Terry Pratchett was revered for his unique approach to fantasy, filtering traditional genre tropes through his trademark humor and social satire. Born in 1948 in Beaconsfield, England, Pratchett discovered a love for science-fiction and fantasy storytelling early on. His first short story was published in a school magazine when he was a teenager and then in Science Fantasy magazine two years later. Though he began a career in journalism after leaving school at age 17, he also kept writing fiction. Pratchett released his debut novel, The Carpet People, in 1971, but it was The Colour of Magic in 1983 that introduced the world to his most iconic creation: the Discworld series, spanning 41 novels.

In this beloved series, Pratchett’s rich imagination brought readers a giant turtle who carries the entire fictional world on a disc on its back through space, the hapless wizard Rincewind, and the personification of Death. His prolific work earned him several awards in his career, and in 2009, he was honored with one of the U.K.’s highest honors when he was knighted for his services to literature. Pratchett continued writing until his death in 2015 at age 66. Two years later, per his wishes — and his typical sense of humor — a hard drive containing his unfinished manuscripts was run over by a steamroller and destroyed.