[ OT ] I 'd like to take a moment to appreciate Sir Terry Pratchett .

Terry Pratchett's writing changed my life. 
 
 When I was 16 or 17, my family was heavily religious, with the narrow world view that brings. I had a very sheltered and monitored life. 
 
 I picked up The Light Fantastic from a pile of Westerns/sci-fi/fantasy novels and started reading one afternoon. I did n't finish until well after nightfall. 
 
 I've read a lot of the books, some upwards of a dozen times. I appreciated the practicality of Rincewind and the bone-deep integrity of Vimes. Small Gods gave me an insight into religion that, at first, seem mildly blasphemous. I admired Granny Weatherwax's sureness in who she was, at a time when I did n't know who I was or if there was even anything inside me. Feet of Clay was a special insight into what happens when a few people fight against an overwhelming tide of fear when presented with information that could cripple their world view. Truckers showed me how surprisingly human-centric all our stories tend to be. The Johnny books revealed to me that we tend to be hampered by what we expect, and that we miss what is actually there because of it. 
 
 Over and over, I saw characters who were not limited by what they were or what society expected of them. They simply were. 
 
 The book I still find the most powerful is Night Watch. Vimes still attempts to do the right thing, even though that could destroy his future. He was still willing to do the right thing because it was the right thing, and did n't have the hangups so many other time-traveling stories have, where the characters are so careful to not change the past to ensure their own future comes about. 
 
 I ca n't say enough about Pratchett's influence on my life. The world has lot a lot. I've lost a lot, with his passing. But I've had the honor of reading his stuff at a crucial time in my life, and I believe that has shaped a lot of what I've become. 
 
 My favorite piece of advice: “ Always be wary of any helpful item that weighs less than its operating manual. ”
