Reaper Man

Rating:
Summary: Death gets a life!
Review: Reaper Man, the eleventh book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, is probably the most moving and serious book I've read from Pratchett. It's also one of his funniest, which is definitely a good combination. It is a classic, and one of Pratchett's best. It's a moving story about Death (our good friend with the scythe), with a subplot that's almost as good but adds a lot to the humour and has a little something to say of its own.

It's a relatively short book (285 pages), considering what all is going on in it. Death's story has a poignancy that doesn't happen very often in Pratchett's books. He usually has some good social commentary, but not this sort of character deepness. The relationship that develops between Mrs. Flitworth and him is very reminiscent of some western movies. She's the homesteader and he's the hired hand. She's initially suspicious of him, but she needs the help. As time goes by, she becomes more and more trusting, letting him stay in the house during the evening (though he still must sleep in the barn!). Death, of course, is wonderful with a scythe, which is an immense help during the harvest. I enjoyed this story immensely, with Death (or Bill Door, as he calls himself) learning to how to fit in with the locals and generally learning what it is to be human. The ending of this particular storyline is wonderfully moving, with Death showing just how much he has learned (and yet, how much he still has to learn). It's almost enough to bring a tear to your eye.

Almost as moving is the story of Windle Poons. After fifty years of being an invalid, he's finally able to live again. Windle is an irascible, yet still very endearing, figure. It's interesting to see the life that flows back into his body even though he's dead. He joins a group called the Fresh Starters, which is a group that's fighting for the rights of the undead. While he doesn't really believe this is necessary, this is a group of people who fully accept him, which he hasn't had for awhile.

Windle's story provides the majority of the humour in this novel, and it does it very well. While Death's story has it's funny moments, they are more amusing then laugh-out-loud funny. Windle's story, however, has the sequence where the other wizards try to "help" Windle with his problem (the problem being that he's no longer dead). They even go so far as to try to bury him at a crossroads in Ankh-Morpork (at rush hour, even). The antics of the wizards are just hilarious. Once the life force problem presents itself, with killer trolleys running rampant through the city, the wizards decide that only they can stop it. Thus ensue many action movie parodies, including a wonderful riff on Aliens. There has never been so much testosterone evident at the wizards' university. They obviously don't know what they're doing, but the characters are so well drawn and so funny that it makes for great reading.

Pratchett's wonderful characters are the other highlight of the book. I've already mentioned the wizards. The great thing about the wizards in this book, as opposed to Moving Pictures, is that they are actually central to the plot. The other characters are equally wonderful. The Fresh Starters was started by Reg Shoe, a zombie who discovered that the recently dead were not being treated very well by society. Also included as members are: a shy boogeyman, a banshee with a speech impediment (so she slides a piece of paper saying "ooooooweeehooooooo" under the door), two vampires and a wolf who becomes a werewolf every full moon. These characters go great together, and when they try to pitch in and help Windle solve the trolley problem, the events add to the fun. This has to be the best bunch of characters that Pratchett has created.

There are only two niggling things about this book, however. The first is that the two stories don't really mesh that well. Sure, Death's story causes the other, but when the book bounces back and forth between the two stories, it gets a very disjointed feel that's a bit annoying. Secondly, the climax of the Death story is a bit rushed. Similar to Mort, it seems to happen too fast with not enough set up. I think it would have benefited from a few extra pages.

Still, the pluses of this book far outweigh the minuses. This book is classic Pratchett, and should be read as soon as possible. Make this your first Discworld book, if you can. It's that good.

Rating:
Summary: What Fun
Review: I like Terry Pratchett I like his anthromorphic personification of DEATH and I love it when he gets to be a character in the novels. THis is one of Pratchett's better ones though I should say that he has never let me down,witty turns of phrase and puns are only half the fun in the topsy turvey discworld. In this the the auditors have retired DEATH and in one of my favorite lines, his servant, Albert, says that Death can't die, you'd have to come after youself, it would be like a snake eating it's own tail.

Rating:
Summary: the spectacular adventure of Bill Door
Review: this is certainly among Pratchett's top five books. It's a wonderful work...full of understated humour and philosophical observations which give a slightly different slant to the way we view our own world. The humour is laugh-out-loud funny, and there are some lines you just want to keep in your head forever, remembering with a smile.

Pratchett's writing humour aside, is also quite brilliant. It is eloquent, elegaic, and his descriptions are amazing. Simple things such as a grandfather clock, or a scythe, or even just daylight, are seen in a different way after being put under the microscope of Pratchett.

the plot is brilliant, as are the characters. it rides along at a fair pace, with Death at the head of the cast. (My, and many others', favourite character).

This is an excellent addition to the series, and for fans of Mr Pratchett comes very highly reccomended.

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Summary: Pratchet's Most -gulp- Emotional work
Review: Yes - that does say "emotional." I've read a lot of Pratchet and this is by far his masterpiece. Not because it's funnier or bigger than his other books, it just has more substance. Douglas Adams (rest his soul) never brought a tear to my eye (in fact, very few books do), but Reaper Man's has a few spots of touching brilliance that transcend the ordinary machine-gun wit of Terry's other books. In fact, I would call this my favorite book of all time. Buy it - you won't be sorry.

Rating:
Summary: Not in the John Deere catalog . . .
Review: Shortsighted management has forced another "downsizing". This time the victim of layoff is Death himself, "retired" by the Auditors. He does his job efficiently and he doesn't sass the boss. He's just become "too involved" with those due to receive attention from his infinitely sharp scythe. The Auditors want a firmer hand on the reaping blade. On the street with time on his hands, Death decides he's going to spend it. Wandering the Discworld, he "gets his feet under the table" as hired man at Miss Flitworth's farm. Although a bit confused about eating and sleeping, he's able to respond with resolute affirmation when she asks, "Can you use a scythe?" He demonstrates a harvesting technique only Pratchett could devise.

With Death no longer performing his role, strange events result. Unconfined, the life force manifests itself in bizarre ways. Death, visible to wizards, fails to arrive at an appointment. In consequence, Windle Poons is subjected to various indignities. His colleagues have a prejudice about zombies. Not having actually died, Windle decides to start to live. Over a century of breathing doesn't necessarily mean you've been living, and Windle, like Death, decides to see something of the [Disc]world. His colleagues, uncertain as to why Windle's still upright and subjected to some mild indignities of their own, seek the cause of

If you're new to the Discworld, all this must sound pretty grotesque. Death "fired" only to become a reaper on a spinster's farm? Wizards who can see him and know precisely when he's due? Take heart, this isn't a bleak version of the Merlin legend, nor a Stephen King horror story. It's Terry Pratchett, a writer with an unmatched talent for looking at the world we live in. He peers deeply at how life works. Then with countless deft twists, restructures our globe into a flat Disc. The Disc's filled with novel ideas and even more unusual people, but on second glance all seem terribly familiar. Death isn't a killer, for example. He's only there to collect lives when they're due to end. Unlike the tax man, he only arrives once, and he's terribly, terribly good at his job.

To those familiar with Pratchett, this book should receive high marks. All of Ankh-Morpork's finest are here - even Sergeant Colon makes an appearance. While enlarging on the cameos Death's played in other Discworld books, Pratchett nearly lets Miss Flitworth walk away with this one. But it's Sal Lifton who does that - the Small Child who recognizes Bill Door as a "skellington" as she ponders how he can eat or sleep. For it's Sal who personifies why Death's been put out to pasture [sorry!]. What that implies about Death's philosophy of life [sorry, again!] and how all this reflects Pratchett's own views becomes vividly clear when the "new hire" appears. As with many modern managers, the Auditors have acquired a labour saving appliance.

Pratchett's great genius is many-leveled. A light skim of any of his books is to experience high mirth rates. His talent for quirky description and one liners you seek ways to use in conversation is matchless. But a few months later, Reaper Man may arrive unbidden back in your hand. "There's something else", you may muse, going back to seek it. More jewels will be discovered, the witticisms skipped over revealing things of deeper value. You will then discover why this reviewer considers Pratchett as one of today's most valuable philosophers. And who rejoices seeing his children with PTerry in hand. If there's hope for survival of this species, it will be people like Pratchett conveying human values to people who need it most - the next generation.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful entry in the Reaper Man-Series
Review: What can you say about Pratchett books in general? They're great. It's hard for me to tell them apart, because they're mostly on the same superb level.

This one is one the books about DEATH, in my opinion one of the best guys in Discworld. Here he has to fight with identity problems, another thing unimaginable for Death himself.

It's funny, funny, funny and just great as everyone else. Just read it.

Rating:
Summary: The best Discworld book so far!
Review: Choosing between this and "Men at Arms" for the title of best Discworld book, was difficult, believe you me. In the end, this one got the edge, because it was the first one I read. But enough about me. Let's talk about Bill Door.

In this book, Death gets laid off and takes a joh at a farm with Ms. Renata Flitworth. This means that when wizard Windle Poons dies, he does not advance to the afterlife, for wizards must be taken by Death itself. Instead, poor old Windle stays in his body. And the faculty of magical Unseen University searches for the truth behind a new life form that has appeared in the city of Ankh-Morpork.

I will say no more. You have GOT to read this. Hilarious and poignant at the same time, this is the best Discworld book.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Discworld novel. Without a doubt.
Review: The Discworld series is a brilliant and beautiful series of books. This is the best of them. Do I really need to give any further explanation? Alright then.

The Grim Reaper, Death, is a character often popularised as evil and murderous, and such. But he isn't, and in fact gets quite offended should this be suggested to him. The Auditors of Reality have therefore decided to fire him, on the basis that he is taking too much personal interest in his work. Until a replacement is found, though, Death's job - taking the spirits of the dead to their appointed afterlife (if any) isn't happening, leaving a surplus of life force and an abundance of chaos.

As Death journeys through what must now be called his "life" as a farm labourer called Bill Door, and deceased-but-not-departed wizard Windle Poons attempts to find him, comedy mixes with serious issues on life and humanity. And we are amused, but moved at the same time. A beautiful book. Get it. Now, if not sooner.

Rating:
Summary: A most excellent read
Review: Pratchett is possessed of a rare talent. In REAPER MAN, he balances his usual side-splitting antics with a poignant portrayal of Death down-sized.

Rating:
Summary: Death is still the hilarious figure of Mort
Review: Reaper Man is Pratchetts second novel centered on Death and his escapades. I love the carecter of Death and how he envys the motals of the Discworld. Death now poses as Bill Door who reaps corn for a living. Although the story is similar to Mort it is in no way boring or the same. I dont know how Pratchett does it but he keeps books griping and funny the whole way through. I highly recomend it for all of the people in the world with even the slightest sense of humor.