British science fiction and fantasy author Terry Pratchett, died on Thursday at the age of 66, his publisher said.
Terry died in his home, with his cat sleeping on his bed, surrounded by his family."The world has lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds."
In 2007, Pratchett was diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, which he called an "embuggerance", and became a campaigner to raise awareness of the disease.
Pratchett was known worldwide as the creator of the Discworld novels about a flat, parallel universe balanced on the back of four elephants which themselves stand on the shell of a giant turtle.
The first book in the series, "The Colour of Magic", was published in 1983 and he completed the 41st last summer, before succumbing to the final stages of the Alzheimer's.
"Terry enriched the planet like few before him," he said, adding: "His legacy will endure for decades to come."
Pratchett is survived by his wife Lyn and daughter Rhianna.
