Rating: 5/5
Review:
A Pratchett gem
A Terry Pratchett book scarcely needs another review from me, but for what it's worth: I have read Reaper Man several times now and I enjoy it immensely every time. It is very funny and also has Pratchett's characteristic wise and insightful view of important human issues.
Here, Death is forcibly retired and goes into the Discworld to live as a mortal farm worker, where he struggles to understand human life in his bemusedly literal-minded way. Meanwhile, his absence means that the life force builds up throughout Discworld with extraordinary consequences. It actually starts rather slowly, but soon becomes a thrilling, funny and thought-provoking story. Beneath the humour Pratchett has serious things to say about, among other things, the importance of friendship, the life-sapping soullessness of shopping malls, care for others, the value of life and, of course, the critical importance of a three-eighths Gripley.
This is among my favourite Discworld books (and contains one of Pratchett's finest lines: "What can the harvest hope for, if not for the care of the reaper man?"). It's a real gem and warmly recommended.
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