I didn't think I could like this guy more and he goes and proves me wrong
http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/sword-made-from-meteorite-not-sci-fi-for-sir-terry-pratchett/19640993?test=latestnews
QuoteENGLISH fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett says he was so excited after being knighted by the Queen that he decided to make his own sword to equip himself for his new status.
It was not enough, however, simply to find some metal and get a blacksmith to bash it into shape.
Pratchett, believing the sword would not truly be his own unless it was made from metal he had produced, found a field with deposits of iron ore near his home in Wiltshire, west of London.
He gathered the deposits and smelted the iron ore himself.
See Sir Terry's meteorite sword here
The author, 62, who has sold about 65 million copies of his books, which include the Discworld series, said: "Most of my life I've been producing stuff which is intangible and so it's amazing the achievement you feel when you have made something which is really real."
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With help from his friend Jake Keen — an expert on ancient metal-making techniques — the author dug up 81kg of ore and smelted it in the grounds of his house, using a makeshift kiln built from clay and hay and fuelled with damp sheep manure.
Pratchett, who has Alzheimer's disease, also said he had thrown in "several pieces of meteorites — thunderbolt iron, you see — highly magical, you've got to chuck that stuff in whether you believe in it or not".
After days of hammering the metal into bars, he took it to a blacksmith, whom he helped to shape it into a blade, which was finished with silverwork.
Pratchett has stored the sword, which he completed last year, in a secret location, apparently concerned about the authorities taking an interest in it.
He said: "It annoys me that knights aren't allowed to carry their swords. That would be knife crime."
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/technology/terry-pratchett-creates-a-sword-with-meteorites/story-e6frfro0-1225926584339#ixzz10BJL2vHo
I didn't know Terry Pratchett had Alzheimer's. :sad:
Quote from: Mistress Freeky, HRN on September 21, 2010, 05:19:50 PM
I didn't know Terry Pratchett had Alzheimer's. :sad:
yeah, that was news to me also. Had a sad moment. Such a mind to go in such a horrible way.
His treatment is going well though. He's on a new drug and says it is very beneficial to him.
That's cool, at least.
Sup,
(http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p467/rizaldy_30/sokka.jpg)
Okay
Not only is he rich
he is a knight
and has a meteorite sword
and a huge wizard beard
but also looks dapper as fuck in a top hat.
Sir Terry wins.
Dude is damn cool!
From what I read it isn't normal Alzheimer's. It is a type that affects what he preceives and the example that he gave was how he would be at the keyboard and not be able to find the w key. He would know that it is there and where it should be but he will look and it is just not there. Something that really sucks for a writer.
He said in an interview that he does all his writing by diction now.