L-Space
[12:17] TerryPratchett Morpork: I did not know about Nation until the idea hit me. I had no advance warning and that is how it happens. Sometimes an idea comes out of nowhere and grabs you by the throat.
[12:17] Sweetie Saunders: M word! ook
[12:17] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: First of all: THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SL! ^.^ (yay!) - Q: I noticed that religion was a major topic in “Nation”, how did the response from readers look so far? from Jo Sapeur
[12:17] SignpostMarv Martin: though one wonders if the Librarian would find SL as easy to navigate as L-Space…
[12:19] Dedric Mauriac: If the librarian is dislexic, it wouldn’t be a problem SL/LS Space-L
[12:19] TerryPratchett Morpork: It would be interesting to see what the law could do about Second Life! Regrettably for you, copyright and trademarks exist everywhere, but in reality I see this sought of thing as fan activity.
[12:19] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Do you think Moist Von Lipwig would have managed the banking system better than those currently in charge? from Ciaran Laval
[12:20] Meester Freese: Such a good idea to publish a non-Discworld book in the 25th year of Discworld.
[12:21] TerryPratchett Morpork: Religion; fantasy writers like religion. It’s so interesting to play with and it is a great forum for asking questions.
[12:21] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Terry we know you are a fan of computer games like Alien vs Predator, what do you make of Second life which doesn’t appear to have a plot or goal? from Trago Mills
[12:22] Sweetie Saunders: waves to Trago!
[12:22] Vernes Veranes: /nod
[12:22] TerryPratchett Morpork: It seems that, primitive as it is, the Discworld economy is considerably more stable than the one here. And, come to think about it, Moist’s solution to the problem was not a long way from what has been done over here…
[12:23] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Question for Pterry: “You haven’t written a non-Discworld book for a while. What kinds of mental adjustments did you have to make as you wrote it?” Question from
[12:24] You: that’s from www.FromRimToHub.com (me, if you couldn’t tell)
[12:24] Angel Slocombe shouts: For new arrivals - Please submit your questions to ImmortalitySou Ballinger in IM
[12:24] Sweetie Saunders: Elizabeth?
[12:24] TerryPratchett Morpork: Oblivion is my current computer game of choice, specifically because we (me and Rob) discovered modding, and I get a thrill from the thought that thousands of people write some wonderful mods and distribute them at no cost.
[12:25] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: What are you views on people in second life creating people, places, and things from your books and either giving or selling them to other players. from Dedric sorry folks I have just realised how to do this easliy so give me a chance to catch up o your questions :(
[12:25] Dedric Mauriac: I think he already answered :)

[12:25] TerryPratchett Morpork: I answered that one as well…
[12:25] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: DeutroJesaja Gothly: I read Carpe Jugulum when I was studying to become a missionary and reverend. How did you get the Quite Rev. Oats so right?
[12:25] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: April Kohl: If you haven’t already got too many questions, could I ask: “Was there any novel you found particularly difficult to write?”
[12:25] Meester Freese: Yay, Rob!
[12:25] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: sorry :(
[12:26] Vernes Veranes: It’s ok, don’t panic
[12:26] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: just as it was going so well he he
[12:26] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: its my first time at this be gentle with me
[12:27] TerryPratchett Morpork: Probably it was Nation. Probably because I wrote the first draft in six months and then spent the next six months wrestling it into the right shape.
[12:27] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: okay did you answer both questions there was one after another
[12:28] Dedric Mauriac: It’s best if it is in the shape of a book
[12:28] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: on that occassion?
[12:28] Tenebrous Pau: that helps dedric :)
[12:28] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: heres the next one
[12:28] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Kelli May: I hope this isn’t too morbid, but a lot of the characters in Nation question why fate or the gods have inflicted various trials on them. Is this a question that’s on your mind these days?
[12:28] Free Radar HUD v1.1 by Crystal Gadgets
[12:28] TerryPratchett Morpork: For obvious reasons, mostly because I am the poster boy for the battle against Alzheimer’s, there have been quite a number of days when I have been unable to write a word.
[12:28] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Vernes Veranes: What was the inspiration behind the book?
[12:29] Sweetie Saunders: ty for what you do.
[12:29] Sweetie Saunders: poor terry.
[12:29] Jo Sapeur: ty Terry
[12:29] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Jo Sapeur: How long does it usually take you to write a book?
[12:29] Ladyjane Plympton: oops sorry
[12:29] IYan Writer: :( best wishes in your battle from all of us, I’m sure
[12:30] TerryPratchett Morpork: Err, no. I don’t believe in Gods.
[12:30] Carl Blue: not even small ones?
[12:30] Vernes Veranes: :)
[12:30] Gellan Glenelg: but do they believe in you?
[12:30] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: have you answered Jo’s question terry?
[12:30] Vernes Veranes: If they read books they do :P
[12:30] Jo Sapeur: … I think a better question would be: Do you believe in humans?
[12:31] Dedric Mauriac: not even small gods
[12:31] Harmony Linden wonders if Terry believes in potatoes?
[12:31] Tenebrous Pau: lol harmony
[12:31] Sweetie Saunders: ofc :)
[12:31] TerryPratchett Morpork: For Unseen Academicals I won’t even hazard a guess. But for the last several years I have only done one book a year because of all the other distractions placed on an author’s life. Put it another way: Don’t ask a man to reply to every email AND do a full thousand words a day :-)
[12:31] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Carl Blue: Which of your characters do you feel is most like you?
[12:32] Vernes Veranes: ooh, good one
[12:32] TerryPratchett Morpork: Yes, I actually have a small potato in my coat pocket. In time of hunger a potato is more likely to be more useful than prayer.
[12:32] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: someone somewhere owes me a cup of cofee
[12:32] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Salaamata Afarensis: my wife Ab (sadly at work) asks: it seems from reading the early Discworld novels that you grew to respect characters like Granny Weatherwax and Sam Vimes the more time you spent with them. These two characters, in particular, have come to represent standards of ethical behavior. Do you find that your relationship with the characters in the books has changed over time?
[12:33] Sweetie Saunders: nice question!
[12:33] TerryPratchett Morpork: There is probably a bit of me in all the major characters. I would like to be like Sam Vimes, but deep in my heart I know I am Rincewind.
[12:33] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: thanks Harmony
[12:33] Samantha Poindexter: Hee.
[12:33] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Ciaran Laval: Would you like to see more of your books repoduced on film in the fashion they haven been by SKY?
[12:33] Tenebrous Pau is totally Rincewind lol
[12:33] Harmony Linden: Closest I can come to coffee, Immortality. :)
[12:34] Dedric Mauriac: we all have a bit of rincewind in us
[12:34] Vernes Veranes: let’s let him answer a few questions first.
[12:35] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: :)
[12:35] Jo Sapeur: stupid question: has anyone told Terry how to open the chat history?
[12:35] SignpostMarv Martin is keeping track of the answers to questions on http://www.flickr.com/groups/terry-pratchett-in-sl/discuss/72157607890478353/
[12:35] Jo Sapeur: (CTRL + H)
[12:36] TerryPratchett Morpork: That is a good question. It seems to me that if you get a character just right, they start doing the work for you. It is as if they become a subroutine in your own brain and you are right when you point out the similarity between Granny and Vimes; you might notice that both of them seem at every stage to be fighting some internal demon.
[12:36] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Vernes Veranes: Has your experience with discworld influenced the nation book (and how)?
[12:36] Jo Sapeur: heh, I didn’t want to ask about that ^.^
[12:37] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Ineed more questions….
[12:37] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: have one more lined up
[12:37] Angel Slocombe shouts: Please submit your questions to ImmortalitySou Ballinger in IM
[12:38] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: perhaps I shouldnt have said anything he he
[12:38] Angel Slocombe hears all LOL
[12:38] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: okay okay I am stacked again hang fire now until I get through this lot
[12:38] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: thank you for your patience :)
[12:38] TerryPratchett Morpork: Yes, but I don’t have any particular hopes for Hollywood. Besides, I like the British stuff, even though the budget is much lower than it might be in the States, I can get involved at just about every stage in the production. To an author, that is worth a great deal.
[12:38] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: DeutroJesaja Gothly: I know you don’t belive in gods, but do you mind if books or quotes from your books is used in Christan teaching for young people?
[12:39] Sweetie Saunders: hanging around set makes your feet hurt though!
[12:39] Jo Sapeur: don’t let Hollywood botch your stories, Terry :)
[12:39] Robby Pomeray: George Clooney would give a great Vimes;-)
[12:40] Jo Sapeur: I’m gso lad that you don’t let them butcher the Discworld so far
[12:40] TerryPratchett Morpork: Not at all. I have no problem with the existence of Jesus Christ, who I think was very probably a wise man and a compassionate teacher. It’s just that I don’t believe in the same god that he believed in :-)[12:40] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Vernes Veranes: Where in Second Life can I buy a complete SL-version of the book? Is Second Life even concidered a Niche market?
[12:40] DeutroJesaja Gothly: ty.
[12:41] SignpostMarv Martin would prefer Pete Postlethwaite for Sam Vimes
[12:41] Samantha Poindexter imagines trying to read a novel on an HUD and shudders.
[12:41] TerryPratchett Morpork: As an aside, myself and Rob would like to wish Lisa and Jason ‘Discworld Anthony’ our very best wishes on the birth of their baby Isobel.
[12:41] Charis Parx: Oh wow!
[12:41] Charis Parx: Congrats to them!
[12:41] IYan Writer: congrats!
[12:42] Jo Sapeur: …that won’t work, Verne - all content in SL is technically owned by Linden Lab
[12:42] DeutroJesaja Gothly: Congrats
[12:42] Sweetie Saunders: wtg Jason and Lisa
[12:42] Salaamata Afarensis: congrats!
[12:42] Angel Slocombe: Not true Jo. Linden Lab respect IP rights.

[12:42] Samantha Poindexter: Is NOT, Jo. Leaving intellectual property in the hands of its creators is one reason SL’s taken off.
[12:42] Dedric Mauriac: The IP of that content though is owned by the authors
[12:42] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: has Vernes qwuestion been answered?
[12:42] Vernes Veranes: Jo: actually, they stated that the creator has copyright of its own creation
[12:42] IYan Writer: (not so Jo, creators retain IP - some books have already been published in SL, too)
[12:42] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: sorry about typos typing too fast!
[12:42] TerryPratchett Morpork: All I can tell you is that my publishers are watching this event. They are probably disguised as palm trees.
[12:42] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: he he
[12:42] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Carl Blue: Whats you fave book, not your own?
[12:43] Salaamata Afarensis: lol
[12:43] Robby Pomeray: lol…
[12:43] Sweetie Saunders: what is Colin disguised as?
[12:43] Harmony Linden always was suspicious of those Linden trees.
[12:43] Dedric Mauriac: Let’s carve some canoes!
[12:44] TerryPratchett Morpork: Colin would be disguised as a bottle of wine.
[12:44] Sweetie Saunders: lol
[12:44] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: guys dont ask any more questions until I ask you am conscious of time
[12:44] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: What kinds of mental adjustments did you have to make as you wrote it?” Question from www.FromRimToHub.com.
[12:44] Elizabeth Burleigh: a nice cabernet, maybe?
[12:44] Sweetie Saunders: two bottles of excellent red!!
[12:44] Sweetie Saunders: i believe i can hear terry laughing?
[12:44] Charis Parx: and Rob is hiding in the mic
[12:45] Dedric Mauriac: oh, i want a gesture with terry laughing
[12:45] TerryPratchett Morpork: Actually, maybe a Pina Colada. With an umbrella.
[12:45] Gail Linden: hehe
[12:45] Sweetie Saunders: lol
[12:45] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Willi Reino: when you read for relaxation, who are your favourite authors?
[12:45] Charis Parx: what a picture that is
[12:45] Sweetie Saunders: Bit blue oyster club?
[12:46] TerryPratchett Morpork: I have a whole library shelf of favourite books. However, I still think that one of the funniest and best works of fiction was the “Evolution Man” by Roy Lewis. My favourite bedtime reading at the moment is “Feeding Nelson’s Navy” by Janet MacDonald. Believe me, it’s considerably more thrilling than the title might suggest.
[12:46] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Charis Parx: If you had a day with no demands on you at all, what would you do with it, BESIDES writing. :)
[12:47] Dedric Mauriac: no writing? that sounds like a demand
[12:48] Sweetie Saunders: sounds like a punishment.
[12:48] TerryPratchett Morpork: What do you mean, besides writing?
[12:48] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Wai Kamachi: Do you plot your novels?
[12:48] Samantha Poindexter grins.
[12:48] Charis Parx: Hah. I was trying for the answer I couldn’t predict
[12:48] Charis Parx: I failed!
[12:48] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: I’m guessing that was the answer ….!
[12:48] Sweetie Saunders: smiles at Charis.
[12:49] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Samantha Poindexter: Any chance we’ll ever see Esk of Equal Rites again?
[12:49] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: whoops sorry pressed say!
[12:49] DeutroJesaja Gothly: Oh, I do hope so
[12:51] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: dont worry will repeat question after terry answers wais first
[12:52] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Nick I hope Terry can stay a bit longer as answering questions in text takes longer than voice and I have a number still lined up
[12:53] Sweetie Saunders: Sandra may kill Rob though!! :)
[12:53] Dedric Mauriac: maybe he crashed
[12:53] TerryPratchett Morpork: Believe it or not, I seldom read a novel these days. Nearly all the books in the 3ft pile beside my bed are social histories or the biographies of intereting, if not important, people. I’m also a sucker for the kind of books with titles such as “Picky – The History of 500 Years of Snot in Britian”.
[12:53] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Samantha Poindexter: Any chance we’ll ever see Esk of Equal Rites again?
[12:53] Mocksoup Graves: lol
[12:53] Samantha Poindexter laughs.
[12:53] Vernes Veranes: wow
[12:53] Malburns Writer: lol
[12:54] Sweetie Saunders: lol
[12:54] Dedric Mauriac: is that a real book?
[12:54] Jo Sapeur: … someone wrote _that_ book?? O.O
[12:54] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: i must look that book up my last one was pies and prejudice!
[12:54] TerryPratchett Morpork: Pies and Prejudice - I like that :o)
[12:55] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: by stuart marconi!
[12:55] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: very good
[12:55] TerryPratchett Morpork: I think that if the last Tiffany Aching book, which will be called “I shall Wear Midnight”, gets finished it will probably re-introduce Esk.
[12:55] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: DeutroJesaja Gothly: Howcome everybody knows a Granny and a Nanny?
[12:55] Vernes Veranes: yes!
[12:56] Samantha Poindexter: YAY!
[12:56] Salaamata Afarensis: omg! yay! Tiffany!!
[12:57] TerryPratchett Morpork: Because they are a widespread social sterotype and I am an observant author.
[12:57] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Dedric Mauriac: What fan art has impressed you the most?
[12:58] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: even my greek cypriot granny was a weatherwax down to the nose!
[12:58] Vernes Veranes: Can’t possibly seen it all :P
[12:58] TerryPratchett Morpork: Sorry. I really can’t remember.
[12:58] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: April Kohl: Many writers and publishers in modern magazines talk about how much more difficult it is to get a first novel sold now than it was even ten years ago. Do you think you had it easier than the new kids on the block?
[12:58] Rain Runningbear: deutro is marrying a Nanny act alike :)
[12:59] Harmony Linden: Argh, gotta go back to work. This has been fabulous! Thanks, Terry and the folks who put this together!
[12:59] Salaamata Afarensis: lol Rain
[12:59] Sweetie Saunders: see you harmony!
[12:59] Jo Sapeur: byebye Harmony
[12:59] Vernes Veranes waves
[12:59] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: bye say hello to Glenn
[12:59] Angel Slocombe: LOl Harmony you’re a Linden you’re AT work hehe *waves*
[12:59] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: and babbage et al
[12:59] Gail Linden: bye
[13:00] Nick Gloucester: bye
[13:01] TerryPratchett Morpork: I don’t think it was all that easier when I started, but the parameters have changed. If you can go on a comedy show and are on the telly long enough, and sometimes not for all that long, getting a novel published appears to be very easy and sometime you don’t even need to write it.
[13:01] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: SignpostMarv Martin: Would Terry consider a Discworld-based MMO, perhaps using something like OpenSim as the underlying tech ?
[13:01] Sweetie Saunders: two words naomi campbell lol
[13:01] SignpostMarv Martin pokes Immortality to paste the first part of that question as well plz
[13:01] Dedric Mauriac: John Stewart?
[13:02] Vernes Veranes: first part sounds cool anyway
[13:02] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: oh gosh sorry
[13:02] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: SignpostMarv Martin: for Terry: There haven’t been any full-length official Discworld games since Discworld Noir in 1999- now that Discworld films are being made, are there any plans for new games to be made ?
[2008/10/09 12:42] SignpostMarv Martin: ^as an addition,
[2008/10/09 12:43] SignpostMarv Martin: Would Terry consider a Discworld-based MMO, perhaps using something like OpenSim as the underlying tech ?
[13:02] TerryPratchett Morpork: What is an MMO? What is OpenSim? Can we accept for a moment that I’m not that engrossed by online activities?
[13:02] SignpostMarv Martin: lol
[13:02] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: sorry
[13:02] Mocksoup Graves: hahhah
[13:03] SignpostMarv Martin: Massively Multiplayer Online game
[13:03] SignpostMarv Martin: lots of Discworld fans running around the back of the disk of a virtual Great A’Tuin
[13:03] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Carl Blue: Will you be coming to live with us here in SL?
[13:03] TerryPratchett Morpork: Then no.
[13:03] Vernes Veranes: Aww chucks
[13:03] SignpostMarv Martin: OpenSim: open source Second Life server
[13:03] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Jo Sapeur: Is there a chance that you will return to SL for another Q&A session? I have several friends who are mourning because they couldn’t come after the the sim was full.
[13:04] Dedric Mauriac: man, i would love to play around an an ankh morpork, or grab a hotdog from CMOT Dibbler
[13:04] Vernes Veranes: We have a sim of Morpork now, but that’s not what you mean I think
[13:04] DeutroJesaja Gothly: A warm canine?
[13:04] Charis Parx: Dedric - that might be the last thing you ever do, though!
[13:04] Samantha Poindexter: I think he means a sausage inna bun. :-)
[13:04] DeutroJesaja Gothly: Sound very CMOT
[13:05] Sweetie Saunders: another visit would be really great!
[13:05] Sibella Starbrook: rat on a stick
[13:05] Sweetie Saunders: someone already built the Cloning Artificer shop
[13:05] Salaamata Afarensis: there is “Rat Onna Stick” in sl :D
[13:05] Sweetie Saunders: it had Bernard smoke rings coming out the chimney
[13:06] TerryPratchett Morpork: Early in 2003 we had approaches from about 5 or 6 games developers. I told them all to go away and knock up something that would show me that they had a grip on what Discworld would be about, and none of them came back. I’m not unhappy about that. Certainly I would require a new Discworld game to be as immersive as Thief II and with the sound and graphics suitable for the times.
[13:06] Malburns Writer: wonders how many discworld inspired avatars there are? esp after graphic novel version
[13:06] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Dedric Mauriac: Have you ever drempt that you were in one of your novels?
[13:07] Vernes Veranes: I like that answer :)
[13:07] Salaamata Afarensis: nice question!
[13:07] Sweetie Saunders: hear hear!
[13:07] SignpostMarv Martin: ooh. that’s a good answer. Especially taking into account that Terry is a fan of Oblivion, I think we can rest assured if there’s a new game, it would be really good :-)
[13:08] Vernes Veranes: indeed!
[13:08] Rain Runningbear: indeed
[13:08] SignpostMarv Martin: ^better wait for the possibility of a good game than have a rushed tie-in with one of the Sky films
[13:08] TerryPratchett Morpork: I think you’re going to have to improve the graphics considerably before I come back to Second Life. The graphics in Oblivion allow you to see the graphics in the bottom of a pond and I think that came out in 2002.
[13:08] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: i havnt seen the films :(
[13:08] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Mocksoup Graves: [12:48] Siyu Suen: Both you and Neil Gaiman’s visions of Death are pretty similar in some ways. They’re very human and more friendly than the typical grim reaper image. I know you two have worked together, did you guys talk about Death at all in morbid moments?
[12:49] Mocksoup Graves: Question from Siyu for Terry
[13:08] Adri Saarinen: For fans, by fans is the way to go for games, but it does sometimes proculde the great graphic quality
[13:09] Tenebrous Pau: hehe… Good Omens movie PLEASE thanks… lol :)
[13:09] Sweetie Saunders: there was a great panel in Noreascon with Terry and Neil
[13:09] Sweetie Saunders: about Death
[13:09] Lasynda Shichiroji: Are there any plans to do another book with Mr. Gaiman? I absolutely *love* Good Omens
[13:09] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: I feel I know so little :(
[13:09] Lasynda Shichiroji: oooo a Good Omens Movie that would be really cool :)
[13:10] TerryPratchett Morpork: No, but I have often dreamt of scenes, usually just before I wake up.
[13:10] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Sibella Starbrook: the people on nation are asking if there is a chnace terry can pop pver there at the end ?
[13:10] Jo Sapeur: I hope Gail can relay that message to the other Lindens ;)
[13:11] Samantha Poindexter: Well, if you crank up the graphics settings here, things can be better, but, yeah, a platform in which all content is user-created and streamed on the fly is inherently more limited than one with a more constrained library you can install up front…
[13:11] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: as every Terry is just as popular in SL as in RL
[13:11] TerryPratchett Morpork: desire. The same could be said about Mort.
[13:11] Dedric Mauriac wonders how long it will be before he sees avatars looking like Terry Pratchett
[13:11] Sweetie Saunders: and we truly appreciate just how available you make yourself to your mad fans Terry ty
[13:11] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Do you think virtual environments will play a large role for the marketing of books (of fiction)?
[13:12] Carl Blue: You cant fall in love in a game.
[13:12] Sweetie Saunders: the answers are quite delayed.
[13:12] Sweetie Saunders: but you can fall in love in SL
[13:12] SignpostMarv Martin: coughSLisnotagamecough
[13:12] Samantha Poindexter: …you can’t?
[13:12] April Kohl: Carl: Tell that to the people who got married in WoW
[13:12] Willi Reino: so where *can* you fall in love???
[13:12] Sweetie Saunders: i know… looks at wedding ring.
[13:13] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: sorry has Terry answered last question?
[13:13] Vernes Veranes: No
[13:13] SignpostMarv Martin: I have no idea which question Terry’s last message was in response to
[13:13] Charis Parx: the dream one
[13:14] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: I forgot to say who asked it. Sorry to whoever it was :(
[13:14] TerryPratchett Morpork: Good Omens movie? Regrettably people with enough money do not share your
[13:14] Sweetie Saunders: cant we all send terry gilliam some cash?
[13:14] Tenebrous Pau: if only that’d do it :)
[13:14] SignpostMarv Martin: Charis: this one: “[13:11] TerryPratchett Morpork: desire. The same could be said about Mort.”
[13:14] TerryPratchett Morpork: desire. The same could be said about Mort.
[13:14] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: okay so shall I go back through the list?
[13:14] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: or plough on with the next one?
[13:14] Tenebrous Pau: ahhh understand now :D
[13:15] Vernes Veranes: My question is still to be answered Sou
[13:15] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: I shall go onto next question Terry
[13:15] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: Vernes Veranes: Do you think virtual environments will play a large role for the marketing of books (of fiction)?
[13:15] Elizabeth Burleigh: just wait til I win that lottery jackpot ;)
[13:15] Vernes Veranes smiles
[13:15] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: there you go vernes …!
[13:15] TerryPratchett Morpork: History says that Terry Gilliam is a worrying man to give money to :-)
[13:15] Sweetie Saunders: yeah…
[13:15] Tenebrous Pau: lol yes :)
[13:15] Sweetie Saunders: but we can hope.
[13:15] DeutroJesaja Gothly: Lol!
[13:15] Jo Sapeur: I guess film producers still try to remove Death from the movie scripts for proposed discworld movies
[13:16] DeutroJesaja Gothly: That’s just silly
[13:16] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: hmm where would quentin tarantino be without death and destruction
[13:16] DeutroJesaja Gothly: My kids love Death in Hogfather
[13:16] Lasynda Shichiroji: yeah Death is the coolest character
[13:16] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: probably writing scripts for childrens tv
[13:16] Tenebrous Pau: … sesame street probly
[13:16] Tenebrous Pau: hehe
[13:16] Dedric Mauriac: I like the name of deaths horse
[13:18] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: ive just realised I havent asked a single question :(
[13:18] TerryPratchett Morpork: Folks. We are now overtime on this chat and so I’m off to hang about on Nation island for a bit. Cheerio.
[13:18] Vernes Veranes: ok
[13:18] DeutroJesaja Gothly: Farewell for now….
[13:18] Tenebrous Pau: thanks so much Terry :D
[13:18] Willi Reino: bye terry

[13:18] Murdock Pennell: bye
[13:18] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: I have two more questipns lined up :(
[13:18] Vernes Veranes: Bye terry
[13:18] Salaamata Afarensis: Thank you so much!! :DD
[13:18] DeutroJesaja Gothly: Thank you
[13:18] GaiusJulius Drut: Tahnky Terry
[13:18] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: oh well sorry folks
[13:18] Samantha Poindexter: Thanks for coming, and answering, and putting up with us! :-)
[13:18] Willi Reino applauds!
[13:18] Malburns Writer: Many thanks terry
[13:18] Carl Blue: thank yo terry
[13:18] IYan Writer: bye Terry, thanks for being here!
[13:18] Malburns Writer APPLAUDS!!!
[13:18] Elizabeth Burleigh: ta, Terry!
[13:18] Roxette Wise: Thanks Terry
[13:18] April Kohl: Bye, Terry. Thanks for coming and putting up with us
[13:18] Sweetie Saunders: ty so much terry
[13:18] Morrigan Vendetta: byes and thank you
[13:18] Malburns Writer APPLAUDS!!!
[13:18] Robby Pomeray: thank you Terry :-)
[13:18] Charis Parx: Good to see you here!
[13:18] Salaamata Afarensis: apppplausse!!!!!!!
[13:18] Robby Pomeray: .-’`'-. APPLAUSE APPLAUSE .-’`'-.
[13:18] ImmortalitySou Ballinger: I will send them to Nick
[13:18] Roxette Wise: Applauds!!!
[13:18] Jo Sapeur: Take care Terry and thanks for joining us today ^.^
[13:18] iAlja Writer: bye, thank you!
[13:18] April Kohl cheers
[13:18] GaiusJulius Drut claps

More pictures are available at the flickr group.