Reaper Man

Let me say, first off, that Terry Pratchett novels arent for those who like their literature spoon-fed. They are for mature readers only. At least those who like to fancy themselves as mature, as I do on rare occasions.

In reading Terry Pratchett I learned early on that there would be times when I would have absolutely no idea what he was talking about. At first I rather self-righteously dismissed these moments as poor writing on his part, when in fact the problem was me. Mr. Pratchett knew EXACTLY what he was writing. I just wasnt smart enough to figure it out.

Even today reading one of his books is like putting together a very complicated puzzle of say, the New York City skyline at night, during a blizzard, thats unfortunately missing a few key pieces. This was especially true in the first half of REAPER MANindeed, perhaps even the first two-thirds of the bookand there were times when I simply gave up and moved on with the sure and certain knowledge that at some point (hopefully in the very near future) my brain would catch up with his.

And then there were his characters. Perfect. Unique. Enormously entertaining. In short, no one, and I do mean no one, writes them better than Mr. Pratchett. I would take any of them to lunch. A few Id have home for dinner. Some I would even serve my best wine, although I would keep a wary eye on them afterwards.

And speaking of Mr. Pratchetts characters, let me interrupt this review to make a quick editorial comment: It takes a very intelligent writer to write unintelligent people so well, AND make them entertaining at the same time. And when it comes to writing such characters Mr. Pratchett is a literary Einsteinor at least Einsteins love child.

And then there are Sir (he is knighted after all) Pratchetts plots. Here I must fault him, and I shutter to do so, as I couldnt in my wildest dreams write as beautifully as he does. Still . . . there are times when he could have used a literary ruler across the knuckles and some brave editor exclaiming, Terry, please, enough already! Quit meandering about and be done with it!

Yes, he does run on a bit sometimes, sort of like Im doing at the moment, so let me sum up:

Read REAPER MAN.

Thats it. Just read it.

Indeed, do yourself an enormous favor and read anything and everything Terry Pratchett has ever written, including that thing he wrote and published when he was just thirteenthe cheeky bugger.

And if you still need further encouragement to read REAPER MAN, imagine Shakespeares MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, but instead of being a treatise on Love, its a treatise on Death. But not sad, somber, rather unentertaining Death. Its Death as a awkward wallflower. Death as a shy introvert whos never courted a girl and would like to try it out just to see what the fuss is all about.

Trust me, youll have fun. And if you dont, Ill refund every penny youve paid for this review.

I seriously believe everyone ought to read this novel. Even as a stand-alone story, it is a wonderful entryway to the Discworld series. The story is two-pronged: on the one side, Death himself is forced into retirement, and must adjust to a mundane human Life; on the other, Windle Poons passes away (and comes back), only to find his long life has had no meaning and been chock full of nothing much. Pratchett’s writing is full of wry observations on human life and it’s absurdities, and also laugh out loud wordplay and subtle, soft emotion that hits you at *just* the right time. One of Sir Terry’s finest pieces, and one of my all time favorite novels.

Terry Pratchett does it again in this volume of the Discworld series – focused on Death. When the Auditors of Reality get the Death of the Disc fired, everything that was alive but has died suddenly finds they’re not quite dead yet. Combined with a mysterious plague of snowglobes, which The Wizards have to figure out, the entire novel is one thrill ride of laughs. If you’re a Discworld fan, this is one you definitely need in your library.

Sir Terry has created many wonderful and original characters, from Granny Weatherwax to the Unseen University’s Librarian, but Discworld’s Death is one of the most appealing. When the Auditors hand him a little gold timekeeper (with not much time left on it) he gathers up his scythe, mounts Binky, and sets off for new experiences. Working as a farmhand for an elderly woman (after all, he’s pretty experienced with a scythe), and witnessing the chaos resulting from the backlog of lives when his position isn’t filled, inspire him to new insights. As always, Pratchett provides a lot of laughs; this is the only time he’s also made me cry. I wasn’t expecting the emotional depth from the usually businesslike Death. I recommend it to all Discworld fans, and especially to those of us who are intrigued by Pratchett’s conceptualization of Death.

“Reaper Man” is by far my absolute favorite Terry Pratchett novel. I’ve just re-read this for the 5th time and Pratchett still brings me both to tears and laughter in this Discworld novel. Pratchett has transformed Death (tall skeletal guy dressed in black, carries a scythe, etc.) into a likeable character to whom it’s easy to relate — that alone is a stunning accomplishment! But in this Discworld installment, Death loses his job (as a result of some cosmic scheming) and takes a holiday, becoming the likeable Bill Door. I won’t be a spoiler; you’ll have to read this impeccably crafted novel for yourself. The wizards of Unseen University try to cope with one of their own who’s become a zombie; and we get to spend some time with Reg Shoe as well as a middle-class vampire and his social-climber wife, ‘Countess’ Notfaroutoe. It’s Pratchett’s dry wit and satire at its best, while simultaneously succeeding on all levels from the poignant to the heroic. If you haven’t yet read this Discworld novel, you simply must!