Two Delightful Books about Death

Death, AKA the Grim Reaper, has been a classic character in fiction for centuries. He has made some high profile appearances recently in such popular tv shows as The Simpsons, and The Family Guy, and has even been played by Brad Pitt in the movie Meet Joe Black. (When is Brad Pitt going to play me in a movie? Perhaps that is a question for another day...)

But who is Death? H0w did he get the job? What is a work day like when your job description includes harvesting souls?

Two of my favorite authors have taken turns imaging the answers to just these questions, and both books receive high marks for creativity and humor. AND, both are currently available at the Morton Public Library.

On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony is the first. Piers Anthony is best known for his humorous fantasy novels about the pun-filled world of Xanth. This novel is part of a lesser known series he has written called Incarnations of Immortality. In this series he imagines the lives of various immortals such as Nature, War and Time. Each immortal starts life as a mortal human, but is thrust into the role of an incarnation. This book, possibly the best in the series, imagines death as able to ride either a pale horse, or a very fast pale sports car. The plot is a mix between soap opera and action thriller, as Death falls in love with a mortal woman, then goes "on strike" when her soul is the next to be harvested. The action is fast and furious as Death interacts and conflicts with other immortals. Can Death save the life of the woman he loves? Will he even survive?

The second novel about Death is called Reaper Man, and it is also by a fantasy novelist, this time Terry Pratchett. This novel is set in the Discworld, as are most of Pratchett's books. If you have never read any of Pratchett's novel, you are in for a treat. His sense of humor can truly be described as "unique," dry and outrageous at the same time, and this is my favorite of his books. In it, Death's bosses are not happy with his work, and decide it is time for Death to die himself. But before he leaves, he has some vacation time coming, and he takes it, hiring on as a farmhand for the indomitable but dimwitted Mrs. Flitwworth and putting his scythe to a different use. Meanwhile, those slated to die live on, resulting in unexpected and growing problems for both "nearly dead" and living alike. All very enjoyable, but what makes this book special is the tender, understated romance that develops between Death and his erstwhile employer, handled delicately and with real affection by an author not known for love stories.

So, if you like action, humor or romance, try either of these books. Perhaps all that is certain in life is death and taxes, but I am certain you will enjoy these books!
- John H.