"Yes. I know. He's Vorbis," said Brutha. "Vorbis changed people. Sometimes he
  changed them into dead people. But he always changed them. That was his triumph." 
   -- (Terry Pratchett, Small Gods)

I love this book, Small Gods, one of my favorite books by any author. I think the same could be said of Terry Pratchett, he changed people through his books (and as a bonus generally left them alive). Godspeed Terry.