Terry Pratchett has a rare form of Alzheimer’s.

I can’t help but wonder… Robert Jordan died of a rare disease this year. And man, these guys have some striking similarities.

Fantasy Author Robert Jordan 1948-2007

Fantasy Author Terry Pratchett 1948-?

I’m not growing a gray beard or buying a black hat or being born in the year 1948. (I might still try to write fantasy one day, though.)

Pratchett asked that we not mourn him just yet, so I’m keeping it light. But I love his stuff, and haven’t read as many words from any other author.

Man, they even have the same leather jacket!

Top 10 Discoveries of 2007 — #9: World’s Oldest Animal

“In October, researchers from Bangor University in Wales were trawling an ocean shelf off the coast of north Iceland when they stumbled on what is believed to be the world’s oldest living animal: a 405 year-old clam. Or it was living, until researchers had to kill it to determine the clam’s age by studying rings on its shell.”

Unsubstantiated reports also indicate that it was delicious.