Discworld author Terry Pratchett makes his own sword out of meteorites after being knighted

Sep 21
2010

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Terry Pratchett is an astonishing chap. For one thing, he’s prolific to the point of making other writers want to vomit in despair: since 1983, he has written two books a year on average. Then there’s the Discworld novels to consider. But he’s also a hero: after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s back in 2007, Pratchett has become a crusader for Alzheimer’s Patient dignity and assisted suicide, as well as donating over a million dollars to find a cure for the disease.

What a guy. No wonder the Queen knighted him last year. Pratchett being Pratchett, though, he just didn’t feel right about becoming a Knight of the Kingdom without a mythical, Excaliburian sword to call his own… so instead of walking around lakes waiting for a watery tart to toss one at him, he decided to make one himself.

Pratchett gathered 175 pounds of iron ore for his sword from a field near his town and working with a friend who is an “expert on ancient metal-making techniques” to craft him a blade, and just to make sure it had some magical properties, he even sprinkled in some old meteorites he had on hand, which should prove handy when he needs to deal a death stroke to Mordred.

Way to go, Pratchett. Jeez, if this guy isn’t cool enough to beat Alzheimer’s, I just don’t know who is.

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