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Discworld #11
Alles Sense
Wie sagte doch dereinst ein berühmter Schotte: "Nichts ist für die Ewigkeit!" Und schon gar nicht irgendein Job und sei er noch so wichtig. In diesem Fall ist jedoch ein wenig Überraschung angebracht. Schließlich passiert es nicht oft, dass Gevatter Tod entlassen wird. Doch genau dieser Fall ist nun eingetreten. Ein wenig verletzt zieht sich der Sensenmann in ein Dorf zurück, in dem er sich unter dem Pseudonym "Bill Tür" als Knecht verdingt. Bis ein passender Ersatz für Tod gefunden ist, liegt seine Arbeit jedoch brach und so sammeln sich immer mehr Untote an, die auf ihr verdientes (oder unverdientes) Ableben warten.
Natürlich finden sich die meisten Toten in Ankh-Morpork, der größten Stadt der Scheibenwelt. Ruckzuck bildet sich eine Selbsthilfegruppe, die versucht, mit Flugzetteln und anderen Werbegags auf sich aufmerksam zu machen. Nichts für den alten und toten Zauberer Windle Poons, der unbedingt herauskriegen möchte, wieso es ihm verwehrt bleibt, als Frau wiedergeboren zu werden. Außerdem sind da noch die kleinen Drahtgebilde auf Rädern, die überall in der Stadt auftauchen...
Oft kopiert, doch nie übertrumpft: Terry Pratchetts "Scheibenwelt"-Zyklus dürfte wohl den meisten Freunden der Fantasy irgendwann einmal untergekommen sein. Seine Scheibenwelt, eine Welt, die von vier Elefanten getragen, auf dem Rücken einer Schildkröte durchs All gleitet, ist wohl das Skurrilste, was sich ein Mensch jemals erdacht hat. Mit seiner unnachahmlichen Art schafft Pratchett es immer wieder, dem Leser auch die unwahrscheinlichsten Ereignisse glaubhaft zu vermitteln. Beispielsweise wieso Einkaufswagen die Existenz von gesunden Städten gefährden. Der Erfolg der Scheibenwelt-Romane zeigt sich mitunter in recht merkwürdiger Form: In England gehören sie zu den meistgeklauten Büchern in den Geschäften. --Jun Lee
286 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
3221 people are currently reading
32713 people want to read
About the author
Terry Pratchett
684 books46k followersSir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983–2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,901 reviews
May 4, 2022
Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.
A wonderful addition to the Discworld universe with an extremely unique plotline
While this book is not at the level of "laugh out loud" funny that some other Discworld books are, the plotline of this book is so wonderful that it more than makes up for it. This book is divided into two main plots, both of which are equally fascinating.
The character of "Death" gets retired in this book, so this 7' tall skeleton has to figure out how to live a normal life and get a job. He takes up employment on a farm, and the dynamic he has with the farmers of this town is absolutely amazing.
Meanwhile, since Death is no longer working killing people, nobody can die. Which is terribly inconvenient for Windle Poons, whose scheduled death doesn't occur and he has to figure out how to live his life after death - which isn't supposed to happen.
I highly encourage people to read the "Death" series of Discworld books - all of them are enjoyable and a minimum of 4/5 stars for me.
A wonderful addition to the Discworld universe with an extremely unique plotline
While this book is not at the level of "laugh out loud" funny that some other Discworld books are, the plotline of this book is so wonderful that it more than makes up for it. This book is divided into two main plots, both of which are equally fascinating.
The character of "Death" gets retired in this book, so this 7' tall skeleton has to figure out how to live a normal life and get a job. He takes up employment on a farm, and the dynamic he has with the farmers of this town is absolutely amazing.
Meanwhile, since Death is no longer working killing people, nobody can die. Which is terribly inconvenient for Windle Poons, whose scheduled death doesn't occur and he has to figure out how to live his life after death - which isn't supposed to happen.
I highly encourage people to read the "Death" series of Discworld books - all of them are enjoyable and a minimum of 4/5 stars for me.
April 12, 2009
How can you not like Death?
HOW, INDEED?
I'm sorry, did someone say something?
NEVER MIND. I'LL ONLY BE HERE A MOMENT.
Oh, okay then. Anyway, as I was...erk...
HOW, INDEED?
I'm sorry, did someone say something?
NEVER MIND. I'LL ONLY BE HERE A MOMENT.
Oh, okay then. Anyway, as I was...erk...
July 19, 2020
The second DEATH is as hilarious as the first one, this time positioning the friendly reaper in a perfect setting for having philosophical and deep thoughts about human nature and life in general.
The auditors are a mixture of bureaucracy, monotony, surveillance, and total order, each reader might find a subjective real life example for higher, creativity and life hating entities mostly interested in controlling everything, not even trusting each other, and hating generally anything different, new, or progressive. The way the are used in the DEATH novels is a good alternative theory for the real foundations of the physical laws, the universe, and anything, so string theory, behold and be aware!
As I always say, I do know far too little about philosophy and mythology to get all the innuendos, inspirations, and connotations Pratchett is certainly using and many readers may find far more subtle, hidden, easter eggs than just the superficial humor I am able to identify.
Shopping centers and consumerism, or in this case interdimensional city parasite malls, went a far way and evolution, similar to mallmargeddons in real life that became the last stage of an uncertain development since Pratchett wrote this one and it would be interesting to know how he would have satirized the big malls and megastores first eating away the rest of the food chain to finally be cannibalized by online trade.
I will highly subjectively and subliminally interpret is as out of control predator neoliberal capitalism randomly detected by ivory towers humanities who are unable to deal with a creature some of them helped constructing. And buy my stuff mostly online, because it´s so cheap, of course, hypocritical as I am, but organic at least. But it could also be seen as the warning of natural disaster or environmental destruction by scientists with not enough data, the impending doom of the manipulation of the laws of physics by science detected by science itself, etc. As always in Pratchett´s works, there are manifold ways to widen one´s horizon with the mind penetrating subtility he offers.
Prepare for an example why the causality and paths of the universe shouldn´t be manipulated and what happens if DEATH doesn´t do his job anymore, such as zombie
I guess I should watch the movie Repo man, or read the script, to get more of the hidden humor related to the pun, although I don´t know if there are really elements of it in the novel, as I haven´t seen it. Tricky.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together
The auditors are a mixture of bureaucracy, monotony, surveillance, and total order, each reader might find a subjective real life example for higher, creativity and life hating entities mostly interested in controlling everything, not even trusting each other, and hating generally anything different, new, or progressive. The way the are used in the DEATH novels is a good alternative theory for the real foundations of the physical laws, the universe, and anything, so string theory, behold and be aware!
As I always say, I do know far too little about philosophy and mythology to get all the innuendos, inspirations, and connotations Pratchett is certainly using and many readers may find far more subtle, hidden, easter eggs than just the superficial humor I am able to identify.
Shopping centers and consumerism, or in this case interdimensional city parasite malls, went a far way and evolution, similar to mallmargeddons in real life that became the last stage of an uncertain development since Pratchett wrote this one and it would be interesting to know how he would have satirized the big malls and megastores first eating away the rest of the food chain to finally be cannibalized by online trade.
I will highly subjectively and subliminally interpret is as out of control predator neoliberal capitalism randomly detected by ivory towers humanities who are unable to deal with a creature some of them helped constructing. And buy my stuff mostly online, because it´s so cheap, of course, hypocritical as I am, but organic at least. But it could also be seen as the warning of natural disaster or environmental destruction by scientists with not enough data, the impending doom of the manipulation of the laws of physics by science detected by science itself, etc. As always in Pratchett´s works, there are manifold ways to widen one´s horizon with the mind penetrating subtility he offers.
Prepare for an example why the causality and paths of the universe shouldn´t be manipulated and what happens if DEATH doesn´t do his job anymore, such as zombie
I guess I should watch the movie Repo man, or read the script, to get more of the hidden humor related to the pun, although I don´t know if there are really elements of it in the novel, as I haven´t seen it. Tricky.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together
August 26, 2014
Probably my favorite of all of the Discworld novels (and that's a hard choice, given my total love of the series). Of all of Pratchett's many quirky characters, I think I love Death the best, though I couldn't begin to tell you why. In this installment, Death gets fired and has to get a day job. In typical Discworld fashion, not everything goes according to plan.
Don't pay attention to the critics' quotes on the front of the book. Anyone who compares Pratchett to Tolkien or Douglas Adams hasn't actually read any of the three. It might be better to compare him to Jonathan Swift or Mark Twain; in spite of the dwarves, wizards, witches, werewolves, and other fantastic characters, Pratchett's novels are more a commentary on human nature & society than high fantasy. Great fun!
Don't pay attention to the critics' quotes on the front of the book. Anyone who compares Pratchett to Tolkien or Douglas Adams hasn't actually read any of the three. It might be better to compare him to Jonathan Swift or Mark Twain; in spite of the dwarves, wizards, witches, werewolves, and other fantastic characters, Pratchett's novels are more a commentary on human nature & society than high fantasy. Great fun!
July 7, 2018
Today would have been Sir Terry's 70th birthday.
As some here know, I've put off reading the series because I still tear up when thinking of this great man and the terrible loss his death meant. Especially his books featuring Death as the main character are hard to read because their messages are hitting so close to home. Nevertheless, I agreed to read one book per month and this month, of all possible months, it was this novel's turn.
Sometimes life just loves punching you in the gut.
And yes, I half laughed hysterically, half cried pitifully while reading.
I've actually read Reaper Man before but it's been a long while and I must revise my original opinion: THIS is the best Death novel by Pratchett. Hands down.
The story is that some cosmic entities decide that the Discworld's Death has developed a personality and that sort of thing is simply not allowed. Therefore, he receives his very own hourglass and becomes mortal. Retired.
He decides to spend the time and see what life is all about.
In the meantime, the Discworld suffers some very weird incidents because once death isn't doing his job anymore, things start falling apart of course. Thus, people die but aren't dead, plants keep on growing and there are these little things that are plopping into existance everywhere (without people noticing).
In Ankh-Morpork, one of the settings, the wizards think it's the gods, the priests think it's magic and Lord Vetinari doesn't care who or what it is so long as order is restored again.
Windle Poons, a dying wizard, is trying to complete the process of dying, very hard even, but simply can't manage (not even when he gets buried by his colleagues). So he embarks on a journey, finding out what living really means and how much fun it can be - aided by a few other undead people.
Mrs Cake, a medium also living in the city, knows she has to tell someone what is going so horribly wrong, but learned never to trust any priests so who to turn to?!
Meanwhile, Death has become a farmhand and quite dedicated to his job.
We get some familiar characters such as the wizards and the Librarian, but many new ones are introduced as well (Lupin and Ludmila for example and wasn't that a sweet plot of Poons'?) and they immediately have found their way into my heart. SQUEAK! And we even get a pretty great romance in here! Seriously, if you want to know how to treat the woman you love, take notes from the Reaper himself.
This book is full of really profound messages about life and death and making your life count, if only by giving others some of your time (in any way this can be meant), religion, time in general, friendship, love ... Death is Pratchett's masterpiece although many of his other Discworld characters are fantastic as well. This novel, though extremely funny, might not be as hilarious as some of the others, but I have to say that due to the impeccable combination of profound messages, silly adventures and laugh-out-loud moments, it is simply perfect.
As some here know, I've put off reading the series because I still tear up when thinking of this great man and the terrible loss his death meant. Especially his books featuring Death as the main character are hard to read because their messages are hitting so close to home. Nevertheless, I agreed to read one book per month and this month, of all possible months, it was this novel's turn.
Sometimes life just loves punching you in the gut.
And yes, I half laughed hysterically, half cried pitifully while reading.
I've actually read Reaper Man before but it's been a long while and I must revise my original opinion: THIS is the best Death novel by Pratchett. Hands down.
The story is that some cosmic entities decide that the Discworld's Death has developed a personality and that sort of thing is simply not allowed. Therefore, he receives his very own hourglass and becomes mortal. Retired.
He decides to spend the time and see what life is all about.
In the meantime, the Discworld suffers some very weird incidents because once death isn't doing his job anymore, things start falling apart of course. Thus, people die but aren't dead, plants keep on growing and there are these little things that are plopping into existance everywhere (without people noticing).
In Ankh-Morpork, one of the settings, the wizards think it's the gods, the priests think it's magic and Lord Vetinari doesn't care who or what it is so long as order is restored again.
Windle Poons, a dying wizard, is trying to complete the process of dying, very hard even, but simply can't manage (not even when he gets buried by his colleagues). So he embarks on a journey, finding out what living really means and how much fun it can be - aided by a few other undead people.
Mrs Cake, a medium also living in the city, knows she has to tell someone what is going so horribly wrong, but learned never to trust any priests so who to turn to?!
Meanwhile, Death has become a farmhand and quite dedicated to his job.
We get some familiar characters such as the wizards and the Librarian, but many new ones are introduced as well (Lupin and Ludmila for example and wasn't that a sweet plot of Poons'?) and they immediately have found their way into my heart. SQUEAK! And we even get a pretty great romance in here! Seriously, if you want to know how to treat the woman you love, take notes from the Reaper himself.
This book is full of really profound messages about life and death and making your life count, if only by giving others some of your time (in any way this can be meant), religion, time in general, friendship, love ... Death is Pratchett's masterpiece although many of his other Discworld characters are fantastic as well. This novel, though extremely funny, might not be as hilarious as some of the others, but I have to say that due to the impeccable combination of profound messages, silly adventures and laugh-out-loud moments, it is simply perfect.
August 11, 2024
In 1976 Blue Oyster Cult sang Don’t Fear the Reaper. In 1991, Sir Terry Pratchett first published his 11th Discworld novel Reaper Man. The comparison is mine, apparently Pratchett titled the book as a reference to Alex Cox’s 1984 fantasy film starring Emilio Estevez.
So, what happens when our Discworld friend Death is given a timer and … time to spend it? We get this fun book that helps us to revisit Discworld and some of our favorite Pratchett characters like Death, the Unseen Academy staff, Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler, some of the City Watch and an Ankh-Morpork host of otherworldly Ghostbuster type shenanigans.
When Death takes a break out on the farm, all the spirits and ghosts and poltergeists and spooks back up with no where to go. Much of the book follows elderly wizard Windle Poons as he experiences more of life than he expected he had coming.
Funny as always, and insightful and clever and playfully satirical, in this we also see Pratchett’s unguarded and affectionate side. For Discworld fans.
*** 2024 reread -
Who ya gonna call?
Pratchett first published this gem in 1991, and Murray and gang put out Ghostbusters in 1984, and the subtle (and not so subtle) references are golden. Actually, an observant reader of Pratchett will usually find lots of allusions to popular culture, mythology, psychology and a myriad of other themes for which our very own Knight sorts theings out for us.
Death has taken something of a holiday and of course things on Discworld are more fun than in our own.
The quality of his satire is brilliant.
Highly, highly recommended.
So, what happens when our Discworld friend Death is given a timer and … time to spend it? We get this fun book that helps us to revisit Discworld and some of our favorite Pratchett characters like Death, the Unseen Academy staff, Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler, some of the City Watch and an Ankh-Morpork host of otherworldly Ghostbuster type shenanigans.
When Death takes a break out on the farm, all the spirits and ghosts and poltergeists and spooks back up with no where to go. Much of the book follows elderly wizard Windle Poons as he experiences more of life than he expected he had coming.
Funny as always, and insightful and clever and playfully satirical, in this we also see Pratchett’s unguarded and affectionate side. For Discworld fans.
*** 2024 reread -
Who ya gonna call?
Pratchett first published this gem in 1991, and Murray and gang put out Ghostbusters in 1984, and the subtle (and not so subtle) references are golden. Actually, an observant reader of Pratchett will usually find lots of allusions to popular culture, mythology, psychology and a myriad of other themes for which our very own Knight sorts theings out for us.
Death has taken something of a holiday and of course things on Discworld are more fun than in our own.
The quality of his satire is brilliant.
Highly, highly recommended.
July 4, 2017
“No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away...”
"I want more Death" is what I spent most of this book thinking. 60% of this was about Windle Poons and other wizards and I just wasn't into the silly randomness of the problems they were dealing with. The "life force" issues felt too much like the alchemy issues in Moving Pictures, and I just couldn't get into that one.
I wanted to experience more of Death's life on the farm, and his whole side of things. I liked The Death of Rats and The Death of Fleas as an added touch. A little nod to Mort or something may have been nice.
This isn't bad, I just didn't get all that much out of it. It has my favourite cover (not the exact one on this edition, but close enough) so I was a little bit overexcited maybe? I don't know, I'm just a bit disappointed.
"I want more Death" is what I spent most of this book thinking. 60% of this was about Windle Poons and other wizards and I just wasn't into the silly randomness of the problems they were dealing with. The "life force" issues felt too much like the alchemy issues in Moving Pictures, and I just couldn't get into that one.
I wanted to experience more of Death's life on the farm, and his whole side of things. I liked The Death of Rats and The Death of Fleas as an added touch. A little nod to Mort or something may have been nice.
This isn't bad, I just didn't get all that much out of it. It has my favourite cover (not the exact one on this edition, but close enough) so I was a little bit overexcited maybe? I don't know, I'm just a bit disappointed.
October 2, 2024
Series Buddy Read with Trish 2024 onwards
Well as things started to get better (see status update for context), and I felt more like getting back on the book reading merry go round, I thought I’d better get back to the series read (Trish is so far ahead but hey ho). And this is a brilliant episode in the series to do that.
I know I’ve said it before but this is probably my favourite Discworld novel. See below for my younger self’s thoughts. God I was good then ha ha
Series Read 2019 that I didn’t quite finish
Wow, where’s the 6 star button
Ok , where should I start with this ? Some of TP's Discworld novels are great stories, full of humour with amazingly real and detailed characters that get into scrapes, have adventures, inherit kingdoms, fight wars in far off places (near the Rim ? ) And these books to me are 4 or 5 star reads depending on the humour content and the characters.
And then, well yes, and then there are TP's books that are a parody of human life, allegorical masterpieces that mirror the round-world we live upon, but these tales are told using some of the most amusing and amazing characters authors have ever created.
DEATH for instance, over the few books he has appeared in to date (I am reading the Discworld novels in order), DEATH has grown into a fully rounded (sic) character. Sir Terry has really got under his skin (oops sorry) and knows what makes him tick, how he reacts to certain situations, to such an extent that as you read he becomes real to the reader. You are there with him as he reaps the field, as he sharpens his scythe and as he rides away on Binky.
Ditto with the Unseen University Librarian, yes he only says Oook, but you begin to understand him. You want to share his world as he hunts for his next banana or as he delves into the magical depths of the library to find the one "tome" that could get the wizards out of the mess they're in.
I could go on about how his characters and stories mirror some of the pressing issues in OUR world, how through his tales he shows us OUR insensitivity, prejudice and bigotry, and that is all true, and also very important to realise, but primarily he is just an astonishing story teller.
This book does contain DEATH, the librarian, the Wizards and many more and is in my humble opinion (be it h'ever so 'umble) the best so far, a true masterpiece of literature, one that will remain with me along with probably another couple of dozen books that I have read over my 60 years and 78 days.
As the French say "Chapeau" Sir Terry.
Well as things started to get better (see status update for context), and I felt more like getting back on the book reading merry go round, I thought I’d better get back to the series read (Trish is so far ahead but hey ho). And this is a brilliant episode in the series to do that.
I know I’ve said it before but this is probably my favourite Discworld novel. See below for my younger self’s thoughts. God I was good then ha ha
Series Read 2019 that I didn’t quite finish
Wow, where’s the 6 star button
Ok , where should I start with this ? Some of TP's Discworld novels are great stories, full of humour with amazingly real and detailed characters that get into scrapes, have adventures, inherit kingdoms, fight wars in far off places (near the Rim ? ) And these books to me are 4 or 5 star reads depending on the humour content and the characters.
And then, well yes, and then there are TP's books that are a parody of human life, allegorical masterpieces that mirror the round-world we live upon, but these tales are told using some of the most amusing and amazing characters authors have ever created.
DEATH for instance, over the few books he has appeared in to date (I am reading the Discworld novels in order), DEATH has grown into a fully rounded (sic) character. Sir Terry has really got under his skin (oops sorry) and knows what makes him tick, how he reacts to certain situations, to such an extent that as you read he becomes real to the reader. You are there with him as he reaps the field, as he sharpens his scythe and as he rides away on Binky.
Ditto with the Unseen University Librarian, yes he only says Oook, but you begin to understand him. You want to share his world as he hunts for his next banana or as he delves into the magical depths of the library to find the one "tome" that could get the wizards out of the mess they're in.
I could go on about how his characters and stories mirror some of the pressing issues in OUR world, how through his tales he shows us OUR insensitivity, prejudice and bigotry, and that is all true, and also very important to realise, but primarily he is just an astonishing story teller.
This book does contain DEATH, the librarian, the Wizards and many more and is in my humble opinion (be it h'ever so 'umble) the best so far, a true masterpiece of literature, one that will remain with me along with probably another couple of dozen books that I have read over my 60 years and 78 days.
As the French say "Chapeau" Sir Terry.
June 27, 2024
Re-Read 6/26/24:
Each time I read these Discworlds (and this is #3) I find something new, or rather, there is something new in me that wants to read it a different way.
So this time I'm enjoying it much more than my second time and closer to my first, and the best of all three. That is to say, I SO GET that Death needs a holiday.
And you know what? Fuck work. Life can handle itself. Or rather, it might get a little backlog, but who cares. A little wobbly universe ain't nothing, no?
I'll always miss Bill. Or rather, I'll miss him all but one time.
Original Review:
Re-read with buddies!
I suppose it helps that I'm already a lifelong fan of Pratchett, but even objectively, this is a delightful novel about Death's retirement. Sure, he was tricked, but he really needed some time off. Or some time, period.
The magicians were delightful, as usual, and the undead, even more so. This is the zombie apocalypse, Discworld-style, when no one's allowed to die.
It was rather pastoral. :)
I wouldn't say this is my favorite of the Discworld series, but it *does* mark the inclusion of one of my absolute favorite Discworld characters of all time.
Each time I read these Discworlds (and this is #3) I find something new, or rather, there is something new in me that wants to read it a different way.
So this time I'm enjoying it much more than my second time and closer to my first, and the best of all three. That is to say, I SO GET that Death needs a holiday.
And you know what? Fuck work. Life can handle itself. Or rather, it might get a little backlog, but who cares. A little wobbly universe ain't nothing, no?
I'll always miss Bill. Or rather, I'll miss him all but one time.
Original Review:
Re-read with buddies!
I suppose it helps that I'm already a lifelong fan of Pratchett, but even objectively, this is a delightful novel about Death's retirement. Sure, he was tricked, but he really needed some time off. Or some time, period.
The magicians were delightful, as usual, and the undead, even more so. This is the zombie apocalypse, Discworld-style, when no one's allowed to die.
It was rather pastoral. :)
I wouldn't say this is my favorite of the Discworld series, but it *does* mark the inclusion of one of my absolute favorite Discworld characters of all time.
July 18, 2021
This Discworld's book has significant features of the others: parody, irony, interesting plot and funny characters. But somehow I didn't find it as hilarious and exciting as the other books.
February 22, 2021
"This isn't some sort of joke, is it?" he added hopefully.
I AM NOT KNOWN FOR MY SENSE OF FUN.
"Well, of course not, no offense meant. But listen, you can't die, because you're Death, you'd have to happen to yourself, it'd be like that snake that eats its own tail--"
NEVERTHELESS, I AM GOING TO DIE. THERE IS NO APPEAL.
"But what will happen to me?" Albert said. Terror glittered on his words like flakes of metal on the edge of a knife.
THERE WILL BE A NEW DEATH.
I had high hopes for Reaper Man, as I've really grown to love the character Death in Discworld, and as the book gets really high scores on Goodreads, but this is, sadly, my least favourite of the Discworld books I've read so far. In this book, Death is forced out of the job, and people in the Discworld stop dying, creating all sorts of problems, like undead wizards walking the Discworld, and excess life energy building up. Can Death regain his throne, or is the Discworld, coming apart at the seams, doomed in his absence?
It pains me to give this book three stars, because it introduces some characters that have become instant favourites for me. There's Windle Poons, the 130-year-old and now-undead wizard, Miss Renata Flitworth, the elderly, stuck-in-her-ways farmer who takes in the excommunicated Death (under the alias Bill Door) as a worker on her farm, and the band of wizards, led by Unseen University Archchancellor Ridcully, who try to right the wrong of the Discworld by hilariously (and repeatedly) trying to kill the undead Windle. In this respect, this book definitely has the strongest cast of characters of any Discworld book I've read yet.
I also really liked the storyline involving Death and Miss Flitworth, and wish the novel focused on it more. For me, the part of the story that followed the wizards fell mostly flat. They mostly just wander around and fight off the weird shopping cart-like enemies of the book. These parts are overlong and downright boring much of the time. They also don't really seem to add any value to the story, or at least I didn't see any value in them. I found the usual comedy of Terry Pratchett missing for much of this story arc.
In addition to this, I found the plotline around the snow globes and the shopping cart-like things they hatch into to be really weird. It's eventually somewhat explained near the end, but by then I didn't really care anymore, and still felt the whole thing was mostly confusing by the end of the book.
Overall, there are positives and negatives to this book, but the negatives slightly outweigh the positives. The characters are superb, the Death storyline is great, and the ending is strong, but those points just can't negate a meandering plot and the many pages of pointless filler that was the wizard storyline from the middle to the end of this book. I'm disappointed, but I also love most of the books I've read so far in this series, so I'm looking forward to my next Discworld adventure.
I AM NOT KNOWN FOR MY SENSE OF FUN.
"Well, of course not, no offense meant. But listen, you can't die, because you're Death, you'd have to happen to yourself, it'd be like that snake that eats its own tail--"
NEVERTHELESS, I AM GOING TO DIE. THERE IS NO APPEAL.
"But what will happen to me?" Albert said. Terror glittered on his words like flakes of metal on the edge of a knife.
THERE WILL BE A NEW DEATH.
I had high hopes for Reaper Man, as I've really grown to love the character Death in Discworld, and as the book gets really high scores on Goodreads, but this is, sadly, my least favourite of the Discworld books I've read so far. In this book, Death is forced out of the job, and people in the Discworld stop dying, creating all sorts of problems, like undead wizards walking the Discworld, and excess life energy building up. Can Death regain his throne, or is the Discworld, coming apart at the seams, doomed in his absence?
It pains me to give this book three stars, because it introduces some characters that have become instant favourites for me. There's Windle Poons, the 130-year-old and now-undead wizard, Miss Renata Flitworth, the elderly, stuck-in-her-ways farmer who takes in the excommunicated Death (under the alias Bill Door) as a worker on her farm, and the band of wizards, led by Unseen University Archchancellor Ridcully, who try to right the wrong of the Discworld by hilariously (and repeatedly) trying to kill the undead Windle. In this respect, this book definitely has the strongest cast of characters of any Discworld book I've read yet.
I also really liked the storyline involving Death and Miss Flitworth, and wish the novel focused on it more. For me, the part of the story that followed the wizards fell mostly flat. They mostly just wander around and fight off the weird shopping cart-like enemies of the book. These parts are overlong and downright boring much of the time. They also don't really seem to add any value to the story, or at least I didn't see any value in them. I found the usual comedy of Terry Pratchett missing for much of this story arc.
In addition to this, I found the plotline around the snow globes and the shopping cart-like things they hatch into to be really weird. It's eventually somewhat explained near the end, but by then I didn't really care anymore, and still felt the whole thing was mostly confusing by the end of the book.
Overall, there are positives and negatives to this book, but the negatives slightly outweigh the positives. The characters are superb, the Death storyline is great, and the ending is strong, but those points just can't negate a meandering plot and the many pages of pointless filler that was the wizard storyline from the middle to the end of this book. I'm disappointed, but I also love most of the books I've read so far in this series, so I'm looking forward to my next Discworld adventure.
March 17, 2025
La muerte ha desaparecido. Se la supone... Ejem... En otro lado. Lo que lleva al tipo de caos que siempre se produce cuando un servicio público es retirado. Mientras tanto, en una pequeña granja lejos, muy lejos, un oscuro y alto extranjero está demostrando ser realmente habilidoso manejando la hoz.
Hay una cosecha que recoger...
Después de la guardia de la noche y de las brujas, la muerte es mi favorita dentro de este fascinante, imaginativo y alocado sitio que es Mundodisco.
Aquí el protagonismo no es únicamente de la muerte que me flipa. Y ojalá fuera la protagonista es tan.. muerte...
Leer Mundodisco es tener una sonrisa en la cara asegurada. Frases tan certeras como realistas y mordazes. Unos personajes que se quedan contigo siempre.
Mundodisco es único. Una vez entras no sales. Tiene un "no sé qué" y un "no sé cómo" que te hace feliz en su locura mientras lo lees tan ricamente sentado en tu butaca.
La magia de Mundodisco es bastante real y un regalo para sus lectores. Allá donde estés.. gracias, Sir Terry.. ✍️🍻
Hay una cosecha que recoger...
Después de la guardia de la noche y de las brujas, la muerte es mi favorita dentro de este fascinante, imaginativo y alocado sitio que es Mundodisco.
Aquí el protagonismo no es únicamente de la muerte que me flipa. Y ojalá fuera la protagonista es tan.. muerte...
Leer Mundodisco es tener una sonrisa en la cara asegurada. Frases tan certeras como realistas y mordazes. Unos personajes que se quedan contigo siempre.
Mundodisco es único. Una vez entras no sales. Tiene un "no sé qué" y un "no sé cómo" que te hace feliz en su locura mientras lo lees tan ricamente sentado en tu butaca.
La magia de Mundodisco es bastante real y un regalo para sus lectores. Allá donde estés.. gracias, Sir Terry.. ✍️🍻
April 16, 2025
Death is missing...what could possibly go wrong?
Disruption and chaos ensue to the natural order amongst the entire Discworld because Death has retired! Presuming an alias and electing to work as a farmhand, it's Death's turn to have an ‘ahem’ human experience. 📜
💀⚰️⚱️🖤
💭Masked in fantasy, Reaper Man is truly dedicated to the human experience with an emphasis on mortality. It’s an imaginative look into the deep unknowns of our universe. It also makes you realize life is about enjoying the little things, the simple pleasures, and encountering joy in the mundane.
⏳️
I’ve come to learn (and accept) Terry Pratchett’s work is an acquired taste. Readers should not jump in expecting simple, light, and friendly fantasy. It does require some concentration and ability to remember things. That being said, it is also not too complex compared to other grand fantasy series. In typical Pratchett fashion as I’ve come to expect after experiencing Mort, you get a trail of bread crumbs and puzzle pieces with no chapter breaks that eventually merge with revelations. So, I think it is completely normal to feel lost at times when encountering these bread crumbs as it is part of the brilliant storytelling mechanisms Pratchett utilizes. Pratchett really shined through in this one though. You can tell he had such a fascination and admiration for the inner workings of the universe, and I can appreciate that as I, too, am an ever evolving admirer and seeker of knowledge of all things related. 🤓
Random Experience…
My husband and I were on our evening walk while I was chatting away about the ending of this book when a big beautiful brown owl🦉swept down into the tree in front of us! It just felt very fitting!
⚠️Minor Spoiler⚠️
I adored the relationship between Miss Flitworth and Death. 🥰 Their ending was 🤌.
╔══════╗
Stats:
Overall Rating: 4☆
Death Novels {2/5}
Discworld {2/41}
╚══════╝
𝘍𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘘𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴
“𝖨𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗂𝗀𝗇𝗈𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗈𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝖿𝗎𝗅, 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗈𝗈 𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖺𝗇𝖾.”
“𝖡𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝖿 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗉𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖿𝗎𝗅 𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖺𝗇𝗂𝖼 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖼𝖾𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝗎𝗅𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝖾. 𝖨𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖻𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗌, 𝖾𝗑𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗅𝗒. 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝖼𝖺𝗇.”
“𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗍? 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐𝖾𝖽 𝖳𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾𝗌, 𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽.” 🕰
“𝖶𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾? 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝖿 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝖽𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽? 𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗍? 𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖽𝗂𝖽, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗂𝗇 𝗂𝗍, 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗋. 𝖠𝗆𝖺𝗓𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝖳𝗈 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖺 𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗐𝗂𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝖼𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖿𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌. 𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾? 𝖮𝖻𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗋𝗇 𝗍𝗈.”
“𝖧𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝖺𝗑𝖾𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝖺𝗑𝖾𝗌 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗌𝖾, 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖺𝗍 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝖽𝗂𝖽𝗇’𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋.”
𝖨 𝖧𝖠𝖵𝖤 𝖭𝖤𝖵𝖤𝖱 𝖥𝖤𝖫���� 𝖨𝖫𝖫 𝖡𝖤𝖥𝖮𝖱𝖤. 𝖮𝖱 𝖳𝖨𝖱𝖤𝖣. “𝖨𝗍’𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾.” 𝖧𝖮𝖶 𝖣𝖮 𝖧𝖴𝖬𝖠𝖭𝖲 𝖲𝖳𝖠𝖭𝖣 𝖨𝖳?
𝖭𝖮𝖶 𝖨 𝖠𝖫𝖬𝖮𝖲𝖳 𝖪𝖭𝖮𝖶 𝖶𝖧𝖸 𝖲𝖮𝖬𝖤 𝖯𝖤𝖮𝖯𝖫𝖤 𝖶𝖨𝖲𝖧 𝖳𝖮 𝖣𝖨𝖤, 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽. 𝖨 𝖧𝖠𝖣 𝖧𝖤𝖠𝖱𝖣 𝖮𝖥 𝖯𝖠𝖨𝖭 𝖠𝖭𝖣 𝖬𝖨𝖲𝖤𝖱𝖸 𝖡𝖴𝖳 𝖨 𝖧𝖠𝖣 𝖭𝖮𝖳 𝖧𝖨𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖱𝖳𝖮 𝖥𝖴𝖫𝖫𝖸 𝖴𝖭𝖣𝖤𝖱𝖲𝖳𝖮𝖮𝖣 𝖶𝖧𝖠𝖳 𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖸 𝖬𝖤𝖠𝖭𝖳.
“𝖡𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗐𝖺𝗌𝗇’𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗅𝗅. 𝖨𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗎𝗉.”
“𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗍’𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗋, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐. 𝖨𝖿 𝗐𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝖽𝗂𝖾, 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌.” 𝖨𝖥 𝖯𝖤𝖮𝖯𝖫𝖤 𝖪𝖭𝖤𝖶 𝖶𝖧𝖤𝖭 𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖸 𝖶𝖤𝖱𝖤 𝖦𝖮𝖨𝖭𝖦 𝖳𝖮 𝖣𝖨𝖤, 𝖨 𝖳𝖧𝖨𝖭𝖪 𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖸 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖡𝖠𝖡𝖫𝖸 𝖶𝖮𝖴𝖫𝖣𝖭’𝖳 𝖫𝖨𝖵𝖤 𝖠𝖳 𝖠𝖫𝖫.”
“𝖨𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖱𝖺𝗆𝗍𝗈𝗉 𝗏𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅 𝖬𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗂𝗌 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾, 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖾𝗑𝖺𝗆𝗉𝗅𝖾, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗇𝗈 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗉𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗅𝖽 𝖽𝗂𝖾 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒—𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗅𝗈𝖼𝗄 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗎𝗉 𝗐𝗂𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇, 𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝖽𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝖿𝖾𝗋𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍, 𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗉 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗏𝖾𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗉𝖺𝗇 𝗈𝖿 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗈𝗇𝖾’𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗌𝖺𝗒, 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗅 𝖾𝗑𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾.” ♾️
“𝖣𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗐𝗈𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗁𝗒 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝗉𝗎𝗍 𝖿𝗅𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗏𝖾𝗌. 𝖨𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝖽𝖾 𝗇𝗈 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝗂𝗆. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗀𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝗒𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖼𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗋𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗌, 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗅𝗅.” 🪦💐
⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ ⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ ⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ ⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐
Disruption and chaos ensue to the natural order amongst the entire Discworld because Death has retired! Presuming an alias and electing to work as a farmhand, it's Death's turn to have an ‘ahem’ human experience. 📜
💀⚰️⚱️🖤
⤷ Expect action-adventure with a cast of quirky characters including supernatural creatures and more wizards as well as notable appearances of characters from Pratchett’s other subseries. 🦇🧛♀️
⤷ Expect 2 main storylines here: Death’s and Windle Poons, a dying 130-year-old wizard. 🧙♂️🪄
⤷ Expect a possible existential crisis!
⤷ Expect creative disturbances and unique ideas!
⤷ Expect to visit how life affects everything around us. (FYI, I sobbed about the mayflies and the trees.)
⤷ Expect beautiful prose/dedication to our universe.🌌
💭Masked in fantasy, Reaper Man is truly dedicated to the human experience with an emphasis on mortality. It’s an imaginative look into the deep unknowns of our universe. It also makes you realize life is about enjoying the little things, the simple pleasures, and encountering joy in the mundane.
⏳️
I’ve come to learn (and accept) Terry Pratchett’s work is an acquired taste. Readers should not jump in expecting simple, light, and friendly fantasy. It does require some concentration and ability to remember things. That being said, it is also not too complex compared to other grand fantasy series. In typical Pratchett fashion as I’ve come to expect after experiencing Mort, you get a trail of bread crumbs and puzzle pieces with no chapter breaks that eventually merge with revelations. So, I think it is completely normal to feel lost at times when encountering these bread crumbs as it is part of the brilliant storytelling mechanisms Pratchett utilizes. Pratchett really shined through in this one though. You can tell he had such a fascination and admiration for the inner workings of the universe, and I can appreciate that as I, too, am an ever evolving admirer and seeker of knowledge of all things related. 🤓
Random Experience…
My husband and I were on our evening walk while I was chatting away about the ending of this book when a big beautiful brown owl🦉swept down into the tree in front of us! It just felt very fitting!
⚠️Minor Spoiler⚠️
I adored the relationship between Miss Flitworth and Death. 🥰 Their ending was 🤌.
╔══════╗
Stats:
Overall Rating: 4☆
Death Novels {2/5}
Discworld {2/41}
╚══════╝
𝘍𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘘𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴
“𝖨𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗂𝗀𝗇𝗈𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗈𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝖿𝗎𝗅, 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗈𝗈 𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖺𝗇𝖾.”
“𝖡𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝖿 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗉𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖿𝗎𝗅 𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖺𝗇𝗂𝖼 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖼𝖾𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝗎𝗅𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝖾. 𝖨𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖻𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗌, 𝖾𝗑𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗅𝗒. 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝖼𝖺𝗇.”
“𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗍? 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐𝖾𝖽 𝖳𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾𝗌, 𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽.” 🕰
“𝖶𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾? 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝖿 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝖽𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽? 𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗍? 𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖽𝗂𝖽, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗂𝗇 𝗂𝗍, 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗋. 𝖠𝗆𝖺𝗓𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝖳𝗈 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖺 𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗐𝗂𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝖼𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖿𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌. 𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾? 𝖮𝖻𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗋𝗇 𝗍𝗈.”
“𝖧𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝖺𝗑𝖾𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝖺𝗑𝖾𝗌 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗌𝖾, 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖺𝗍 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝖽𝗂𝖽𝗇’𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋.”
𝖨 𝖧𝖠𝖵𝖤 𝖭𝖤𝖵𝖤𝖱 𝖥𝖤𝖫���� 𝖨𝖫𝖫 𝖡𝖤𝖥𝖮𝖱𝖤. 𝖮𝖱 𝖳𝖨𝖱𝖤𝖣. “𝖨𝗍’𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾.” 𝖧𝖮𝖶 𝖣𝖮 𝖧𝖴𝖬𝖠𝖭𝖲 𝖲𝖳𝖠𝖭𝖣 𝖨𝖳?
𝖭𝖮𝖶 𝖨 𝖠𝖫𝖬𝖮𝖲𝖳 𝖪𝖭𝖮𝖶 𝖶𝖧𝖸 𝖲𝖮𝖬𝖤 𝖯𝖤𝖮𝖯𝖫𝖤 𝖶𝖨𝖲𝖧 𝖳𝖮 𝖣𝖨𝖤, 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽. 𝖨 𝖧𝖠𝖣 𝖧𝖤𝖠𝖱𝖣 𝖮𝖥 𝖯𝖠𝖨𝖭 𝖠𝖭𝖣 𝖬𝖨𝖲𝖤𝖱𝖸 𝖡𝖴𝖳 𝖨 𝖧𝖠𝖣 𝖭𝖮𝖳 𝖧𝖨𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖱𝖳𝖮 𝖥𝖴𝖫𝖫𝖸 𝖴𝖭𝖣𝖤𝖱𝖲𝖳𝖮𝖮𝖣 𝖶𝖧𝖠𝖳 𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖸 𝖬𝖤𝖠𝖭𝖳.
“𝖡𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗐𝖺𝗌𝗇’𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗅𝗅. 𝖨𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗎𝗉.”
“𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗍’𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗋, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐. 𝖨𝖿 𝗐𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝖽𝗂𝖾, 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌.” 𝖨𝖥 𝖯𝖤𝖮𝖯𝖫𝖤 𝖪𝖭𝖤𝖶 𝖶𝖧𝖤𝖭 𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖸 𝖶𝖤𝖱𝖤 𝖦𝖮𝖨𝖭𝖦 𝖳𝖮 𝖣𝖨𝖤, 𝖨 𝖳𝖧𝖨𝖭𝖪 𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖸 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖡𝖠𝖡𝖫𝖸 𝖶𝖮𝖴𝖫𝖣𝖭’𝖳 𝖫𝖨𝖵𝖤 𝖠𝖳 𝖠𝖫𝖫.”
“𝖨𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖱𝖺𝗆𝗍𝗈𝗉 𝗏𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅 𝖬𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗂𝗌 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾, 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖾𝗑𝖺𝗆𝗉𝗅𝖾, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗇𝗈 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗉𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗅𝖽 𝖽𝗂𝖾 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒—𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗅𝗈𝖼𝗄 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗎𝗉 𝗐𝗂𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇, 𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝖽𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝖿𝖾𝗋𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍, 𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗉 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗏𝖾𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗉𝖺𝗇 𝗈𝖿 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗈𝗇𝖾’𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗌𝖺𝗒, 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗅 𝖾𝗑𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾.” ♾️
“𝖣𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗐𝗈𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗁𝗒 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝗉𝗎𝗍 𝖿𝗅𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗏𝖾𝗌. 𝖨𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝖽𝖾 𝗇𝗈 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝗂𝗆. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗀𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝗒𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖼𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗋𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗌, 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗅𝗅.” 🪦💐
⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ ⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ ⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ ⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐
October 20, 2025
This is the second volume in the sub-series: Death of Discworld. Hubby and I have started listening to it with our daughter while she is visiting for the weekend. We will likely not finish it till she visits next time. It's always good to have something to look forward to!
5/7/23 - We completed three of eight discs and enjoyed the word play, and talk of werewolves, vampires, zombies and the undead. Favorite quotes include: "slicing thin rashers from the bacon of eternity," and "Mrs. Evadne Cake was a 'medium' verging on small." This is a play on words, which made us laugh. Until next time......
7/9/23 - We listened to the last words, this evening. Some of them were, "Death stood alone watching the wheat dance in the wind. Of course, it was only a metaphor. People were more than corn. They whirled through tiny crowded lives, driven literally by clock work, filling their days from edge to edge with the sheer effort of living."
Reading again in October 2025 - listening to the latest audio narrated by Sian Clifford with Peter Serafinowicz starring as the voice of Death and Bill Nighy reading the footnotes.
5/7/23 - We completed three of eight discs and enjoyed the word play, and talk of werewolves, vampires, zombies and the undead. Favorite quotes include: "slicing thin rashers from the bacon of eternity," and "Mrs. Evadne Cake was a 'medium' verging on small." This is a play on words, which made us laugh. Until next time......
7/9/23 - We listened to the last words, this evening. Some of them were, "Death stood alone watching the wheat dance in the wind. Of course, it was only a metaphor. People were more than corn. They whirled through tiny crowded lives, driven literally by clock work, filling their days from edge to edge with the sheer effort of living."
Reading again in October 2025 - listening to the latest audio narrated by Sian Clifford with Peter Serafinowicz starring as the voice of Death and Bill Nighy reading the footnotes.
September 27, 2025
Cytat na dzisiaj:
"-Pip? Pip?
PIP, wyjaśnił Śmierć Szczurów.
- Piip?
PIP, potwierdził Śmierć Szczurów.
- [nastroszenie wąsików] [zmarszczenie noska] ?
PIP.
Szczur był załamany. Śmierć Szczurów położył mu na ramieniu kościstą, ale nie do końca
nieżyczliwą łapkę.
PIP."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUuDv...
"-Pip? Pip?
PIP, wyjaśnił Śmierć Szczurów.
- Piip?
PIP, potwierdził Śmierć Szczurów.
- [nastroszenie wąsików] [zmarszczenie noska] ?
PIP.
Szczur był załamany. Śmierć Szczurów położył mu na ramieniu kościstą, ale nie do końca
nieżyczliwą łapkę.
PIP."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUuDv...
September 22, 2024
The 11th in my re-read of the entire Discworld series - I can't believe I'm that far into the series already!
One reason why I decided to re-read the series is that I can never just indulge in one of the volumes. The other is that the audiobooks were newly produced and the casts looked amazing.
Reading this 11th book (in chronological order) are:
In what might still be my favorite novel about DEATH, some gods (like most idiotic bosses too far removed from the actual work) decide that our favorite Reaper has become too ... human, I suppose. He's not supposed to have a personality or at least personality traits but he does (which makes him so endearing if we're honest).
Thus, Death gets his very own hourglass, becomes mortal and ... things start to happen. Some consequences the gods did not foresee (because, again, they don't really know shit).
Amongst other things, dying people don't really take that last step and those already dead are kinda walking (not like zombies or other Undead). Not that Ankh-Morpork isn't the perfect place for this kind of chaos. *lol*
But it's not just in the city, we get to see the consequences in many other places, too. Not to mention that it's a hoot watching Death working the fields as Bill. *snickers* AND we're getting DOR (Death Of Rats)!!! SQUEAK!
What a journey! What an adventure! Full of Terry Pratchett's signature wit and biting humour (as can be seen in the quotes I highlighted).
As with the others before, I loved this audio production. It's just wonderful in any way and gives the stories that extra bit of life (excuse the terrible pun). :D
One reason why I decided to re-read the series is that I can never just indulge in one of the volumes. The other is that the audiobooks were newly produced and the casts looked amazing.
Reading this 11th book (in chronological order) are:
In what might still be my favorite novel about DEATH, some gods (like most idiotic bosses too far removed from the actual work) decide that our favorite Reaper has become too ... human, I suppose. He's not supposed to have a personality or at least personality traits but he does (which makes him so endearing if we're honest).
Thus, Death gets his very own hourglass, becomes mortal and ... things start to happen. Some consequences the gods did not foresee (because, again, they don't really know shit).
Amongst other things, dying people don't really take that last step and those already dead are kinda walking (not like zombies or other Undead). Not that Ankh-Morpork isn't the perfect place for this kind of chaos. *lol*
But it's not just in the city, we get to see the consequences in many other places, too. Not to mention that it's a hoot watching Death working the fields as Bill. *snickers* AND we're getting DOR (Death Of Rats)!!! SQUEAK!
What a journey! What an adventure! Full of Terry Pratchett's signature wit and biting humour (as can be seen in the quotes I highlighted).
As with the others before, I loved this audio production. It's just wonderful in any way and gives the stories that extra bit of life (excuse the terrible pun). :D
May 16, 2007
If I could steal credit for a book and claim it as my own, Reaper Man would most likely be it. This is the point, I think, where the Discworld novels stopped being entertaining light reading, and really became literature. It's a very subtle shift from the little parodies of science fiction and fantasy conventions of things like The Light Fantastic to the rich satire of a book like Jingo. Behind the story of Death being fired for having developed a personality, there's a clever little parable about what it means to be human, to be alive, and why the man locked in the tower watched the flight of birds.
June 27, 2022
Death retires.
A tale of two halves. Death’s retirement sees him working on a farm and his interactions with the old lady are just so sweet. The rest is a bit chaotic as the wizards and other people on the Discworld are forced to live in a world where people don’t die. The writing’s also a bit dense as it’s quite a philosophical read at times.
A tale of two halves. Death’s retirement sees him working on a farm and his interactions with the old lady are just so sweet. The rest is a bit chaotic as the wizards and other people on the Discworld are forced to live in a world where people don’t die. The writing’s also a bit dense as it’s quite a philosophical read at times.
November 13, 2023
I'm sad to say that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did Mort. I love Death as a character and really enjoyed his storyline. All of the interactions between Death and Miss Flitworth were fantastic. I also really loved the ending. It made my heart happy.
My issue was with the other storyline in the book involving a wizard named Windle. I just never got invested in his parts of the story and it was difficult to get through those parts of the book. I always wanted to get back to Death's storyline as quickly as possible. Despite this, I still had fun with this book and appreciated the humor.
My issue was with the other storyline in the book involving a wizard named Windle. I just never got invested in his parts of the story and it was difficult to get through those parts of the book. I always wanted to get back to Death's storyline as quickly as possible. Despite this, I still had fun with this book and appreciated the humor.
October 8, 2019
Death has retired. Which might be a problem.
Death is by far my favourite character in the Discworld, and it feels especially poignant to read his stories now following the death of Terry Pratchett. There's just a small amount of melancholy that resonates from the pages. That said, I really enjoyed this and it made me laugh a fair few times. The wit and humour just can't be replicated by anyone else, and this just feels so British and wonderful.
The scenes with Bill Door are, obviously, my favourite - although I liked Ludmilla and Windle's stories too. The wizards I'm always inclined to like less, and their story does devolve into the more absurd. I like the more morally ambiguous dilemmas that Death faces. And he gets all the best lines and character interactions. The Death of Rats! Cyril the dyslexic chicken! If anything, I would have liked to have spent more time with Death and how he coped during his retirement.
Possibly not quite as good as Mort, in my opinion, but I do love these novels.
Death is by far my favourite character in the Discworld, and it feels especially poignant to read his stories now following the death of Terry Pratchett. There's just a small amount of melancholy that resonates from the pages. That said, I really enjoyed this and it made me laugh a fair few times. The wit and humour just can't be replicated by anyone else, and this just feels so British and wonderful.
The scenes with Bill Door are, obviously, my favourite - although I liked Ludmilla and Windle's stories too. The wizards I'm always inclined to like less, and their story does devolve into the more absurd. I like the more morally ambiguous dilemmas that Death faces. And he gets all the best lines and character interactions. The Death of Rats! Cyril the dyslexic chicken! If anything, I would have liked to have spent more time with Death and how he coped during his retirement.
Possibly not quite as good as Mort, in my opinion, but I do love these novels.
September 1, 2024
A fast paced, fun and clever book focusing on Death. The plot is very well written and makes you think about life and death in a light hearted way, but also with some deeper meaning buried behind it somewhere.
Pratchett's writing is full of humour and wit as usual and the characters are memorable, especially Death, who becomes oddly lovable, but I can’t stop giggling at his dead pan delivery of sentences..
Overall an exceptionally enjoyable read. It's both funny and thought provoking, making it a great choice for anyone who likes fantasy with a bit of humour and insight. It's not too complicated, so it's easy to follow, but it still leaves you with something to think about after you've finished.
Pratchett's writing is full of humour and wit as usual and the characters are memorable, especially Death, who becomes oddly lovable, but I can’t stop giggling at his dead pan delivery of sentences..
Overall an exceptionally enjoyable read. It's both funny and thought provoking, making it a great choice for anyone who likes fantasy with a bit of humour and insight. It's not too complicated, so it's easy to follow, but it still leaves you with something to think about after you've finished.
April 8, 2022
2 stars
Death was enjoyable to read about, the wizards, not so much.
Death was enjoyable to read about, the wizards, not so much.
Want to read
April 20, 2015Mi hermano me dice que, como fue mi cumpleaños, tiene pensado regalarme libros.
-¡Si!- digo yo, saltando en una pata.
-Haceme una lista de que autores te gustan.
Le hago una lista de casi 20 autores, le marco las prioridades, le anoto los títulos que ya tengo de cada uno y, además, le hago una lista extra de autores , en caso de que, por alguna razón, no hubiera ninguno de los que le marqué en un principio, esos otros funcionarían como opciones "aceptables".
(Era una lista de tres hojas)
Hoy, dos días después, vuelve de su viaje a la capital. Me dice:
-Perdí la lista, así que te traje estos.
The Silver Dream y este de Terry Pratchett, dos autores que, da la casualidad, no aparecían en ninguna de las dos listas que tan meticulosamente había escrito y OH CASUALIDAD BIZARRA ENTRE LAS CASUALIDADES son dos de sus autores predilectos!!
Conclusión, creo que mi hermano me acaba de hacer la gran Homero Simpson y de regalarme una bola de boliche , jajajajajaj
-¡Si!- digo yo, saltando en una pata.
-Haceme una lista de que autores te gustan.
Le hago una lista de casi 20 autores, le marco las prioridades, le anoto los títulos que ya tengo de cada uno y, además, le hago una lista extra de autores , en caso de que, por alguna razón, no hubiera ninguno de los que le marqué en un principio, esos otros funcionarían como opciones "aceptables".
(Era una lista de tres hojas)
Hoy, dos días después, vuelve de su viaje a la capital. Me dice:
-Perdí la lista, así que te traje estos.
The Silver Dream y este de Terry Pratchett, dos autores que, da la casualidad, no aparecían en ninguna de las dos listas que tan meticulosamente había escrito y OH CASUALIDAD BIZARRA ENTRE LAS CASUALIDADES son dos de sus autores predilectos!!
Conclusión, creo que mi hermano me acaba de hacer la gran Homero Simpson y de regalarme una bola de boliche , jajajajajaj
January 15, 2022
I’m returning to my first foray into Sir Terry Pratchett with the Death books! I meant to read them all over December, but some shipping delays put that on hold after I finished Mort (which I thoroughly enjoyed!)
Oh my goodness the ending to this book is sensational. I cried. I cried A LOT. I actually finished reading it about 10 minutes ago, and my eyes are still leaking.
Other than the incredible final 50 pages or so (which perhaps are some of my favourite pages I've ever ever read), Reaper Man I enjoyed slightly less than Mort. I feel like Mort is quite a strong protagonist, and Windle Poons is not as great a protagonist. Windle is - or, was - a wizard some one hundred and thirty years old. All wizards know when they’re going to die, and Death comes to collect them.
Unfortunately, when Windle dies, Death is nowhere to be found. With nothing to do and nowhere to go, Windle returns as a zombie to try and figure out what’s happening and how to put a stop to it. There are hijinks with other undead - vampires, inverse werewolves, an invisible bogeyman - and the other wizards also try their hand at figuring out why there’s such an abundance of life.
Death, on the other hand, is someone else. Bill Door. I enjoyed these parts of the story far more than the wizards and magical shenanigans, but as with Mort, all parts of the story come together for one riveting, creative, humour-filled magical tale. The ending, as I previously stated, is just incredible. So much emotion. Life. Death. It's powerful, meaningful stuff, and I can see why Pratchett has such a following.
It's brilliant.
I found Reaper Man a great read, though a little more disjointed with fewer strong characters to root for. Writing style is, of course, absolutely sensational! Brilliantly funny in parts, with a deep look at life and death, cities and people. It asks the big questions, the heavy questions. Yes, there is humour and silliness, too, but it is a very deep, meaningful book.
And at under 300 pages, it’s a pretty quick read, too.
I’m looking forward to starting the third Death book, Soul Music, later tonight! :)
Oh my goodness the ending to this book is sensational. I cried. I cried A LOT. I actually finished reading it about 10 minutes ago, and my eyes are still leaking.
Other than the incredible final 50 pages or so (which perhaps are some of my favourite pages I've ever ever read), Reaper Man I enjoyed slightly less than Mort. I feel like Mort is quite a strong protagonist, and Windle Poons is not as great a protagonist. Windle is - or, was - a wizard some one hundred and thirty years old. All wizards know when they’re going to die, and Death comes to collect them.
Unfortunately, when Windle dies, Death is nowhere to be found. With nothing to do and nowhere to go, Windle returns as a zombie to try and figure out what’s happening and how to put a stop to it. There are hijinks with other undead - vampires, inverse werewolves, an invisible bogeyman - and the other wizards also try their hand at figuring out why there’s such an abundance of life.
Death, on the other hand, is someone else. Bill Door. I enjoyed these parts of the story far more than the wizards and magical shenanigans, but as with Mort, all parts of the story come together for one riveting, creative, humour-filled magical tale. The ending, as I previously stated, is just incredible. So much emotion. Life. Death. It's powerful, meaningful stuff, and I can see why Pratchett has such a following.
It's brilliant.
I found Reaper Man a great read, though a little more disjointed with fewer strong characters to root for. Writing style is, of course, absolutely sensational! Brilliantly funny in parts, with a deep look at life and death, cities and people. It asks the big questions, the heavy questions. Yes, there is humour and silliness, too, but it is a very deep, meaningful book.
And at under 300 pages, it’s a pretty quick read, too.
I’m looking forward to starting the third Death book, Soul Music, later tonight! :)
May 16, 2021
Undécimo libro de saga de Mundodisco y segundo de la serie sobre la Muerte, aunque el protagonismo es compartido en este caso, pues Windle Poons será quien acapare muchos de los capítulos. Como todas las obras que he leído hasta ahora, ésta está repleta de símiles magistrales y situaciones rocambolescas que parecen sumamente lógicas dentro del maravilloso mundo que es Mundodisco.
Muy buenos personajes aparecen aquí por primera, como la señora Flitworth, la señora Cake, Ludmila, Lupine, Schleppel (un hombre del saco agorafóbico y con déficit de confianza), el matrimonio vampiro Arthur y Doreen Winkings… por nombrar sólo unos pocos. Para mí, el plantel de personajes tanto principales como secundarios es sin duda magnífico. Pero sin lugar a dudas y muy por encima de todos está Bill Puerta, quien se lleva la palma, aunque Windle Poons y los magos de la Universidad tienen momentos sin duda hilarantes.
Para mí es un libro redondo, con un argumento interesante, como ¿qué sucedería si la Muerte no viniese a llevarse las almas de los que mueren en Mundodisco? Con esa interesante premisa comenzará lo que será una historia muy divertida en la que veremos de todo, desde la aparición de nuevos sindicatos, nuevos artilugios mecánicos y el nacimiento, literal, de grandes centros comerciales, todo desde un punto de vista original y que realmente engancha de manera peligrosa.
En cuanto a puntuación, le he dado 4 estrellas, o 4.5. No lo he subido a 5 estrellas porque me hubiese gustado que hubiese dado más cancha a algunos personajes secundarios que sin duda son formidables y porque los magos, aunque dan buenos momentos, llegan a dar un poco de confusión en algunos pasajes cuando hay 4 o 5 de ellos hablando al mismo tiempo (sobre todo porque a veces, al menos en la traducción, confunden al Decano con el Tesorero).
Muy buenos personajes aparecen aquí por primera, como la señora Flitworth, la señora Cake, Ludmila, Lupine, Schleppel (un hombre del saco agorafóbico y con déficit de confianza), el matrimonio vampiro Arthur y Doreen Winkings… por nombrar sólo unos pocos. Para mí, el plantel de personajes tanto principales como secundarios es sin duda magnífico. Pero sin lugar a dudas y muy por encima de todos está Bill Puerta, quien se lleva la palma, aunque Windle Poons y los magos de la Universidad tienen momentos sin duda hilarantes.
Para mí es un libro redondo, con un argumento interesante, como ¿qué sucedería si la Muerte no viniese a llevarse las almas de los que mueren en Mundodisco? Con esa interesante premisa comenzará lo que será una historia muy divertida en la que veremos de todo, desde la aparición de nuevos sindicatos, nuevos artilugios mecánicos y el nacimiento, literal, de grandes centros comerciales, todo desde un punto de vista original y que realmente engancha de manera peligrosa.
En cuanto a puntuación, le he dado 4 estrellas, o 4.5. No lo he subido a 5 estrellas porque me hubiese gustado que hubiese dado más cancha a algunos personajes secundarios que sin duda son formidables y porque los magos, aunque dan buenos momentos, llegan a dar un poco de confusión en algunos pasajes cuando hay 4 o 5 de ellos hablando al mismo tiempo (sobre todo porque a veces, al menos en la traducción, confunden al Decano con el Tesorero).
January 9, 2013
...it's just that life is a habit that's hard to break...
With Death off gallivanting around, Discworld residents discover that eternal life ain't all it's cracked up to be. Others just want those dead people to GO AWAY ALREADY!
Perhaps a support group is in order?
This entry in the series has EVERYTHING - action, adventure, thrills, chills, and romance, in addition to the usual amount of rampant silliness one has come to expect from Pratchett, who manages to prove once and for all that WORDS CAN HURT YOU. Screw that old schoolyard saying! When all those "Buggers" you spout sprout wings and start stinging, you'll be sorry!
The subject matter of this tale also lends itself to a bit more introspection and philosophical musings, and dare I say, a few nuggets of wisdom...
There was never anything to be gained from observing what humans said to one another - language was just there to hide their thoughts.
Hmmm...
With Death off gallivanting around, Discworld residents discover that eternal life ain't all it's cracked up to be. Others just want those dead people to GO AWAY ALREADY!
Perhaps a support group is in order?
This entry in the series has EVERYTHING - action, adventure, thrills, chills, and romance, in addition to the usual amount of rampant silliness one has come to expect from Pratchett, who manages to prove once and for all that WORDS CAN HURT YOU. Screw that old schoolyard saying! When all those "Buggers" you spout sprout wings and start stinging, you'll be sorry!
The subject matter of this tale also lends itself to a bit more introspection and philosophical musings, and dare I say, a few nuggets of wisdom...
There was never anything to be gained from observing what humans said to one another - language was just there to hide their thoughts.
Hmmm...
September 22, 2017
1 Jan 2002
6 Jul 2014
13 May 2016
Is there anyone who doesn't love Death? He's one of the greatest characters ever. *** Some days a book on the shelf just happens to catch your eye as you walk past, and you think, "Yes! That is exactly what I want to read today!" So you do. And Death takes a (working) holiday, and life is bursting out all over, and the plot is silly, and the characters are so engaging, and you've read it before, so you know what to expect. And it doesn't matter that I didn't read it in anything like proper order relative the last Pratchett or the next one. It was delicious.
6 Jul 2014
Personal copy
6 Jul 2014
13 May 2016
Is there anyone who doesn't love Death? He's one of the greatest characters ever. *** Some days a book on the shelf just happens to catch your eye as you walk past, and you think, "Yes! That is exactly what I want to read today!" So you do. And Death takes a (working) holiday, and life is bursting out all over, and the plot is silly, and the characters are so engaging, and you've read it before, so you know what to expect. And it doesn't matter that I didn't read it in anything like proper order relative the last Pratchett or the next one. It was delicious.
6 Jul 2014
Personal copy
November 29, 2021
🌾
Another excellent Discworld book. Death is a brilliant character and I love any appearance he makes, and the books where he is the main focus are incredibly enjoyable. He's a character that works well both in small doses and also as a main character.
It doesn't affect my rating, but I love the cover -- it's great before you've started the book, and even better once all the details start falling into place as you read. 💀
Another excellent Discworld book. Death is a brilliant character and I love any appearance he makes, and the books where he is the main focus are incredibly enjoyable. He's a character that works well both in small doses and also as a main character.
It doesn't affect my rating, but I love the cover -- it's great before you've started the book, and even better once all the details start falling into place as you read. 💀
July 7, 2017
Death plays as the Boot in Monopoly, and once again shows his humanity. Pratchett showed the world that death isn't an ending it's a release especially for the very old, 130 year old wizard Wendel Poons. He shares other wisdom as well, "Inside every living person is a dead person waiting to get out", "Five exclamation marks, the sure sign of an insane mind!!!!!"
When death comes and asks if you have any last words, "Yes, I don't want to go."
Death to all tyrants.
Great fun read, now onto Soul Music!!!!!
When death comes and asks if you have any last words, "Yes, I don't want to go."
Death to all tyrants.
Great fun read, now onto Soul Music!!!!!
February 13, 2023
The DEATH series are not my favourite books among the discworld novels, which does not mean that I still wouldn’t like them a lot.
In this book DEATH undergoes some kind of forced retirement while discworld has to struggle with the consequences.
Besides DEATH we encounter the unseen academicals, a selfhelp group for dead people, a ton of shopping carts, a not quite dead wizard and many others.
As in all of Terry Pratchett’s books there is lot to laugh, but with DEATH there’s always some profound sadness, too.
Recommended, but not as funny as other parts of the series. 4 stars.
In this book DEATH undergoes some kind of forced retirement while discworld has to struggle with the consequences.
Besides DEATH we encounter the unseen academicals, a selfhelp group for dead people, a ton of shopping carts, a not quite dead wizard and many others.
As in all of Terry Pratchett’s books there is lot to laugh, but with DEATH there’s always some profound sadness, too.
Recommended, but not as funny as other parts of the series. 4 stars.
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