Terry Pratchett
Why? Well, yes he is a great, and prolific, writer of books. Yes, he has created a world that is intricate in its design, majestic in its scale and yet engaging in its style. Yes, he has introduced a whole gamut of readers, old and young alike, to rattling good yarns.

But this is not why I am nominating him.

Terry Pratchett, as many of you know, was diagnosed with a relatively rare form of Alzheimers Disease, particularly tragic as he himself, a sharp, acerbic intellect, knows PRECISELY what is happening to him.

Pratchett has campaigned tirelessly for Alzheimers Research. Whilst I appreciate that this is like David Carradine appealing for panic buttons in hotel wardrobes, he has donated a sizeable amount of his money both now and on his death to Alzheimers Research.

But I admire him for the dignity with which he approaches the future. Yes, he has every right to rage and cry against what is happening to him, but he has encouraged debate on the subject of the right of the individual to both live, and die, with dignity and in the manner of their choice.

"When the time comes I'll sit on my lawn, brandy in hand and Thomas Tallis on my iPod. And then I'll shake hands with Death"
( Undercovercarrot got done for gross misconduct on..., Thu 16 Dec 2010, 18:58, 25 replies)

Very well said. *clicky*
(lanternchikk hat eine schwere Bohlenallergie, Thu 16 Dec 2010, 19:37, closed)

I like him a lot
because him raising the profile of Alzheimer's means the Alzheimer's research trust is paying for my PhD and keeping me in beer tokens for the next 3 years :D

On a more serious note, you are so right. He is an an amazing man with something horrific slowly stealing the essence of himself and I am honoured and grateful that I get to be a tiny part of the fight against that, even though it is far too late for him and my efforts are like trying to fight off a bear with a handful of sultanas. It reminds me on the days when things aren't working that maybe it is worth it after all, and that maybe, just maybe, we can make a difference and his loss won't have been in vain. May his legacy live on long after he is gone.
(Petite chien is going to do science to it, Thu 16 Dec 2010, 19:39, closed)

He often gets letters
from people who are terminally ill, saying that when they meet Death, they hope he's like he is in the books.

Pratchett says "Those are the kind of letters that cause me to stare at the wall for some time..."
(Vigilante Man weeps because you're stupid., Thu 16 Dec 2010, 20:15, closed)

I'm with you on this...
...I interviewed him earlier this year when he was speaking at the Darwin festival at Cambridge. Despite his very busy schedule, he gave me a wonderful interview and carried on chatting for a good while. He asked interesting and insightful questions about my work and didn't bat an eyelid when I went all fanboy and asked him to sign some books for me and my dad.

A truly great man and a personal hero.
( TheAlmightyBeev, Thu 16 Dec 2010, 22:12, closed)

Aaw very nice sentiment
You get a click from me.

"Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken."
(mr-lizard Hell's teeth man!, Thu 16 Dec 2010, 23:06, closed)

Luckily, i don't have Alzheimers, touch wood!
Come in?
(CADmonkey rollllllllled another one, just like the other one, Thu 16 Dec 2010, 23:11, closed)

He's just an old bloke with a dementing illness
Most people couldn't give a toss about him or his crap literature. When the time comes he won't know if it's tuesday or friday, let alone what's playing on his ipod.
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 7:49, closed)

Iz it troll tiem alredy?

(Pie of Meat ___°¬¯O¯____\o/_____/\_,____Y¯¯Y, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 8:33, closed)

Just because...
...No one's voting for you, there's no need to get jealous.
( Turquoise Hexagon Sun has just dropped acid on, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 10:13, closed)

Just because his books are too demanding for you
doesn't mean they're crap.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 10:42, closed)

^ouch
hahaha!
( DrPrunesquallor is determined to post more as of, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 10:53, closed)

Rory you're entitled to your opinion
Even if it just shows you up as the twunt you are
(andythepieman Is surfing the waves of indifference on, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 14:56, closed)

This is your eye
and this is a heated rusty corkscrew.
(all my scars face forward possesses 2.5% of a hyperalloy combat chassis, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 22:56, closed)

Humph
Your signature defines you, sirrah. Now fuck off.
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Sat 18 Dec 2010, 0:32, closed)

Rory, Rory, Rory
It must be upsetting for you to realise that people like books that are not written on card pages with 3 words on each page.

Come on Rory? Can you see Spot run? Can you?
( Undercovercarrot got done for gross misconduct on..., Sun 19 Dec 2010, 10:29, closed)

But this is Person of the Year.
So what has he done this year that's worthy of mention?
(Mr T, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 11:19, closed)

He also wrote what should be the English national anthem
"The Hedgehog Can Never Be Buggered At All" means more to me than a music hall ditty about some Germans I've never met.
( calgacus Non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 11:24, closed)

^THIS
both hard and in the face.
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 16:47, closed)

The Wizard's staff has a knob on the end

(Vigilante Man weeps because you're stupid., Fri 17 Dec 2010, 19:22, closed)

With a snail if you slow to a crawl

( calgacus Non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae, Sat 18 Dec 2010, 10:56, closed)

I think he's shit.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 17 Dec 2010, 22:35, closed)

He speaks highly of you.

(Vigilante Man weeps because you're stupid., Fri 17 Dec 2010, 23:31, closed)

Not that he remembers.

(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Mon 20 Dec 2010, 11:47, closed)

I
want to be Nanny Ogg when I grow up.
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Sat 18 Dec 2010, 0:33, closed)

Hahahahahahaha! Good one.
Sorry - you are not serious, are you?
(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Mon 20 Dec 2010, 11:47, closed)