Sir Terry — A Slip of the Keyboard

Odd that although I'm an admin of this group, I don't post in it much. However, I've just been reading A Slip the Keyboard, Sir Terry's collected non-fiction. Introduction by Neil Gaiman, and otherwise just as the title says. It includes some pieces written very late in his life, dealing with matters arising from his diagnosis. I didn't read these: just too painful. Not that I disagree with him (in fact, I think I agree; certainly that a dignified and painless end should be available to anyone who wants it), but I remember my elder daughter (a great fan) phoning me after the announcement of his death and saying that she wasn't sure she wanted to live on this planet any more. (That was just on nine years ago and she is still here.)

But I loved the other pieces, as a look inside a warm and civilised mind.

The copy I was reading was a library copy. I have one of my own, which is in a box somewhere, and which I bought somewhere in Germany. He got around a bit.

I certainly read - and would recommend reading - Pratchett's pieces on his 'Embuggerance'. His reaction to it is part of who he was.

ETA touchstone: Terry Pratchett, A slip of the keyboard, a title echoed in the posthumous collection of early short stories, A stroke of the pen.

>2 Cynfelyn: "Embuggerance." I like that word for terminal illnesses. It certainly shifts your view of things to be given a deadline (or a possible deadline). We all have one, but we don't really accept it until there is no option. As a person who often observes my own reaction to life and the embuggerance I have been handed, it has been an interesting experience. Not over until it's over!

>1 haydninvienna: I might have to try that one. I don't always agree with his worldview, but I enjoy his observations on human behavior.

>2 Cynfelyn: Hee hadnt thought of that combination but think you are rightI did love this book, glad they were able to discover the stories

btw Just found this article about wintersmith, and how it became a Steely Dan album

https://www.loudersound.com/features/steeleye-span-terry-pratchett-wintersmith

How a Terry Pratchett Discworld novel became a Steeleye Span album

By Paul Sexton( Prog ) published 8 hours ago

The late comic fantasy genius persuaded his favourite band to adapt 2006’s Wintersmith for folk rock, and both parties were delighted with the result

>4 cindydavid4: Interesting article - thanks for posting!

I bought the Wintersmith album when it first came out, and then there was a deluxe version and I bought that too. "The Dark Morris" is one of the tracks I run to. Love it.

As an ex-morris dancer once very much into The golden bough / Religion and the decline of magic vibe, the first time I read Wintersmith and came to the dark morris my reaction was "Of course. That makes all the sense in the world".

However I can't say I rate Steeleye Span's "The Dark Morris Song". If nothing else, dancing morris in a forest is plain stupid. Jethro Tull (especially 'Songs from the wood'), the Watersons (especially 'Frost and fire') and Ashley Hutchings et al's 'Morris On' all come closer to the mark.

But fair play to the morris dancers in the background of the YouTube video. They are accomplished, and give it some energy, even if it is a made up mash-up for the video. They also had some fun with it: I'm sure one of them giving the occasional baton-twirl wasn't part of the agreement.

I didnt know about it at the time; so I had fun listening to the songs now. Thinking about it I wonder if something like that could be done with the last Aching novel (and sir terrys last book) shepherds crown

>4 cindydavid4: Well that sent me down a rabbit hole of Morris dance viewing tonight! I listened to the album first, then I had to watch the live video, then I wanted to get a better idea of Morris dancing because that passage in the book where Tiffany joined in is probably one of the most memorable passages in Discworld for me. I felt it, saw it, heard it. It moved me.
I found this video, which is kind of cool, if quiet.

https://youtu.be/G8C-Tf70bX4?si=23DfCYgLtBJ_2buI

>6 Cynfelyn: You were a Morris dancer? Respect! It looks like much stamina is needed, beyond rhythm and all the other talents that go into it.

>5 tardis: I had missed the deluxe version: added to wish list!