Mort
by Terry Pratchett

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Book Reviews of Mort

Book Review: "OH, BUGGER". . .
Summary: 5 Stars

Death's job is not to kill, that role belongs to Fate. Death simply harvests the results of Fate's decisions. No Pratchett character, however, is ever "simply" anything. Death is far more sensitive than legend would have us believe. He "GETS REALLY UPSET" at the drowning of kittens, while rejecting any thought of "fairness" - there is no fairness, "THERE'S ONLY ME" he declares. While apparently contradictory, these comments reflect the complicated events surrounding the job.

Since the role is complex, Death has decided to take on an apprentice to help sort things out. Mortimer, or Mort, isn't as simple as he first appears, either. Mort, still seeking fairness, is sent out on his first solo. His first "take" will keep you smiling, if not guffawing. Mort's human origins [we don't know Death's] are a pitfall for an apprentice. He fails at completing an assignment, with unforeseen results. What would the cascade of events be if someone who was supposed to die, didn't? Pratchett examines this delicate issue in very human terms - challenging us to examine our traditional values. He provides a laugh at every step along the way - either in how the characters react to the situation or just through his descriptive powers. No matter - the underlying question remains there for us to cope with.

Many mainstream critics push Pratchett into a niche, trying to minimalize his value. "Humorous fantacist" is the usual insulting label, one that both misses the mark and reflects the reviewer's superficial reading. His readers, even if only subliminally, recognize there is more in his work. Unlike genre "fantasy" writers, Pratchett doesn't offer a means of escaping reality. Instead, he thrusts it before your eyes, forcing you to consider how you mean to confront it. He manages this without the harsh approach of philosophers or pedants, keeping you smiling as you reflect on his offering. But reflect you will. If you don't, go back and read him again. You've missed something.

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