The fiercely funny Terry Pratchett passed away yesterday. He was one of my guides through the insanity of today’s world, wielding humour like a sword in the face of injustice and facing fear head on, armed with little more than a swagger and a bad pun. He used the world of fantasy to examine humankind’s frailties, follies and foibles with unrelenting honesty.

If you’ve read his works you know what a blow it is to lose such an imaginative force far too early. If you’ve never read his books, rush out and discover “The Colour of Magic” “Equal Rites”, “Mort” and “The Light Fantastic” now to start you on your journey. In memory of a great, great talent, this week’s travel theme looks at all things fantastic and fantastical. I start with some photos of the otherworldly Yellowstone.

Next, an explosion of fantasy in gingerbread – a Brothers Grimm themed gingerbread castle in Seattle’s annual Christmas Gingerbread Village.

Brothers Grimm Castle of Fairy Tales

Armies of Nutcrackers and Reindeer in ballet shoes are just some of the fantastical things that make Leavenworth a town less ordinary.

I hope you’re ready to trip the Light Fantastic and rustle up some truly imaginative images for your interpretation of this week’s theme. If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:

• Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Fantastic
• Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
• Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
• Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!

Here are some words of wisdom from Terry Pratchett and his Discworld characters.

So much universe, and so little time. – The Last Hero

Most of the great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally evil, but by people being fundamentally people. – Good Omens

It’s still magic even if you know how it’s done. – A Hat Full of Sky

Death isn’t cruel, merely terribly, terribly good at his job. – Sourcery

No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away. – Reaper Man

In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, Death was a skeleton who spoke IN CAPITAL LETTERS and rode a horse called Binky. In the world Terry has left behind, Death is a skeleton on a horse called Binky who took Terry by the hand far too soon. I will miss him terribly.

xxx Ailsa