Fantasy author Terry Pratchett has been named the ‘evergreen’ king in The Bookseller’s first-ever register of titles that have never fallen out of the top 5,000 chart. Only 12 books, out of the more than 1.8 million titles that Nielsen BookScan are on the ‘evergreen’ chart.

Pratchett has three of his early Discworld novels in the selection: The Colour of Magic, Mort and The Light Fantastic. Sebastian Faulks’ Birdsong came out top.

JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit also made the prestigious list.

Terry Goodkind’s Wizard’s First Rule (unabridged) has stormed to the top of the fantasy charts at Audible.co.uk

1. Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind
2. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
3. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
4. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
5. The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
6. Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
7. Outcast by Michelle Paver
8. Prince Caspian by CS Lewis
9. Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind
10. Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett

All the top ten are unabridged readings.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from August 9th to 25th and features 800 authors from 45 countries around the world. Terry Pratchett, Tony Parsons and Young Bond author Charlie Higson will also attend the event alongside the Duchess of Devonshire. Among other big names to attend this year there is Booker prize winner Salman Rushdie, celebrated journalist Kate Aidie and politician John Prescott.

The major star attraction of 2008 is the return of Sir Sean Connery to Edinburgh to showcase his eagerly anticipated autobiography entitled ‘Being a Scot’.

The next release from prolific writer Terry Pratchett comes to us on 11th September this year and is the eagerly awaited young adults, non-Discworld book Nation. Set on a remote tropical island recently hit by a Tsunami, it throws together several characters from very different walks of life  who find themselves stranded together tackling topics such as culture, religion, reality and sex. Whilst there are very real and serious issues in this book  there is also plenty of humour, not least by way of a foul mouthed ship’s parrot stranded also.

Initial feedback on Pratchett’s new book has suggested this is one of his best books yet so get your pre-order in as it’s set to fly off the shelves when it hits the bookshops later this summer!

First published in 1983 The Colour of Magic began the odyssey that is Terry Pratchett’s much loved Discworld and 2008 sees its 25th birthday. Marking this momentous occasion will be the Discworld Conference  on the 22nd-25th August at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham with the guest of honour none other than Terry Pratchett himself. In a recent interview with Neil Gaiman (with whom he co-wrote Good Omens) Terry talks about how the Discworld series has evolved and become more complex over the last 25 years, not only to keep the readers interested but himself amused. He also talks of the accolades he has received in a career spanning over a quarter of a century including honorary doctorates and an OBE no less, however, true to form Pratchett considers his greatest reward the moment he became an honorary brownie

"Not many men can say this,’ Terry says, proudly, ‘but as a result of The Wee Free Men I was made an honorary Brownie for writing a proper girl in a book. I’ve got a woggle and everything. No kidding."

Adapted as a television mini series, graphic novels, computer game and translated into 28 different languages (and counting) the stories of the inhabitants of a flat earth set on the backs of four elephants carried on the back of a turtle continue to catch the imagination of new readers, indeed new generations every day.

Inspirational writer, provider of humour, honorary brownie, Mr Pratchett Sir we salute you!

Read the full interview at http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/navigate.do?pPageID=1575

For full details on The Discworld Conference go to www.dwcon.org

It has been known for some while now that the fantasy author Terry Pratchett is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. He has recently suggested he may have found God after years of atheism. The creator of the Discworld series has spoken of an unexplained experience shortly after his diagnosis with the condition. In an interview with News Review, the author also said: "It is just possible that once you have got past all the gods that we have created with big beards and many human traits, just beyond all that, on the other side of physics, there just may be the ordered structure from which everything flows." Pratchett had previously said that he "was rather an angry with God for not existing".

The 60-year-old  has sold more than fifty five million books believes he may be able to write another two or so books before his condition becomes too severe. He has also expressed his anger that some people of his age are considered too young to be treated with the drug Aricept on the NHS. The author has pledged more than £494,000 to to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust.

The UK’s biggest audio-book web site has a fantastic array of fantasy books from all the top authors. The top 10 for May 2008 shows that Philip Pullman and Terry Pratchett transfer extremely well to audio-book - Terry Goodkind’s Wizard’s First Rule is the Editor’s Pick. The links below lead to reviews on the titles (written word not audio-book). Click on the Audible.co.uk banner on the right to download these titles today.

1. Northern Lights (Unabridged) - Philip Pullman
2. The Subtle Knife (Unabridged) - Philip Pullman
3. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (Unabridged) - Susanna Clarke
4. The Amber Spyglass (Unabridged) - Philip Pullman
5. The Hobbit (Unabridged) - JRR Tolkien
6. Once Upon a Time in the North (Unabridged) - Philip Pullman
7. Wizard’s First Rule (Unabridged) - Terry Goodkind
8. Thief of Time (Unabridged) - Terry Pratchett
9. The Colour of Magic (Unabridged) - Terry Pratchett
10. Monstrous Regiment (Unabridged) - Terry Pratchett

Audiobook downloads - Visit audible.co.uk

Terry Pratchett has become a patron of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust. The world-famous fantasy writer announced he had Alzheimer’s in December 2007 and has since donated $1 million £513,000 to help find a cure for dementia.

Terry Pratchett said, "Alzheimer’s is a nasty disease, surrounded by shadows and small, largely unseen tragedies. I understand the desperation of sufferers and their carers and their hopes for, if not a cure, at least some regime that might help us live with Alzheimer’s."

A spokesperson for the Research, Rebecca Wood said the charity is "so pleased" to have Pratchett’s support, describing him as "an inspiration. With a force like Terry demanding a drastic increase in dementia research funding, the government must recognise soon that it can no longer put off urgently needed reform," she added.

The announcement was made at the same time as the Trust released that 25 million people in the UK are affected by dementia. 42% know somebody who is suffering from dementia.

Terry Pratchett biography, bibliography and book reviews

Fantasy author Terry Pratchett is heading to Taiwan with the BBC Sky at Night team to view the total eclipse of the sun next year. He will board the cruise ship Superstar Libra, organised by travel company Eclipse of the Century which will leave Taipei on the 17th July 2009 and travel for 9 days taking in Eclipse Day on the 22nd of July. At the point of greatest eclipse the totality will last for 6.4 minutes, something that will not happen again until 2132. 

The reason Pratchett and the Sky at Night team are travelling so far is to reach the optimum position, approximately 12 nautical miles of the Japanese island of Yakushima. Terry Pratchett will be accompanied by Dr Chris Linott who commented "A total eclipse is an emotional event; falling under the Moon’s shadow is an experience unlike any other, and I’m looking forward to having time to wallow a little next July".

For more information, costs and ticket availability aboard the cruise ships, please click on the following link.

Terry Pratchett joins the eclipse chasers - Times Online

Terry Pratchett biography, bibliography and book reviews

On the 1st of May 2008, Alzheimer’s Trust Research will be hosting a dinner with Terry Pratchett attending as a special guest. Terry Pratchett and Dr Raj Persaud will spend time talking to the guests and in particular about Alzheimer’s, its effects and there involvement in the Trust.

Places at the dinner are be auctioned to the highest bidder and pledges can be made by email to terrypratchettdinner@alzheimers-research.org.uk or by letter to

The Alzheimer’s Research Trust, The Stables, Station Road, Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22 5LR or fax to 01223 843325.

The closing date is the 3pm on the 21st of April and the successful bidders will receive notification by the 24th of April.

Terry Pratchett biography