Reaper Man

Reaper Man is a Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. Published in 1991, it is the 11th Discworld novel and the second to focus on Death. The title is a reference to Alex Cox's cult movie Repo Man.

Synopsis

The Auditors are beings who watch the Discworld from above to ensure everything obeys The Rules. As Death starts developing more of a personality the Auditors feel that he does not perform the Duty (namely, sending dead people to the beyond) in the right way anymore.

They send him off with his own golden hourglass and his scythe to live like everyone else. Now called "Bill Door" he tries to work as a helper on a farm. Meanwhile, the number of undead on the Discworld is increasing. While every other species thinks of a new Death for themselves in seconds, humans need time. Therefore the dead don't stay dead but keep on walking on the streets. In the meantime, the city of Ankh-Morpork is invaded by a parasitic lifeform taking the shape of snow globes.

When they finally think of a New Death, now with crown and without any humanity, Bill Door returns to fight him to take back his place.

Reaper Man, features a "were-man", similar to Peter David's "werehuman" in Howling Mad.

Reaper Man translations

• Жътварят (Bulgarian)
• Sekáč (Czech)
• Maaierstijd (Dutch)
• Viikatemies (Finnish)
• Le Faucheur (French)
• Alles Sense! (German)
• Mannen med ljåen (Norwegian)
• Kosiarz (Polish)
• Мрачный жнец (Russian)
• El Segador (Spanish)
• Kosač (Serbian)
• Döden ligger lågt (Swedish)