The Art of the Name: Charles Dickens

One of everyone's favorite novelists, whether recognized or not (how many times have you intoned "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times"?) created a vast array of characters peopling his universe. The linked article suggests that names are not quite so creative these days--I would suggest the Discworld novels of Terry Pratchitt as worthy successors to the tradition.

Charles Dickens and the Linguistic Art of the Minor Character

Terry Pratchett and Death

Death is a character in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, and he's also a reality that Terry finds the need to contemplate. Pratchett has early onset Alzheimer's. He has continued to work, "writing" his books by means of a computer voice to text program. But he realizes that his time of coherency is limited. Assisted death has become a cause that he advocates, traveling to Switzerland to be a part of a recent documentary on the process. This morning on NPR there was an interview with him aired, which will be available as an audio file on the site. HERE

As a reader who thoroughly enjoys the Discworld books, I anticipate the upcoming release of Snuff, but I regret the winding down of a creative spirit.