In a very literal sense I wouldn’t have been the man I am if 9 year old me hadn’t stumbled onto a Discworld novel in the late 80’s.

Pratchett’s essential humanism shone (and sometimes shouted) through every page and satirically he was biting but never bitter.

He is without doubt and far away my favourite writer (apologies to Iain M Banks though I’m sure he’d have understood).

I’ve re-read Hogfather every Christmas since it came out.

I was an unsure 17 year old who was uncertain how life would turn out, Now I read it as someone with a family and clear sense of who I am, neither of which 17 year old me would have quite believed possible.

GNU Sir Terry Pratchett.