I started reading the Discworld novels in high school in the early 2000s. I definitely felt a change in the writing around Going Postal. The novels were no longer creative chaos the way the were in the 90s. Less plot threats running in parallel, less chaotic stuff happening. But the transition seemed to me so gradual that I wouldn't have made the connection to Pterry's state of mind. It seemed more like he was changing as a writer.
this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2026
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Same impression here. If had just assumed it was his style changing over time. When I learned of his condition I felt that the style change fitted better with that than with just an older author changing his style deliberately.
Very subtle, I couldn't ever have described what was different though.
Going Postal is one of my favorite Discworld novels.
Felt like it was less chaotic and whimsical than earlier ones, but also a little more serious and structured.
But I stopped reading them after that.
I will say that around Going Postal is where I stopped loving the novels. I think there's still some I haven't read.
While I find this analysis interesting on the one hand, I am also a little skeptical on the other. A reduction in the number of adjectives could also suggest that Terry's language was becoming sharper and more focused. I mean, at this point Terry still wrote Night watch, Going postal etc. As for me, things started to get kind of strange around Unseen Academicals. But then it had been already official that Terry was ill. So maybe I was already biased.
Nightwatch was perdection. Going postal had...some moments and phrasing that made me go wait, what?
If i had to pick a moment where things were becoming visible, GP would be it.
Not to say that everything after that continued to degrade, but that was the first one - and i started when Equal Rites was released - that i felt something wasn't right.
@ooli3 oh, I didnt know about his diagnosis.
There are two movies (that I know of) about him and bis battle with dementia:
Back in Black Choosing to die
They are.. heavy, but also deeply moving. Especially the second one.
@Khaliso I may have to wait some time after my mom's battle with her dementia. Right now, it's too close. But, sounds like very important film work.
We know that millions of people are dealing with this, including caregivers. Highly visible celebs like Pratchett, Gene Hackman, and Bruce Willis, give us a sense of how pervasive it is. Robin Williams did not want to put his family through it. I can kind of understand that decision now.
This article could have been very interesting with a graph