happyThanks to
shsilver for pointing it out, he's got a good Terry anecdote here and I'll take a moment and include my own.In 2004 I was in Boston for Noreascon Four and there was a delay was we (I was rooming with "The" Donewitz as I recall, Ira why aren't you on LJ?) checked into our room, so off to the lobby bar we went. Terry was one of the Guests of Honour and sure enough I soon spotted him making his way through the hotel lobby. "Hey Terry" I shouted, and when he looked waved him over. "Let us buy you a drink." He graciously accepted and mentioned he could only stay a moment because he was meeting Mike Resnick to discuss a project. We assured him that we knew Mike by sight and would help keep an eye out for him.
It took the hotel nearly 3 hours to get our room ready, but every few minutes during that time some more luminaries would join our crew and be amused by Terry. Mike had, as I recalled shown up pretty quickly and just decided to go with the flow and stayed with us the whole time.
For me, it was one of the most memorable and enjoyable starts to a Worldcon I'd ever experienced.
So gather round folks, and raise your glasses high!
Cheers to Sir Terry!
For the interview I referred to, I was supposed to meet Terry at the hotel he was staying at. It was a rainy night and I figured his flight in might be delayed, nevertheless, I tried my best to arrive at the hotel on time.
When I got to the hotel and asked for Terry at the front desk, they told me he had not checked in. I sat in the lobby and waited. Eventually, a bedraggled, tired, and wet Terry arrived from O'Hare, luggage (not Luggage) in tow. I approached him and he asked if I had received his message. I had not and he apologized.
We walked up to the desk, where Terry checked in. As he checked in, the desk clerk informed Terry that there was a message for him. "Mr. Pratchett's flight was delayed and he'll be a little late for the interview."
My memories of Sir Terry
Barnes & Nobles has an author series and Sir Terry was speaking at the 14th Avenue Union Square B&N, so I grabbed my book with only one coauthor's signature in it hoping Sir Terry would add his to complete my collection.
The B&N person introducing Sir Terry informed that it would only be his new book that he would sign. But I stood in line with a friend who has his book signed and I asked politely if I could get my Good Omens book signed and Sir Terry looked up, winked and told me to take a seat and I might be surprised.
After everyone was done Terry motioned me to come up and as the last person in the US (unless someone nailed him on his way home) I got his signature in my Good Omens book right beside Neil's signature of "to Goddess of the Insane - Burn this book!”
After this Sir Terry was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was writing madly.
Now he is Sir Terry and I am delightedly romping through the Discworld books again.
Oh and Neil Gaiman - NEVER NEVER mention in a line of fanatics when you see Neil about 25 people away -"my god he looks like Howard Stern" and expect to live.
'nuff said.