Dear Almost Sensible,
A successor to Pratchett, never!!
I am not decrying Mr Gaiman his collaboration with Pratchett to give us "Good Omens" is masterful, a book everyone should read, but Gaiman can never match the mind that is/was Pratchett, I say is because as long as we have his books we will always have Pratchett.
But your article does touch on something which Pratchett chuntered on about incessantly, the story telling ape and why he coined the word narrativium.
http://narrativium.org/We all love a good story, it is part of being human and it is why when I tried to get my head around evolution I turned to Pratchett and his Science of Discworld series in which he ( in collaboration with two scientists ) using the Wizards of Discworld as part of the story, ( they had to stop Darwin writing "The Theology of Species" ) gave me a better insight into evolution, why, because the science was wrapped up in a great story.
Just to add ( and you heard it here first ) in years to come Pratchetts books will make it into the National Curriculum, they will be a must read for kids of all ages, from "Tiffany Aching" and "The Wee Free Men" right through to his "Science of Discworld" series, they will open kids eyes to the wonders of literature, taking them on journeys to Shakespeare, Steam Trains, theology, Vampires, Witches, Mans inhumanity to man, and even the wonderful world of Poo
And to end,
Dear Vlad,
Not all atheists are bad, some of them are decidedly cheerful, God Bless you Sir Terry, the Cheerful Atheist.
Gonnagle.
