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Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1)

Terry Pratchett

Why we're reading this: No. 65
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Jan 04, 2011 Fembat rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Many years ago I became hooked on the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett after reading Mort. I acquired a copy of the book purely by chance and, once completed, began to read the series from the very beginning. Its not essential to do this, as most of the novels quite happily stand up on their own, but it does help with understanding some of the more long standing characters who will crop up from time to time throughout the whole series. Death, of course, being one of those examples. Although h Many years ago I became hooked on the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett after reading Mort. I acquired a copy of the book purely by chance and, once completed, began to read the series from the very beginning. Its not essential to do this, as most of the novels quite happily stand up on their own, but it does help with understanding some of the more long standing characters who will crop up from time to time throughout the whole series. Death, of course, being one of those examples. Although he frequently shows his skeletal face throughout the series it is usually a short cameo appearance.

Death is not your usual anthropomorphic personification – for one his horse is called Binky, he is rather fond of cats and is known to like the occasional curry. He is also intrigued by humans and it is this fascination which results in him adopting Ysabell and hiring Mort as an apprentice (the central character of this book).

When we are first introduced to Mort he is, seemingly, a rather deep thinking son of farmer. Unfortunately his ungainly body makes him unsuitable even as a scarecrow and so, in despair, his father packs him off to a market for apprentices where after hours of being overlooked is finally hired by Death as his apprentice. An apprenticeship he accepts only after confirming that actual death and skeletal appearance is not a compulsory part of the job description.

After a brief respite at the bottom, mucking out “Binky” and aiding Albert whilst attempting to avoid Death´s adopted daughter Ysabell, Mort is sent on his first solo outing. Unfortunately for Mort, his feelings for a teenage princess of Sto Lat get in the way of his job and he starts off a chain reaction of events by impulsively preventing her assassination. Too afraid to admit this gaffe to Death he attempts to remedy the situation himself, unsuccessfully. After a series of calamities he is forced to confront Death in battle, after which he is given a whole new lease of life (in a manner of speaking). He leaves the realm of Death, marries Ysabell and becomes Lord Mortimer, Duke of Sto Helit.

Back when I read the early books Mort was one of my firm favourites. But recent releases in the Discworld series have been far more developed with complex and interweaving story lines which really cause Mort to pale by comparison. That is not to say I do not adore there simplicity, they work as a wonderful introduction into this fantastical world and are magical in their own right. But the later books have a stronger satirical style and tend, more obviously, to bind real world commentary within their stories.

As always it was a real pleasure to return to a much loved book which formed the beginning of an obsession for fantasy and satire. ...more

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Jun 02, 2019 Robyn Blaber rated it really liked it

Shelves: british-literature, fantasy

My fourth book into this fantasy/comedy series. I've only read one other book in this crossed-genre and it also had Pratchett as a co-author. I guess it takes a rare talent. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the heck out of it. This latest of the series gets into the role of Death (the guy with the scythe) on the Discworld. A fun read from cover to cover. ...more

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Jun 21, 2009 Ana rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2009, fantasy, bbc-big-read

Good book. I enjoy it when forces such as Fate and Death are personified in books, and this one is a very interesting look at Death and his apprentice in the Discworld.

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Dec 29, 2008 Angela Randall rated it really liked it

Shelves: ange-recommends, terry-pratchett, humour, dark, british-author, fantasy, fiction, we-own, tanya-owns, 20th-century

Aug 17, 2011 Selenita marked it as to-read

Aug 11, 2012 Maggie rated it really liked it

May 23, 2014 Kassie rated it really liked it

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