According to an article in The Independent, it was always Terry Pratchett’s wish to see Good Omens adapted. Pratchett had the joy of seeing his and Gaiman’s collaboration become an international bestseller and win awards from World Fantasy, Locus, and HOMer. It would not be the last book Pratchett writes. The beloved author continued following his passion for storytelling even while he was struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2007, and which claimed his life in 2015.
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It was after his funeral that Neil Gaiman began work on the Amazon adaption of Good Omens. In an interview with CNET, Gaiman “recounted how Pratchett, who had Alzheimer’s disease, wrote to him in 2014 imploring him to get Good Omens made”.
[Pratchett said] ‘you have to make it, because you’re the only other person who has the same passion for and understanding for Good Omens I do, and I want to watch it,’ Gaiman explained. ‘I said OK, and then he died, which suddenly turned it into a last request.
Gaiman has been working on the adaptation since, and at last his hard work has paid off with the release of the Good Omens series this Friday, May 31st. It hasn’t been easy working through the grieving process in addition to the workload.
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Gaiman share with Radio Times Magazine the moments that were the most difficult when working on the adaptation.
When I was writing it, it was upsetting because there were times when I would get stuck and I would want to ask Terry for advice and he wasn’t there.
But making it, I did feel his presence.
Neil and Terry signing copies of Good Omens. | Image via Locus Magazine
Grieving the loss of any loved one can be a struggle, but hopefully adapting his and Terry Pratchett’s spellbinding work has helped Neil Gaiman to grieve the loss of his friend.
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