Terry Pratchett dies aged 66 of Alzheimer’s disease

THESE are the final messages sent from the Twitter account of British science fiction and fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett in a touching last goodbye to his fans.

Gone too soon ... British author Terry Pratchett who suffered from a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer's disease and who earned wide respect throughout Britain with his dignified campaign for the right of critically ill patients to choose assisted suicide has died. Picture: AP)

BRITISH science fiction and fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett has died at the age of 66.

“Terry passed away in his home, with his cat sleeping on his bed, surrounded by his family,” Larry Finlay, managing director at Transworld Publishers, said on Thursday.

He said the world had lost one of its “brightest, sharpest minds”.

And these are the final messages sent to fans from Pratchett’s Twitter account run by his assistant.

AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER.

— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015

Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.

— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015

The End.

— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015

His death was announced in a media release via Twitter.

http://t.co/EzEDHf5EkW

— Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob) March 12, 2015

Pratchett, creator of the long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels, was among the most prolific and successful authors of his generation.

I Shall Wear Midnight.

Snuff.

He sold 70 million books worldwide with translations into more 30 languages. In the 1990s he was Britain’s best-selling author.

He announced he was suffering from a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2007. He also gained wide respect throughout Britain with his dignified campaign for the right of critically ill patients to choose assisted suicide.

Honoured ... British author Sir Terry Pratchett posing for pictures with his knighthood award outside Buckingham Palace in London in 2009. Picture: AFP

Originally published as Terry Pratchett dies aged 66 of Alzheimer’s disease