A Life Of Death (Mort - Terry Pratchett)

Member Name: Nomad

Product:	Mort - Terry Pratchett
Date:	01/11/03 (153 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Best book so far in the series, a gripping and entertaining story with some great characters.

Disadvantages: Slight inconsistencies with the previous Discworld books.

As I write this there is a documentary currently showing on BBC1 called A Life of Grime which follows some real-life characters in their day to day jobs. The common thread is that while all their jobs are essential, not many of us would want to do them. Well, does catching rats, collecting rubbish or unblocking sewers appeal to you?

These are the jobs that we don't like to think about and instead just assume someone else will do. We put our rubbish out in the morning and by the time we get home from work it's gone, as if by magic. And talking of magic (nice link huh?) the Discworld also has a number of essential jobs and none more so than that performed by the being known as Death.

Often overlooked or taken for granted Death has something of a hectic schedule and is a very busy chap. It's true to say that he is not expected to put in an appearance everytime a Discworld inhabitant shuffless off the mortal coil but he has to make the effort if the soon to be departed happens to be a wizard, royalty or some other VIP.

Then there is the paperwork and keeping track of when and where he is required, not to mention maintaining a room full of lifetimers (like eggtimers but they last longer) representing the Discworlds' inhabitants and looking after his adopted daughter Ysabell. He does have some help on the home front in the shape of Albert who would appear to be Deaths butler but Albert is getting on a bit (well quite a lot actually).

Meanwhile on the Discworld the hiring fair is coming to town. This is where youngsters get employed as apprentices in various trades and this year Lezek has decided it's time for his lanky, well-meaning son Mort to go to work. Standing in the square with all the other hopefuls the day slowly passes as one by one the others get their apprenticeships.

Eventually Mort is the only one left. Despite his humiliation he is determined to stay until the very end of the day. As the bells start to ring at midnight a stranger approaches Mort. His father sees this character as an undertaker but Mort sees him for who he is. Death has decided to get an apprentice.

Naturally to begin with Mort has a lot to learn, not least getting to grips with the fact that Deaths mighty steed is called Binky. But, once he learns that it isn't a job requirement to be dead he begins to settle into the role. Initially it's not all he expects spending most of his time clearing out the stables but eventually he gets to accompany Death on 'the duty'.

But this is the Discworld and things very rarely run smoothly. Just as Mort is beginning to get the hang of his responsibilities he very nearly causes a major catastrophe when, on one of his first solo jobs he ends up saving the life of a young princess rather than helping her into the afterlife. But going against the normal course of nature proves not to be such a wise move.

At the point Mort saves the princess the Discworlds' timeline splits into two realities, one in which the princess died (as was her destiny) and the one Mort created in which she is alive. Being unable to support these two different realities, nature attempts to resolve this conflict by restoring the more powerful reality - the one in which the princess died. Obviously this isn't good news for the princess (or Mort who has fallen in love with her).

As if to complicate matters Death has gone walkabout deciding to take advantage of the free time he now has and invest in a little rest and recreation. Oh, and just possibly investigate the phenomenon of being drunk.

Will Mort be able to save the princess and still put the universe back in order? Welcome to 'Mort', book four in the thirty strong Discworld series written by British author Terry Pratchett.

If you have read any of the books in the series (or happened to come across some of my previous Discworld ops for that matter) then you probably know what to expect from this book. I'd call them comic fantasy. Well, how else would you label a series of adventures that take place on a flat disc shaped world which is supported on the back of four giant elephants who, in turn, stand on the back of a giant Space Turtle? Exactly.

Let's get this out of the way first. I'll acknowledge there are twenty-six books still to go (although I have read the next three) but this is easily my favourite in the series so far. Mainly this is down to the meaty role Death gets. Mort may be the hero of the story but Deaths' brief appearances in the previous books have always left me wanting more and I'm pleased to say Mr P hasn't disappointed.

Mort remains a self-contained story and no prior knowledge of events chronicled elsewhere in the series is required to thoroughly enjoy this tale. However I personally prefer to do things in order and, as always, I'd recommend reading the series as written to get the most from it since previous exposure to the Discworld will certainly add that little something extra to your enjoyment of this book.

Mr P had started to explore his Discworld universe with his last book, 'Equal Rites', but here he seems to be really enjoying himself exploring the life (if that's the right word) of one of his earlier creations. Despite his fleeting appearances in previous books in the series, Death is quite possibly my favourite character yet encountered.

Only four books into the series and already we can see some developments in the Discworld universe although not all of them are consistent. For example, in the first Discworld novel entitled 'The Colour of Magic', Death is seen in an act of frustration touching a passing fish salesman resulting in him dropping dead on the spot. In Mort we discover Death isn't so much responsible for killing people, his role is just to be there when they die and escort them to the next world. Oh and he likes cats a lot.

The writing is fluid throughout and this is a more entertaining and gripping story than any of the previous three books. There is a genuine desire to discover the outcome as much because you care for the characters as for simply finding out how (or indeed if) the various threads will get tied up.

While on the subject of the characters those featured here are as diverse a bunch as any we have encountered before.

Mort develops quite a lot over the course of this book and it's very easy to get caught up in things as we accompany him during his adventures. Spending some time with Death during his day to day duties proves very entertaining although the laughs do move up a gear when he decides to take some time off. And we meet his adopted daughter Ysabell who is very restless and perhaps eager for a few adventures of her own after what must be a very lonely lifestyle.

Smaller roles go to Cutwell, a wizard who tries to help Mort and princess Keli who seems to be having a lot of trouble convincing everyone that she is actually alive. Even Albert, who is an absolute demon with a frying pan, has a few tricks up his sleeve

While staying true to the world he had previously created - an abundance of natural magic has resulted in a world populated by wizards, witches and so on - the story here is much more approachable than many fantasy novels and even, in some respects, the previous three Discworld books.

Pratchetts writing style is as we have grown to expect. The book is not split into chapters, there are regular footnotes* and a huge amount of humorous situations and one-liners - perhaps some of the best of the series so far. Death getting drunk ranks as one of my favourite scenes.

Now that I'm hopefully out of Dooyoos' no capitals zone (although you are not missing much if we're not) there is another aspect of the writing that I'd like to mention. As with all previous Discworld books whenever Death speaks his lines are presented in capitals, rather than quotes SO IT LOOKS LIKE THIS. This might seem a very small detail but it does mean that without any further explanation you always know when he has appeared.

But it's put to excellent use in several sequences in the book where both Mort and Deaths' characters start to undergo some changes, Mort becoming more like Death and Death almost becoming more human. As I said, a small detail but one which is used to wonderful effect.

It's about here that I'd point out any flaws with the book but I can't honestly think of any. I've already mention the slight inconsistencies between Deaths first appearance and his character here but to be honest it's a very minor point. I can't fault any other aspect of the book.

If you are one of those who have at some time dipped their toes into the Discworld pool and even remotely enjoyed what you've found then make sure you include Mort as part of that experience. For more regular readers we get the added bonus of uncovering a little more of the way the Discworld works.

Five stars will have to do since I'm unable to award more but as far as I am concerned this is comic fantasy at it's best. Quite often people will describe a book as being unputdownable. To be honest I've not encountered many examples but this is genuinely one of them. Even if I can't persuade you to tackle the whole Discworld series (and I'm going to give it a damn good shot) I am going to have to insist you at least give this a try.

In my previous Discworld ops I've highlighted a few offers around at the time. Without going into too much detail here again it shouldn't take too much shopping around on the internet (Amazon.co.uk is usually worth a look) or High Street (WH Smiths often has offers on paperbacks) to save yourself a few pounds off the RRP.

For my next Discworld op we will be indulging in a little Sourcery, although sometimes I feel I could do with a miracle if I'm ever to finish reviewing the whole series ...

Thanks for reading.
© Nomad 2003


* Like this only much more humorous



Book information
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'Mort' by Terry Pratchett
316 pages, published by Corgi, £6.99
ISBN: 0-552-13106-7


Some websites worth a look
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The L Space Web - http://www.ie.lspace.org/
Discworld monthly - http://www.ufbs.co.uk/dwm/
Terry Pratchett Books - http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/


Other Discworld book reviews by me
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'Destination Discworld' an opinion on Book 1 - 'The Colour Of Magic'
'Fantastical Magical' an opinion on Book 2 - 'The Light Fantastic'
'Men Only' an opinion on Book 3 - 'Equal Rites'

Summary: Discworld - Book 4