Sir Terry Pratchett: 'Imagination, not intelligence, made us human'

Sir Terry Pratchett is one of the modern world's most renowned authors. The 38 tales of the Discworld series, set in a strange yet strangely familiar world on the back of a giant turtle, have defied the limits of genre and attracted adoring fans around the world. Translated into 32 languages and selling over 60 million copies worldwide, Pratchett received a knighthood in 2009. He has been winner of the British Science Fiction Award, the Carnegie Medal, the Writers Guild Award and the Smarties Prize Silver Award. He is also Britain's most shoplifted author.
In this exclusive Melbourne appearance, the satirist, novelist and much-loved icon joins Michael Williams for a broad, entertaining discussion at RMIT's Storey Hall. Touching on Pratchett's early work as a journalist, his first forays into fiction and his thoughts on death and religion, the author also shares insights into his stories and characters.
Pratchett opens with a preview - read by his 'insistent', Rob Wilkins - of Sam Vimes' exploits from the forthcoming 39th Discworld book.

[@88norimaki]

"A man is not dead while his name is still spoken." GNU Terry Pratchett

[@NothingCanDescribeUs]

GNU Terry Pratchett

[@CdrSamVimes]

GNU

[@shadriX]

GNU Terry Pratchett 😭

[@INCSlayer]

@@shadriX GNU Terry Pratchett

[@tishamorgan8388]

GNU Sir Terry Pratchett. You had a brilliant mind, and brought joy to those of us who cherished your books. you will always live in our hearts as well.

[@tinahurley743]

I saw Mr Prachett in my dream last night, mainly his book:) 📖 just remembered his hands am face framed in beard and that’s it. Had to look through a ton of pictures until I finally recognised him on one of the book covers, saying something … a keyboard. I intent to purchase this book soon once I get my salary. ❤

[@jhwheuer]

Miss him fiercely almost every day.

[@grahamtimms5127]

Sir Terry Prattchet is a reason why people read. He is immensely missed.

[@sealyoness]

Indeed still. But he lives on when I confuse my kids and make my friends laugh alluding to a Pratchettism. He helped me, believe it or not, because well, Death of Rats, who was the type to run naked through a sprinkler (and STP's comment, 'A highly over-rated activity'). Or Susan: 'Let's go clubbing.' Looking at the world with gallows humor made rough times less painful.

[@Geth-Who]

1:05:25 "I read all the best writers." Yes, he did, and now when people say that, they mean him.

[@mickesmanymovies]

Terry Pratchett's death is the only non-relation death that I have ever cried over. My relationship with the Discworld series is the longest and closest literature-relationship I have ever had. I have to date read all of the Discworld books twice, most of them thrice. When Sir Terry passed away, I had just bought but not yet read 'Raising Steam', and it took me a full year before I managed to pick it up and read it. Because I knew that once I finished it, there would literally be nothing left! I will miss this man forever!

[@silverjohn6037]

I have one of his books left unread. Just in case I'm ever in the same mood he was at the end. I'll read the book and decide if it's really that bad.

[@sunnyjay1]

He and Robin Williams left us before I would ever be done enjoying their being with us.

[@beardwierd2783]

@@silverjohn6037I have his last book unread. people have told me that it is ridiculous not to read it but somehow it makes sense in my head.

[@ankurnarayan]

@@beardwierd2783that book was the only thing that healed me after his death. It was his goodbye to us. And I’m forever grateful.

[@commanderkruge]

Amongst all the minds I came across in this world his was the most ... human. Yah, I know, it's a rippoff of Wrath of Khan, but I mean it. This little man from England understood humans - or better: what it's like to BE human with all it's ups and downs - better than anyone else I've come across in the past 45 years. That's the solid ground on which his stories are built and I believe that's why it's always such a joy to come back to them once in a while. His characters have heart and for so many readers they've become old friends over time because of that.

[@susansargies2043]

He lightens your soul, by making you realize that everyday you are alive you are in someway touching another person's life, even if you just say hello to them.

[@uncledodge9396]

I met Sir Terry three times and I'm proud that the third time he remembered my name. GNU Sir Terry. Mind How You Go.

[@nixhixx]

He. Was. A. Genius!

[@PolinaS-gq1te]

He still is. Even though he'd left for the other side.

[@uncledodge9396]

When I met him in Norwich we chatted about the Wee Free Men (and my cats), in Oxford we spoke about Vimes, in Cambridge he remembered my name and asked after my cats. GNU Sir Terry.

[@chucknorris7900]

I'll always regret not trying to find an opportunity to meet this man in person, after what seems like a lifetime of reading his work... I never met him, but I shall miss this man infinitely

[@andy6576]

I met him three times and he really didn't disappoint; friendly, witty, awesome.

[@monkeymox2544]

Exactly how I feel - I don't know why I never took the opportunity to go to a signing or a conference, I suppose I just assumed I'd have plenty of time.

[@gnenian]

I did. In Glasgow's Waterson's. He was alone at the table. I had all his books. I TOTALLY blanked him.

[@davethompson3326]

A lovely bloke, angry about all the right sort of things for a truly caring man

[@darthslackus499]

Well there is a certain wisdom to the saying: 'You should never meet your heroes'

[@emg910728]

Thud! Was my accidental entry to Disc World. I was at an airport and grabbed a book from a terminal store nearly at random. Set off a new world perspective and life long love.

[@JIMBO8472]

there are not enough words to say how much I love Sir Terry, he gave us such a magical world to escape to

[@jenb6412]

This man and his books probably saved my life growing up. I learned so much about the world and people through reading the Discworld books and I feel I'm a better person for it. His work taught me VALUES, MORALS and humour! He taught me that belief is just as powerful as truth, and the worth of a good footnote. :)

[@Mmccwill]

"No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away..." Terry Pratchett. I can't quite decide if the section between 39:45 - 42:42 of this video is mortifying or pride-inducing. Either way, an honour.

[@lucymiller6616]

So perhaps for such people reincarnation must wait, for the surface to become placid.

[@vaughanellis7866]

The World is a much, much smaller place without the writing genius of Sir Terry Pratchett, every book of which I have read and reread, always finding more nuggets of of humour.

[@susiefairfield7218]

My favorite human being "Nac Mac Feegle! The Wee Free Men! Nae king! Nae quin! Nae laird! Nae master! We willna' be fooled again!" Love you Terry Pratchett and miss you very much 🌹

[@munstrumridcully]

I miss you Terry!

[@henningdamberg2206]

So do I

[@fabulousmyriad267]

Give it up for Rob Wilkins reading the passage from "Snuff" with all the inflections and asides and unbridled enthusiasm and giggles.

[@lachlainn88]

It saddens me to see him in this state of deterioration and I salute him for fighting right through this thing, not just for him but for us all. I think Terry has been Shaking Hands With Death for many years now. I doubt he'll be afraid when his timer runs out and I know he'll have paved the road to not only a cure for diseases like his, but also walked the first step on the behalf of humanity to humane assisted death.

[@allena1426]

Uu by by yt?

[@someboy89]

😢😏😊 so thoughtful

[@Ray_D_Tutto]

Interviewer is brilliant. I usually can't stand them but this one does the job right.

[@samuraichilton]

Jedi E.T i thought so too

[@jimbyrne1844]

I agree! I think he does an excellent job. I’m particularly impressed with how he listens attentively, and he doesn’t Interrupt Sir Terry or even complete his sentences or attempt to ‘Help out’ when he is becomes particularly hesitant. I’m not being facetious, I’ve seen too many interviews where I end up thinking ‘Just let them speak!’

[@Durdle]

STP : "You're doing better than Most."

[@FrankPrivette]

@@Durdle that part did me in 🥹

[@sburch1529]

I was very sad to hear of his illness and eventual death because it was not only Sir Terry that died. Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Rincewind, Commander Grimes, Nobby, the Patrician, CMOT Dibbler....I miss them all.

[@dcthief]

If I had the choice to meet anyone in history who’s work I love with all my heart, it would be Sir Terry.

[@positivelygeeky7680]

Him or Billy Connolly for me

[@reginaldstephens4819]

Sir Terry Pratchett. You kept me and my children entertained for a number of years.

[@gayleo4359]

Going to miss you Sir Terry. Although our world has lost such a rare and wonderful soul, there is a new star shining down on Ankh-Morpork and the Ramtops tonight. Embuggerance no more.

[@88norimaki]

Gayle Ott "A man is not dead while his name is still spoken." GNU Terry Pratchett

[@The01t]

RIP Terry. What a great writer and man.

[@88norimaki]

The01t "A man is not dead while his name is still spoken." GNU Terry Pratchett

[@gaiamethodearthways]

I love Terry Patchett and Rob did such a great job of reading the chapter. He's a great narrator. Maybe he could do some audible narration. :-)

[@BradBo1140]

I’m about 10 books short of reading his DiskWorld series. It’s life changing. My new hero!

[@potatoesofdefiance]

Dearly love Sir Terry...In his parting, world's been left with a gaping void that may never be filled through humanity's time on earth. What an amazing man, extraordinary writer and worthy philosopher! GNU Sir Terry...you may be gone from this world, but gone from the hearts of those who love you (and who shall have this privilege in generations to come) you never shall be.

[@fench1234567]

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” Albert Einstein Even with that said,... the higher we each build our own knowledge, the higher our imaginations can lifted up to spread wings and fly, if we allow them. :)

[@Kimdino1]

Great comment. Its worth trying to nudge it back to near the top of the page.

[@HappyLittleLark]

thats a nice quote

[@tammyspaniak5843]

Well said. Thank You.

[@MySerpentine]

Still, I'd take imagination over information any day.

[@artandculture5262]

Very few are capable of great imagination such as his. The merely intellectual hate the imaginative as it’s not transferable and can be resented. Now that critical thinking has been killed by the culture they’ve distanced themselves further. No creative person destroys. They create instead.

[@sealyoness]

As he spoke of his childhood, Terry had incorporated the old soldiers on the bench, missing parts of their anatomy - except the one who had a collection of ears, 'which he'd bring out to show a good boy who looked suitably frightened'. The latest tribute I've read was a book by Ben Aaronovich. Cheers, dear friends.

[@GeorgePop]

Incredible man, I just found out today that he passed away. He will be missed indeed, I was always so mesmerized when my mind was inside his books and had the best time of my life.

[@Khaz8969]

Thank you Terry Pratchett

[@blahlool]

I remember reading The Fifth Elephant when i was really young around 10. Such an incongruous and out-of-sequence Pratchett novel to start with, but those are the formative years. It probably shaped me more than anything in the 9 years since. It molded my outlook on life into a more humorous/cynical shape. Most of all, though, it widened my imagination limitlessly. I could never overstate the importance of that. thx terry boy :(

[@Kimdino1]

I've often tried to work out which book would be the best to use to introduce someone to Discworld. I certainly do not think it would be 'The Colour of Magic' as this is a very empty story compared with his later writing. Maybe 'Thud', or 'Jingo', or even 'Equal Rites', or perhaps 'The Fifth Elephant'. 'The Fifth Elephant' worked for you and that is what matters. btw 'Guards, Guards' is the one that got me. I still remember how much my sides ached when I realised what he'd done with Errol, that this runt of the litter was actually the supersonic, 5th gen fighter of the dragon world.

[@janagibhardtengle4584]

Hi - this has been a while, but what I do is I ask people what kinds of story they like. Someone who already likes whodunnits, I point to the Watch stories. Someone who speaks about the protagonists or about moral struggles, I can point to the Witches AND the Watch stories. Someone who likes whacky fun, I point to Hogfather. Someone who's into Shakespeare, I point to Wyrd Sisters. Someone who likes Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, I point to Maskerade. There's really something for everyone to like.

[@bashsibda6289]

Kimdino1 Mort.

[@marocat4749]

mort and postal

[@ripdbtpoo1441]

Had to say this before - the later books are darker? My arse - they're even BETTER!

[@randomrant3886]

Yes. This caught my attention. One of the few people I regret not having a conversation with

[@timothyshaw5498]

I. Fucking. Love. Sir. Terry. And. Miss. Him. Viciously!

[@jessking7737]

I miss Terry and I never even met him.

[@djinn218]

The sad thing is that I just got introduced to the works of Pratchett on the day of his death.

[@roseescobal1127]

I am crying becaz of this comment now

[@djinn218]

Rose Escobal Sorry, I fixed it.

[@memshin3]

+WolfsWorld his books are still with us and this is the wonderful thing about books

[@djinn218]

+memshin3 Yeah, I agree with you, even though it is sad that I only got to know of him at his death...

[@jhwheuer]

Oh buggers. That’s like me finishing the Lord of the Rings on the day Tolkien died....

[@kirbyhans5261]

"I doubt very much if that will ever be the case" well professor Pratchett you got that title also....I miss you sir.

[@malcolmdrake6137]

And trying to find things superior to intellect gave us the type of people we have to put up with, today.

[@teshara]

This is wonderful and I love it, but can we take a moment to appreciate how cute Terry's assistant is? Goodness! :D

[@Deathannihilator]

We all miss you so much. Walk the long road in tow with death, sir Terry.

[@elisabethhofer-enz4608]

I only hesrd about Terry Pracherd short time ago, but he reminds me a little of Douglas Adams, who is a real down-to-earth-fantasy-hero in novelwriting. 🤗

[@sadnapog4549]

Just recently started Discworld, I'm sad that we lost him :(

[@coffinsmokej7408]

Hearing him speak is as good as his books

[@myblenderchannel8310]

We miss you, Sir Terry!

[@Toasty373]

What a great interview

[@Samwiseallmighty]

Brilliant, thx for sharing ! cheers, Sam

[@RIP3ooo]

A Tribute to Terry Pratchett. ‪#‎RIP‬

[@88norimaki]

Rest in Peace "A man is not dead while his name is still spoken." GNU Terry Pratchett

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

88norimaki Never heard of him!

[@South_African_Spirituality]

yes

[@Juliemorgana]

I enjoyed that! What a brilliant mind. I'm going back to re-re-read his books, now.

[@saberespoder6177]

Hasta siempre Sir Terry Pratchett.

[@katieb9292]

Long Live the King !!!!

[@StrangeLittlePoet123]

i was there! goregeous man such a genius

[@whewletta]

I haven't seen this before. Thank you for sharing

[@FairyWasabi]

Sir Terry Pratchett showed us that it's the ability to dream and improbable adventures that truly sets us apart. Who needs mere intelligence when you've got a mind full of dragons, witches, and sentient luggage? So, here's to embracing our inner weirdness and letting our imaginations run wild - because, let's face it, life's too short for boring realities! 🧙‍♂🐉

[@digramma_NL]

Some people are portals. So missed, Sir Terry!

[@jolandatarottv6371]

Super awesome! Big hugs from the Swedish Witches!

[@janetmackinnon3411]

And what an excellent interviewer!

[@Mike.d.p.]

holy shit, this guy stands above you all! can you handle it internet?

[@brucey5232]

A wonderful mind.

[@michaelhoffmann2891]

"in the early stages of the book Thud! ... Vimes finds himself in the countryside ..." It wasn't Thud! - gods, to have this cursed disease afflict a man whose memory was almost preternaturally good. 😭

[@mariamkinen8036]

Imagination makes us our best friend, no lesser , when expressed by linguistic terms.

[@susiefairfield7218]

The imagination is the goal of history. ... I see culture as an effort to literally realize our collective dreams.

[@stickiedmin6508]

CSI Ankh Morpork . . . Oh what *_COULD_* have been . . .

[@AbelMcTalisker]

And since he made the comments at the end of this he`s gone and written `Raising Steam`. I wonder if that last question planted the idea?

[@RikardPeterson]

I found that answer interesting too - particularly as Raising Steam was published in 2013. I wonder if he may just not have been ready to reveal his next book, or if he really hadn't started on it yet. (I'm assuming that the video was posted close in time to when it was made.)

[@stickiedmin6508]

Seems the questioner forgot about Didactylos and Small Gods . . . People *_do_* tend to forget about Small Gods - I'm not sure why.

[@Blindkingofbohemia1]

I don’t think it planted the idea-the “New Discworld Companion” (2003) includes a brief essay in which Terry finished by noting “you can have quite a good railway in a fantasy world...”

[@LucidLupin]

RIP

[@88norimaki]

***** "A man is not dead while his name is still spoken." GNU Terry Pratchett

[@leannemarie9575]

best question came from a child, love it.

[@Mirekluk]

Children are special, they can see Death. No coincidence here.

[@HolyKhaaaaan]

God love him for his imagination. May he come to meet the Myth become Fact someday (to quote C.S. Lewis).

[@sandranickel1292]

But, but, but it's Snuff not Thud! he's talking about in the beginning....

[@Rodshark75]

Intelligence and Imagination kinda go hand in hand in an ideal world. Its when one or the other get out of balance that things go awry, like the scientist that can't imagine that his creation would be used as a weapon, or the religious zealot that thinks evolution is a lie and imagines that a magical sky daddy did everything.

[@susiefairfield7218]

The monkey body has carried us to this moment of release, but we are coming more and more to exist in a world made by the human imagination. Terence McKenna

[@neogrit]

Finding out about Pratchett's illness broke my heart about as much as hearing that Cobain had blown his head off. :(

[@susiefairfield7218]

Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken? Terry Pratchett, Going Postal

[@weatthepurplecircle]

Thank you I would very much like something on Barkly and Navar there is a huge Circular White Clay possibly a dance ground . It was once thought to be from Arial maps ( pre google ) a salt pan but on ground its defiantly significant Thanks John and colleagues contact for coordinates PS many artifacts on the mountains that over look it !

[@ingridbartinique9030]

Startling: The book Terry describes and Rob reads from is Snuff, not Thud.

[@WheelerCentre]

Afraid so! 12 April, 2011.

[@this.is.a.username]

While I love him and understand his statement, dogs and other animals dream.. imagination is not singular to humanity. Reason and the ability to defy instinct does.

[@ladybugbookkeeper]

I thought "Thud" was about Koom Valley? And Snuff was where they learned about Crocket??

[@stigolumpy]

Yup. In Thud they went to Koom Valley to find the secret.Snuff was about the goblins in the countryside.

[@ladybugbookkeeper]

@@stigolumpy Wow how random!! I have just started reading the discworld series again and up pops a reply to my comment from two years ago!! Unfortunately I've forgotten what I was commenting about but I'll be sure to get back to you once I remember again XD

[@stigolumpy]

@@ladybugbookkeeper What a strange coincidence! I was hesitant about necroposting but I felt I needed to because any Terry related discussion is important. I missed him a lot today. He's a big source of comfort for me. His books and his imagination that is. Let me know how you get on :)

[@joshmorgod]

GNU Terry Patchett.

[@susiefairfield7218]

GNU

[@HappyBirthday0707]

Mind how you go Terry ...

[@NEBARITRALK]

Big oof at the commentary on the Watch show... He seemed so excited about it and now... well.

[@debaraj]

Yeah. That part really made me sad.

[@marcos_magallanes]

Que lastima que no tenga al menos sub español.

[@MysticMuttering]

I will play Nobby any time

[@griffinsdad9820]

Wallace Shawn, who played in Princess Bride, would be a pretty good knobby Nobbs.

[@comentatorcufazascurta9340]

Death takes another great mind before its time.

[@karl-erlendmikalsen5159]

Oh, it's never before the time. Death is always on the time. Very punctual, you know. Got great respect for his job that ... pronoun.

[@DiceFTW273]

+Karl-Erlend Mikalsen ...Anthropomorphic Manifestation?

[@Ambienfinity]

[@neilxt]

"who could play Nobby"? The funny looking guy, from Fargo.

[@marocat4749]

oh yes belursconi or whats his name.

[@sarahhardy8649]

Was Wilikins named for Rob?

[@ripdbtpoo1441]

Have to ask him,it must be easy these days.

[@jolantad7971]

Writers attitude is amazing. The genre and theme worries me though.

[@snugglyface7834]

"Run by ladys, who like other ladys very much indeed" my favorite words for lesbian

[@jolantad7971]

True thats why instead of making chain reaction a source of energy we made a bomb of it and dropped 2 on ourselves.

[@kartikSharma-kk1hr]

how do I watch the CSI watch

[@DiceFTW273]

They have to make it first. Heard they might be starting production back up this year, apparently. Or last year... can't remember which... because the article I read it on also talked about a "Good Omens" miniseries, a "Wee Free Men" Movie and one or two other Sir Terry Pratchett based projects that currently slip my mind...

[@kartikSharma-kk1hr]

Thank You. Have A Nice Day.

[@Durdle]

Hey! good news it's been made! Bad news, it's Rubbish, :(

[@jenniferschmitzer299]

oh ye gods i just celebrated an Edifice, delegated for transport It's birthday with Cake and a Card. We even sung happy birthday to It, with social distancing ala 2020. You only turn 144 once. That definitely requires Cake. eta- Terry would understand this.. i spose this is not de riguer in the round world.. but it was Fun

[@theobserver9131]

That's silly. Intelligence and imagination are parts of the same thing. It's not one or the other. Anyway, on to enjoy this interview now. :-)

[@benderbender9946]

[@hobbyturystaSEO]

31:30 BRAVVVVVO =)

[@waynes866]

Since there are some Pratchett fans reading this, I've often wondered about the origin of "Dunmanifestin", Pratchett's home of the Gods. Is there a place in England or Wales or folklore that starts with "dun" and ends with "in"? There's a joke in there, knowing Sir Terry, and I've never gotten it.

[@gavinturnbull5459]

Lots of houses in the UK have names like "Dunroamin", a poor pun on done roaming, hence Dunmanifestin.

[@carolstrachan4197]

DUN is Scottish or Irish for Fort. Lots of names of places in Scotland and Ireland begin with Dun.....

[@covenawhite4855]

I thought it was Finished Manifesting. Nice to know :)

[@ripdbtpoo1441]

@@covenawhite4855 No,no,Mr Turnbull is obviously right.

[@ruthbygrave4695]

As suggested above, names like "Dunroamin" are seen as "dead common" and suburban names for people in terraces and semi-detached houses.

[@thecrakp0t]

Michael Williams looks like a chunky Daniel Radcliff

[@kristinlundell9924]

GNU Sir Terry Pratchett

[@peterlistuder3058]

I belive humanhood came from a lot of xenophile action, sorry to say. you could say imagination played the role of knowing where to put it.

[@Cheesusful]

it's funny that Sir pTerry keeps referring to Pepe as a "he" when i always considered "him" a "they" or rather as a "pepe" but he's the author he can refer to them how he wants.

[@mycroftwells3804]

Surely, though, imagination is a function of intelligence?

[@susiefairfield7218]

The monkey body has carried us to this moment of release, but we are coming more and more to exist in a world made by the human imagination. Terence McKenna

[@marocat4749]

Or is it th reverse that we can imagine and thus get smarter by eperimenting an learning to do new things?

[@peterlistuder3058]

[insert daft comment]