Terry Pratchett interview - Snuff

A Fast Forward: Contemporary Science Fiction interview with author Terry Pratchett. Mr. Pratchett discusses his latest Discworld novel, Snuff, as well as his involvement with the BBC documentary, Choosing to Die. This interview was conducted on October 14, 2011. This video is a re-posting of an earlier version of the interview that had a technical problem.

[@dahill87ify]

Terry pratchett changed my life, this is not an overstatement he really did. His books found me in a very dark place and give me shelter when i most needed it. His books opened a new world to me (reading), that have forever enriched my life and made me glad; for the first time to be human

[@annrogers8129]

The books found me at a similar place. I wish I could tell Sir Terry that he saved my life through his humor, his humanity and sheer compassion for the human condition. May the next life be all you could have wished for Sir Terry.

[@davidharkin8554]

Here Here.

[@davidharkin8554]

😀

[@gabrielepresby9120]

Same. I reread them all the time.

[@CulturalOrigins]

Out of interest, which one did you start with?

[@bernard6255]

As I see it, Sybil recognized the greatness in Sam and to an extent, idealized him. Vimes then began to try to live up to this idealized image because he did not want to disappoint Sybil. Along the way he eventually discovered his best self.

[@yclepe]

Sybil's hobby is raising Dragons.........

[@richardthomas9597]

I never thought of it like this before, but I agree. You're right - good analysis.

[@jonshepherd2550]

Bravo 👏

[@afischer8327]

Pratchettian wisdom. Or just wisdom.

[@Nagassh]

Awesome interviewer. Nice to see someone who actually seems interested in the author and his material.

[@Mandelbrotmat]

We miss you, Sir Terry. We miss you still.

[@thehypest6118]

I think Mr Pratchett was an absolute visionary and far ahead of his time, I grew up on his books and absolutely loved each and every one of them, I think if more people heeded what he has to say through his work the world might well be a better place to live and die in

[@mori1bund]

I completely agree. About "absolute visionary and far ahead of his time": I read his last few discworld books about one year ago and was shocked how exactly they describe the state of our society right NOW - years ahead of the time they were published.

[@Ardelanin]

@@mori1bund that is partly because the same problems echo through again and again. it just took a very smart person to see them and write about them in such a relateable way.

[@martincattell6820]

I read Soul Music in primary school and practically every sentence went over my head (except music with rocks in) but I enjoyed the challenge. Around 10 years later I spontaneously picked up Mort in a library and was hooked. Snuff is one of my favorite novels. It is not as well written as his previous novels but the unflinching honesty and sensitivity surrounding the goblins and their place in the world is eye opening and mind expanding for even a casual reader. Rest in peace

[@jonshepherd2550]

It could be considered as a metaphor for the original American Indian peoples

[@smokinmac82]

So many years later, I still hear his words, hear his wisdom. (chuckles) *still hear his "male" point of view* And yet, despite his "Old, white, male, English, etc" upbringing /point of view... he says everything that someone without an indoctrination to politics or religion would say... To me he says "do what makes you, and those around you, happy, and be damned with those who say 'you can't!' Because those who say 'you can't' are really saying, 'I can't, so you shouldn't!' " People will be people, and people will argue with you just to make themselves right. And people will constantly contradict themselves. People will, and always have been, be people. I miss him. I never knew him personally. I still cry at losing him. I like to think I knew him at a spiritual level. RIP, Sir Terry Pratchett. "Longest Earth" series was difficult to read. I enjoyed the first book, the premise, the ideas. After he passed, it started to, I don't know... Never forget, we need imagination to be who we are. Without it, we're nothing but algorithms. Things set forth without meaning, with no solutions; fractals with no endings or beginnings; problems with no real solutions.

[@jonshepherd2550]

The best eulogy to STP I've ever heard

[@Fortunato7208]

I have just recently, in the past few months, discovered Terry Pratchett, and am furious with myself for not having known his work sooner! I was actually introduced by his feature film "Colour of Magic" of which I found a lone copy in a local video store. I loved it! It was a bit later that I saw "Hogfather" and then learned of this whole series. I have now immersed myself in this world...

[@jonshepherd2550]

The books are so much more

[@dbmail545]

Why I loved every book in the Discworld. The characters drive the plot rather than vice versa like Dickens and the late Robertson Davies.

[@jonshepherd2550]

STP has literally (lol) saved my life from my own feelings of despair and aloneness many times.. I miss him so much

[@MrTraffix]

Hey there. Greetings to everyone, who would rather be a rising ape, then a falling angel. Greetz from Germany. I love this man.

[@carolynrosser1574]

I agree, saved my life when deeply depressed. Laughter breaks depression, a wonderful antidote.

[@savethetowels]

Hope you're doing better now

[@TheDAPler]

Thank you Terry.

[@unseenlibrary2845]

These interviews are really great, the interviewer gets some great info out of Sir Terry

[@wesleybain3657]

I came late to Terry Pratchett, but I'm glad I got there eventually. And what I tell people constantly about his work is how wonderfully subversive it is. He really does a good job boiling things down and poking fun at power in what seems like a simple way, but is actually very complicated and thoughtful.

[@mvl71]

Vimes is not a force for _good_ but a force for _right_ !

[@richardlloyd2589]

Turrebo Maybe truth, maybe justice, but definitely a hard-boiled egg....PRoTMR

[@Jelboo]

Oh, Terry. You're a hero to me. I still haven't barely read all of your work, but you are gifted with a heart of gold and a pen, well, of devilish quicksilver. :)

[@PawPrintBx]

This is a wonderful interview. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@Fortunato7208]

(Perhaps I am a bit biased, as Sam Vimes reminds me quite a bit of my own Pops, who died in '96...he was a copper, too, and had a noble idea about the job that just didn't seem to fit in this day and age. It hurt him terribly.)

[@ReallyJustAnotherDay]

Man, I think I've watched every Pratchett interview now 😢

[@bary1234]

Terry is so awesome. That documentary about dying made me cry, I hate the fact we all have to die so soon.

[@bruffie1]

Same here! My problem is, I find it difficult to read anyone else. They just seem too normal and dull. Pratchett is a genius and his writing has many, many levels.

[@acrodave9287]

"Thanks for helping the kid from Cockbill Street..." And so say all of us.

[@Fortunato7208]

I still have many novels to go, and have taken them completely out of order, but it doesn't seem to matter, much...I love putting the parts of the puzzle together. And I have to admit to being completely in love with Sam Vimes! In this beautiful, soft satire, he seems to be the noble heart, and the "Everyman," struggling to make a difference in an indifferent world.

[@patriciastoj126]

Agree. Love Sam Vimes.

[@WalterWild-uu1td]

I do love Sam and Sybil. An urchin from the lowest part of Ankh Morpork and a lady (the Richest Lady) from the top tier of society...and they click. Each gets insight into parts of society they never really understood. Sam is learning about the rich...and Sybil is ... she's just so very wonderful. She meets people that members of her "class" either despise or don't care about...or even refuse to accept their existence, and she melts the hearts of those lower class members with whom she comes into contact. She treats them exactly the same, with the same dignity and respect as she does with her supposed "peers," and in doing so she teaches Sam a lot about what true noblesse oblige really means. Not as a stapled on "you have to do this even though it disgusts you" issue but because she does care about pretty much everyone. It's really a brilliant essay on what nobility should be as opposed to what it degenerates into over centuries.

[@Paul_the_Bookworm]

Great interview. Thanks for putting it up

[@charlieshoup8391]

Tom Schaad = Legendary Interviewer

[@eldersillusion]

I felt sadness as I finish my last read every entry for 10 years

[@poonamkumar3237]

Terry Pratchets work was channeled from higher dimensions. Change my mind.

[@WalterWild-uu1td]

Sam Vimes is probably the best fleshed out character in Sir Terry's works. The only other character who comes close is Granny Weatherwax, but her past is only given to us in bits and pieces. But Sam...we know him. We even get to see mature Vimes interact with himself in a younger time. It's really amazing. (Courtesy of the Monks of Time.)

[@Fortunato7208]

Terry Pratchett....don't leave us TOO soon!

[@donarnold8268]

Thank You!

[@Wolf-ln1ml]

4:00 - "Terry Pratchett - Author" is a bit of an understatement, like "Michelangelo - Painter" 🥹

[@heilmodrhinnheimski]

Kudos to that interviewer, he did a fantastic job?

[@meritxellllopis5650]

Le echo tanto de menos! I still missing him!

[@Hiznogood]

17:19 Reminds me a bit of Roger Zelazny’s series Chronicles of Amber, but just. If you haven’t read any of his books and like Sci-Fy with a mix of fantasy, I highly recommend him. My favorite is “Jack of Shadows”, which tells a story about Earth after it has stoped rotating. On the bright side, technology rules and they have created a shield that protects from the deathly sunshine. On the dark side, magic exists thus keeping life alive. But between light and dark, there’s shadows and it’s there Jack has is realm. He’s a master thief and can travel in the shadows. Great story, as the Amber series and I hope my feeble attempts to retell the story not put you off, English isn’t my first language, sorry!

[@Algfader]

I would start out with the books about the City Watch and Sam Vimes (Guards Guards!, Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, Jingo, The Fifth Elephant, Night Watch, Thud! and then Snuff)... then after that maybe the ones with Rincewind

[@Fortunato7208]

(Oh, and my second favorite character...the Librarian!)

[@Toontex]

Great interview.

[@feivalo4469]

Terry, just amazing.

[@mori1bund]

*GENIUS.*

[@colinmoore7460]

From what I understand, his publishers needed a crowbar to get the manuscripts out of his hands!

[@ikitclaw3299]

Granny Weatherwax is for me the best character in the disc world

[@LouigiVerona]

Absolutely!

[@sarahbowen7721]

Why is the interviewer saying ‘Ankh-Morph’ rather than ‘Ankh-Morpork’? He’s said it in a couple of interviews now so it’s not a mistake…

[@kensvideos1]

Love it ALL.

[@Covah86]

GNU Terry Pratchett

[@BiffChunksteak]

Why does Schaad pronounce Morpork as 'Morph'?

[@Shackatron]

You should probably read the book first, Might find this a little bit of a spoiler. Enjoy!

[@stevedoggart2805]

just ice , just ice

[@WalterWild-uu1td]

Death is easy. Dying is a bitch. The crawl toward Death through absolutely harrowing physical and mental torment is as horrible as any "horror" story.

[@zladatv]

*👍класс и привет от тренера по футболу!!!!!-!!!!!-!!!!!-!!!!!-!!!!!-!!!!!-*

[@TheAyeAye1]

This book made me sad. It really did read like something that had been written by a notable less talented imitator. I really do not want to read the new one about to come out, as I do not need to see how much more of his ability to handle detail has vanished.

[@qwertyTRiG]

On the other hand, have you read Nation?

[@scottmantooth8785]

glimmers of brilliance still remains poking out from the darkness

[@TheAyeAye1]

@@qwertyTRiG Yes. I tried. I made it two thirds of the way through before giving it up and handing off to the other Pratchett fanatic in my friend group. She finished it and told me I'd made the right call by stopping early.

[@qwertyTRiG]

@TheAyeAye1 Nation is, I believe, his masterpiece.

[@TheAyeAye1]

@@qwertyTRiG To each their own. There were people I knew and respected who liked it and an equal number whom hated it. I didn't see dementia in the writing, but did see someone who was pissed off at the universe to the point he lost all subtly. It's been long enough where I should give it another chance.