Plan B Forum

Seems a shame he didn't want anyone else to complete 'em?

A hard drive containing unfinished works by Terry Pratchett has been crushed by a steamroller, as per instructions left by the fantasy novelist.

It is thought up to 10 incomplete novels were flattened at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

The six-and-a-half tonne Lord Jericho was used to roll over the hard drive several times before a concrete crusher finished off the remains.

Pratchett died aged 66 in March 2015.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-41093066

His creative genius, his choice. Maybe better not to have his stuff bastardized? I've read some 'sequels' to out of copyright classics that were pretty puke-worthy. Can't think of any good ones, actually - although I've never gotten around to reading Wide Sargasso Sea.

Isn't that more of a prequel?

Yes, from what I understand - and I should have included prequels with sequels.

BoSoxGal wrote:His creative genius, his choice. Maybe better not to have his stuff bastardized? I've read some 'sequels' to out of copyright classics that were pretty puke-worthy. Can't think of any good ones, actually - although I've never gotten around to reading Wide Sargasso Sea.

Shirley you jest! Snooks North and South hem hem!

Pratchett died aged 66 in March 2015.

So this has been sitting around someplace for more than 2 years...

I'll be surprised if there isn't another copy...

On the other hand, I am very glad the literary executor for Franz Kafka did not follow his instructions to destroy everything.

snailgate

Consider too that in the final years of his life he was suffering from the effects of Alzheimer's and dementia. He might have realized that these rough drafts, notes, and so on were not up to his usual standards and requested they be destroyed rather than be released in an unfinished, rough, and unpolished form.

-"BB"-

Burning Petard wrote:On the other hand, I am very glad the literary executor for Franz Kafka did not follow his instructions to destroy everything.

snailgate

Ditto!

Pratchett is no Kafka, though.

Lord Jim wrote:

Pratchett died aged 66 in March 2015.

So this has been sitting around someplace for more than 2 years...

I'll be surprised if there isn't another copy...

...or thirty.

Jarlaxle wrote:

Lord Jim wrote:

Pratchett died aged 66 in March 2015.

So this has been sitting around someplace for more than 2 years...

I'll be surprised if there isn't another copy...

...or thirty.

Even if there are, who would have the balls — or the clear lack of ethics — to release them, since the 'only' copy supposedly in existence was publicly destroyed in accordance with the desire of their creator?

-"BB"-

would have the balls — or the clear lack of ethics — to release them, since the 'only' copy supposedly in existence was publicly destroyed in accordance with the desire of their creator?

Maybe somebody whose desire to turn a quick buck and/or get themselves a splash of publicity exceeds their sense of ethics...

I've heard rumors that there may be a few such people around...

Also, someone with a copy of this wouldn't necessarily even have to release it publicly to have a nice payday...

They could sell it to a wealthy Pratchett fan who'd pay a good sum to have it in their private collection...

Lord Jim wrote:... Maybe somebody whose desire to turn a quick buck and/or get themselves a splash of publicity exceeds their sense of ethics... I've heard rumors that there may be a few such people around...

Or someone could assume a pseudonym and get a publisher to print these "unknown" manuscripts. Who would know, being destroyed and all, right?