There were, inevitably, grim and testing times in those years, and I spent a lot of that period in denial about the full gravity of what was unfolding. We became, of necessity, a sort of double act. Neil Gaiman collaborated with Terry Pratchett on the novel Good Omens.Īfter Terry was diagnosed with Posterior Cortical Atrophy, a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease, in 2007, at the cruelly early age of 59, I began to accompany him at public appearances, reading for him when he no longer could, helping him through interviews on stage as “keeper of the anecdote”. Terry could get quite exasperated with people sometimes, and certainly did not (as people often found themselves saying about him) suffer fools gladly. Just to be clear: there were no actual bodies in need of burying during my more than 20 years of working with Terry Pratchett. For all you have done, for all of the little things and all of the much bigger things and for the burying of the bodies … I thank you. Look after the business and it will look after you. Have a big dinner each year, more if necessary or if a celebration is required, and raise a brandy to my memory and to happy days. Choose a gift every Christmas and birthday. Have those fine pieces of jewellery cast to my design and give them with my love.

I think I was good, although I could have been better, but Terry Pratchett is dead and there are no more words. There were days when I felt I had already gone and so all I wish for now is a cool, quiet room and some peace to gather my addled thoughts.

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