Tom Wolfe, visionary: 1931-2018

There aren't many people about whom the word 'visionary' would mean so much. Tom Wolfe had a far-reaching insight into his subjects and characters, a highly specific look (the memorable visual branding of his white suit and tailored clothes), and a ringing voice to his writing that stood out even among the singular styles of his New Journalism peers.

Terry Pratchett Tribute: Words Can Change Our World

On 18 February 2009, over a year after he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, one of the world's favourite fantasy authors became Sir Terence David John Pratchett, OBE. On 12 March of this year, Sir Terry (or Pterry, as many of his fans know him) passed away in his home in Broad Chalke (a very Discworldly name), Wiltshire, England.

Sir Terry's coat of arms, from File 770.

Sir Terry inspired a few generations of writers and artists with his fictional universe of Discworld, a planet shaped like a disc carried on the back of four elephants on top of a giant turtle. Far-fetched as the world seems, the people who lived in it were very real, rounded characters who contained whole worlds in themselves.

on the topic of books: Brain Pickings

Illustrating a children's book, especially one with shades of autobiography, presents a unique window into a writer's mind. We can see the things they love and look back on, and maybe confront our own self-doubt. Maybe it's our chance to try art that is new and challenging, to us as well as readers.

On the topic of illustrated children's books, we were reminded of one of our favourite blogs: Brain Pickings.

Brain Pickings is the blog of writer Maria Popova, collecting inspirations, reflections, and creative processes from the world's greatest minds. The blog often features unusual, lesser-known, or especially beautiful illustrated books. Read their retrospective of Alice in Wonderland illustrators, or this child-friendly primer on how babies are made, for examples of Brain Pickings's eclectic taste.