Why is real death ignored in writing?

[John]

I'm really curious what people think about writing that deals with life after death. There are a number of books that deal with it, but most writers seem to veer away from it like it's a curse.

I would be really curious why death is something most people don't want to explore, especially when it's as inevitable as taxes

Unless you cheat on your taxes of course.

But you can't cheat death.

Only decent stories I can remember are Picture of Dorian Gray and the Bible right off the top of my head. And oh yeah, Dean Koontz, who does deal with it, but in a roundabout way, which is still nice all things considered.

Anyone have any thoughts about this apparent allergy to dealing with the more profound aspects of our lives?

[H.C.]

The major example I can think of is Neil Gaiman and his Death of the Endless character; he deals with the heady subject matter and uncertainty of death, but without making any final decisions as to "where you go."

That's the major problem with writing about death: either you end up with a speculative world that begins when you die—in which case you're entirely bypassing death as we know it—or you end up having to throw up your hands and admit you can't possibly be certain what comes after. Plus, the possibility that there's nothing is a fairly sobering and even terrifying thing to consider. It's difficult to explore those questions in a way that doesn't push your readers away, even subconsciously. On top of that, attempting to provide definitive answers will almost certainly alienate readers who don't agree, and there's a wide, wide world of opinions out there.

So, I guess my overall answer is "it's hard," but there's a lot of reasons why.

[Allison]

I'm curious that you see the lack, as it seems fairly popular in lit fic (see The Lovely Bones) and fantasy (see the Abhorsen trilogy, the Way of Kings). Is there a specific element you're seeking? Like the Abrahamic God? or just cool takes on death?

[John]

When I traveled to India I met a man who was documented to be over a hundred forty years old, but looked like a very fit and youthful Marlon Brando in his prime. He wore nothing but a g string in sub zero weather at the time.

He was an eye opener for me.

I read Autobiography of a Yogi and got another insight into such people.

I have friends whom I trust and know to be sane who claim to see Jesus. And not some scary version of him, but one that is wholesome and lively and there to counsel and help them.

I, personally, have seen people who have crossed over after death, but not yet gone on into the Light to be with God.

There are some factual books out that deal with near death experiences.

There are many reports of people who can go directly to the place they last lived and describe in intimate detail about their last life.

I was in a near fatal accident in 1995 where my lungs were filling up with blood and I had to be revived several times with the electric paddles in an emergency vehicle, and then rushed to a hospital to have my lungs drained.

I was unconscious at the time, according to witnesses, and yet I saw the doctor use his scalpel to pierce my right side to drain my lung of blood, as well as insert a tube to drain the remainder.

I did not see it from my head on the operating table, but from the side, witnessing my own body. I saw everything from the perspective of people operating on me, not from my body.

Everything I saw was verified by witnesses of the event.

I saw my blood spurt out all over the place and the staff operating on me drop back in shock and surprise.

I saw all that.

I'm sure there are many, many more who have had similar experiences. So I know many believe in life after death, and yet in so much writing there is no accountability for killing. In murder.

Sure, there's the old misunderstood sword for sword thing, but with true understanding of death, the realization that no one really dies should have an affect on the way one manages one's life.

I don't know if what I'm saying is as clear as I see it.

Death seems to be political as it stands now....much like the current Dems and Republicans...both sides feeling they're right and no middle ground. Perhaps, there's truth in both sides. But maybe not so extreme.

Also, it seems to be a natural bent for younger people, who have not yet experienced much diversity, to have a less insightful view of death...since they feel they're invulnerable. That changes so much as we age, because you begin to realize that there is accountability for one's actions.

And if you're wise, and grow wiser, you begin to take more seriously the consequences of your actions.

I guess I'd like to see someone, with better insight than mine perhaps, go into story telling with the larger picture in mind.

My thoughts anyway.

[John]

As an addendum, I should note that this vision of life after death I'm considering is not a common one in the west. The Eastern philosophies seem much more sensitive to the issue of death and more mature.

Maybe the West is yet too immature to consider such depth of thinking. I don't know.

Sigh.

Anyway, don't mean to upset anyone. Just thinking outloud.

Personally, I deal with some of those issues in my Sherlock Holmes series...the idea that life is unending and that it's not just sitting on a cloud playing a harp, but being actively engaged in continuing our life lessons and growing.

I dont' bang people over the head with the idea, but suggest that perhaps there's a bigger picture other than we have just one life, so who cares!

[Jeana]

I've read a few books that have different ideas about life after death. In the Sword of Truth series, it is repeatedly drilled into the characters and reader that "you only have one life, make it worth it."
In The Iron Druid series, there are many different places a soul can go after death, depending on what they believed in life. Meaning that a Christian would go to Heaven to be with God, while Pagan believer would go to the Summerland, or some other place like it where the gods they believe in reside. Personally, the Iron Druid look on life after death has been my favorite. Not only does it give an idea of where people go, but it also makes it clear that no one is "right" and no one is "wrong". If you believe it, then it is.

[Lyle]

I think the problem with writing about Death (with a capital D) is that it's fundamentally unknowable, and so it gets caught up in interpretation that is bound to people's personal beliefs. As a writer, those are landmines to avoid - if I write about Death from a Christian perspective, does it seem overdone, trite (as we have so many of those "go into the light"/heaven stories)? If I write about Death from an Eastern perspective, does my primarily Western audience reject it or embrace it as something new?

And what about the atheist perspective? Where there isn't anything after death?

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE Death. Pratchett's Death is probably my favorite character in Discworld, and I adore Gaiman's Death as well (which is based in more classical mythology).

I think Austin has a good point - if you're going to write about the afterlife, it necessarily becomes fantasy. And in that case, it departs from realism. It might not be a big departure, but it's one nonetheless.

[Christina]

As an author, I think it's because we want our books relatable to the largest audience possible which means keeping religion out of it, and to include the afterlife is to essentially state a firm stance on religion.

Also, the moment you have an afterlife in your books there's nothing real about it, because we don't know if it exists, therefore it's all speculation.

If you're looking for books that deals with a Christian sort of afterlife, might I suggest reading Christian Fiction?

[Yolanda]

May I suggest the books by Edward Swedenborg on his writings about Heaven and what happens when we die? He was an 18th century (or somewhere around there) philosopher and I found his work very interesting and thought provoking. His books are available on Amazon. If you do read them I'd be interested on your thoughts.

[John]

Yolanda wrote: "May I suggest the books by Edward Swedenborg on his writings about Heaven and what happens when we die? He was an 18th century (or somewhere around there) philosopher and I found his work very inte..."

I am actually quite well read about the concepts of heaven and hell, and I have quite a few friends who are gifted in that they can actually see people who have crossed over to the other side of life.

My question was more about why so many are afraid of dealing with the topic, as it has ultimately nothing to do with religion, which tends to be rather dogmatic most of the time and hugely misiinterpreted, but more about the spiritual side of life...that which we can all perceive and do through our own conscious connection to god.

Thanks for the suggestion though, Yolanda. Very sweet and kind of you.

[Christina]

John wrote: "Yolanda wrote: "May I suggest the books by Edward Swedenborg on his writings about Heaven and what happens when we die? He was an 18th century (or somewhere around there) philosopher and I found hi..."


I answered your question, I'm sorry if it's not what you were looking for but I believe I spelled it out quite clearly. To assert an afterlife exists is to alienate people who do not believe in god(or gods) as you do. Religion and spirituality are two very different things but religion informs our spirituality. Religion is why you believe in an afterlife.

Publishers(and most writers) generally want to be inclusive. Its easy to forget that there are not many people who believe in god like our own communities do. Even among Christian sects its different, as are the requirements for entering heaven. When you begin to consider eastern religions it gets much more complicated.

Hindu is a great example of this difference. They believe in Brahman as their primary god. When you die, if you lived a fulfilling life and have reached reached spiritual attunement you become one with Brahman. You cease to exist as an individual, your personality and all that makes you a unique being ceases to be. This absence of self is similar to heaven to them, it's what they strive for.

If I wrote a book and asserted that after the character died they felt their self fading away as they became one with Brahman, I'd alienate Christians (and a great deal of others) who might be disturbed by the idea that ceasing to exist might be the utmost one would want after death. Because technically if you cease to exist as an individual you are no longer living which means you do not have a life after death.

To someone who believes in Hinduism that is their spiritual truth and reality. And if they came across a book which dealt with heaven and hell they would probably not relate as well to the characters within it.

Similarly a Christian might be disturbed or confused by the concept of nothingness being offered as an ideal.

By not addressing spiritual issues authors keep their works widely accessible. Not everyone has a conscious connection to god as you put it, and those who do have such a connection are not connected in the same way. Some might be even be offended that you'd even insinuate that such a connection existed for everyone.

I suggested christian fiction because what you are talking about probably exists more freely there due to authors writing for an audience with similarly informed beliefs.