“I would have liked to keep this one quiet for a little while, but because of upcoming conventions and of course the need to keep my publishers informed, it seems to me unfair to withhold the news,” bestselling fantasy author Terry Pratchett announces on a site for Discworld illustrator Paul Kidby. “I have been diagnosed with a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer’s… We are taking it fairly philosophically down here and possibly with a mild optimism.”
Pratchett says that he’s finishing up one book and getting ready to write the one scheduled after that. As for public appearances, “All other things being equal, I expect to meet most current and, as far as possible, future commitments but will discuss things with the various organisers. Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there’s time for at least a few more books yet.” Specifically, he quips, “I would just like to draw attention to everyone reading the above that this should be interpreted as ‘I am not dead’.”