Good bye and thank you.

[susanhicks]

Apologies to everyone if I am putting this message in the wrong place.

To Terry Pratchett,

Your writing has made the world inside my head wider, more optimistic, more clearly moral and more tolerant of others, for all of which I owe a debt of gratitude considerably beyond my powers of expression. Having chronic pain myself, I find that your writing on death and the choice to die has particular resonance for me. In this as, in your work, you remain one of my greatest heroes.

The hare jumps into the fire.

susan

 

[Tonyblack]

Welcome to the site Susan. I wish I could tell you for certain that Terry visits the site, but there's no evidence that he does. So who knows? I hope he sees your message.

 

[chris.ph]

shit tony, why does that look like a suicide note

 

[pip]

It is a bit scary

 

[The Mad Collector]

shit tony, why does that look like a suicide note

Yes I read it like that as well

 

[Anonymous]

shit tony, why does that look like a suicide note

Yes I read it like that as well

Same here. Creepy

 

[Tonyblack]

I wondered about that as well when I first noticed the post. But what can we do other than offer a welcome. If the poster wants to elaborate and talk about it more, then fine.

With Terry's stance on the right to die, we may find more people joining here to make their feelings felt.

This is the Terry Pratchett Forum after all and Terry will gather admirers for more than just his books.

The post is open to interpretation. Without more information, how are we to react? I certainly didn't think deleting the post appropriate.

 

[Tonyblack]

One thing that I will point out is the fact that the poster has included a link to her website.

The cynic in me says that this may be some sort of (for want of a better word) ruse, to get us to visit that site. But it does seem a bit of an odd thing to add to what appears at first glance to be a suicide note.

Anyhow, the website seems to be to an art gallery.

 

[michelanCello]

shit tony, why does that look like a suicide note

Yes I read it like that as well

Same here. Creepy

The title already freaked me out... I have this bad feeling that she's jumping out of some window at this very moment...

 

[Tonyblack]

The hare jumps into the fire.

susan

'The hare runs into the fire. The hare runs into the fire. The fire, it takes her, she is not burned. The fire, it loves her, she is not burned. The hare runs into the fire. The fire, it loves her, she is free . . .'

I read that bit in ISWM as survival, not death. The hare runs through the fire so quickly that she escapes from it.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

Having examined 'the will to die' from numerous and deeply personal standpoints I would agree with Tony that, despite the title, this post is about endorsement and making an affirmation of Susan's feelings on the subject and her admiration of Terry for giving it air in public, rather than a suicide note as such.

I haven't read ISWM midnight yet (too tight to buy the hardback on principle ) but the quote and nuance thereon is clearly about facing and acccepting, even embracing death not surrendering or 'fleeing' in fear of it. As a suicide note it's not despairing enough in my view of it, and more about showing solidarity and belief.

 

[Tonyblack]

Very well put, Jan!

 

[DaveC]

Welcome Susan. Enjoy the site.

I haven't read ISWM midnight yet (too tight to buy the hardback on principle

My paperback shipped yesterday. only £3.49 on Amazon.

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

I really enjoyed ISWM it's in my top five in fact make that top three.

 

[author3]

ISWM is really good
my paperback cover tore the other day so now there's loads of sellotape all over the cover
I'm planning on buying a new cover soon

 

[author3]

ISWM is really good
my paperback cover tore the other day so now there's loads of sellotape all over the cover
I'm planning on buying a new cover soon

 

[Tonyblack]

You should do what I do if I read my hardbacks. I take the paper cover off and put it somewhere safe and instead I put an old plastic cover on the book. I got the plastic cover from an old library book that was for sale for 10p.

I'm actually reading ISWM at the moment.

 

[author3]

good idea I'll try and do that in the future

 

[archerinwood]

ISWM is very good. I didn't read it like a suicide note, but rereading does make me see why you got that idea. WelcomeSusan, please post again, just so we know you are OK. (PS, I hope we haven't offended you)

 

[author3]

When I read that note I thought by the title (GOOD BYE)
That he'd died and nobody'd told me
I was getting ready to burst in to tears