In 1998 Terry Pratchett received an OBE "for services to literature" but to his surprise and delight the 60 year old writer saw the inclusion of his name in the 2009 New Year's Honours List set to receive a full knighthood.

The science fiction/fantasy writer best known for his Discworld series, made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust in December 2007 after publicly announcing he was suffering from an early-onset of the disease.

One of the world's most treasured authors, Pratchett has sold over 55 million books worldwide (as of 2007) with translations made in 33 different languages thus confirming his global success and popularity. Throughout the 1990's he remained the UK's bestselling author and is currently the second most-read author throughout the British Isles and seventh most-read non-US author in America.

Although his first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971 it was 1983 that saw Pratchett rise to fame with the release of The Colour Of Magic, the first of the well loved and long running Discworld series that captured a huge audience and cemented Pratchett's place within the heart of the public.

"I'm having difficulty fitting it into my head. I'm very pleased indeed. It cheers me up no end." He added: "It will also impress some of my American friends, who started calling me 'Sir' after I received my MBE, which was a little embarrassing."