Book · 1987
Mort
by Terry Pratchett
Death hires a gawky teenage apprentice to swing the scythe for him, then discovers he would rather be fishing, farming, and not being the Grim Reaper.
What does Reddit think of Mort?
Mort keeps getting filed as Discworld's other front door, the alternative to Guards! Guards! rather than a clear favorite over it. One reply offers both, "start with Mort or Guards! Guards!," and never actually picks. Ask for detail instead and the enthusiasm redirects. The most thorough answer names Reaper Man as the best of the Death books, crediting Mort mainly for setting up the farmer-named-Bill-Door arc that pays off later rather than being the strongest entry itself. Most of the remaining volume is flat citation, the title and author with no case attached, and r/Fantasy runs about as neutral here as r/suggestmeabook does. Where the book does real work is pairing. One commenter puts it next to The Book Thief, both structured around Death as a character, apprentice versus narrator. Another slots the whole Death sub-series next to Tuesdays with Morrie, grief memoir drawing its own line to a comic fantasy about dying for a living.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · Filed as Discworld's other entry point, alongside Guards! Guards!, not clearly ahead of it
- · Part of a wider 'Death books' sub-series more than a standalone favourite
- · Paired against The Book Thief on apprentice-versus-narrator grounds
- · Recommended as gateway fantasy to younger or returning readers
Common praise
- + One reply offers it as an equally valid Discworld starting point right alongside Guards! Guards!.
- + A commenter draws a specific structural contrast with The Book Thief: Death as an apprentice's master here versus Death as the narrator there.
- + It gets recommended to a self-described 17-year-old getting back into reading, gateway-fantasy company alongside Mistborn and Kings of the Wyld.
Common criticism
- − The most detailed answer in the sample names Reaper Man, not Mort, as the best of the Death books.
- − Several citations are just the title and author with no case made for reading it over its own sequels.
- − Even the recommendation offering it as a starting point refuses to pick between it and Guards! Guards!, so it never wins the comparison outright.
Who it's for
Take this over Guards! Guards! only if Death-the-character interests you more than the City Watch does; Reddit offers both as valid doors into Discworld without settling which is better. If you want the single best Death book specifically, know that one detailed answer votes for Reaper Man instead, with Mort mainly setting up what comes later. Getting a reluctant teenager back into reading? This is exactly the kind of shelf it gets pulled from.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Mort?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“Death is a pretty important character in Discworld and has it's own saga of books "Mort." "Reaper Man" "SoulMusic" "Hogfather"... aside from making an appearance in nearly all the other books when someone is about to die. The best ones are Reaper Man, in which Death becomes a farmer called Bill Doo…
“Mort by Terry Pratchett.(main character) Though, Death as a character appear in multiple books in Discworld series.
“*Mort* by Terry Pratchett. Death is a major character in the book. He takes on an apprentice. *The Book Thief* by Marcus Zusak. Death is the narrator. The main character is a girl forced to evacuate in Nazi Germany.
“Mort, by Terry Pratchett
“Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. Start with Mort or Guards! Guards! Guards!
“What about the Discworld books? Mort, Reaper Man, Soul Music, The Hogfather? Points points given the last one also has a Santa Claus-eque character!
“Mort by Terry Pratchett, although it's more humorous, but it's a great book
“If you're looking for a fun and lighthearted take on mortality and death I will suggest a couple of books from the Death storyline in Discworld by Terry Pratchett. Mort, is about a young boy who becomes death's apprentice, but he messes up his job and screws up the natural progression of history. An…
“Death is the main or one of the main characters of several of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, starting with *Mort,* in which Death takes an apprentice. It's excellent, though I prefer the later ones in the series (Hogfather, in particular). And definitely on the funny side of things. In an enti…
“It's important to remember that Good Omens was co-written with Neil Gaiman, so you're getting both styles mixed together. There's definitely a lot of Pratchett there, but it's only a partial indicator. Small Gods was my entry into the Discworld. That and Mort are both excellent starting points. I'd…
“*Reaper Man* is another Discworld book with Death as the main character. Personally I like it better than *Mort*, but both are good. Also *Hogfather*, where Death tries to perform the role of someone else.
“Terry Pratchett's MORT. Probably my favorite of early discworld
“If you don't mind a little sillyness I would really recommed "Mort" from Terry Pratchett Or really everything from him. His protagonist are such loveable fools.
“Mort, by Sir Terry Pratchett, one of the early Discworld novels. I personally recommend Small Gods as a starting point, but you really can’t go too wrong with just picking up the nearest Discworld book and starting in on it. Small Gods, btw, is the story of the god Om, who’s recently found himself…
“I can't recommend Terry Pratchett's *Discworld* series enough, especially the ones focussed on Death or the City Watch. They pair strong loveable characters, who believe in doing the right thing in the name of kindness, integrity and friendship standing strong together, with a fun, charming, intelli…
Convinced? Pick up Mort
Readers also mention
Books that share discussion threads with Mort — counted from the comments, not curated.
Mort — frequently asked
Should I read Mort or Guards! Guards! first?+
The data doesn't settle it. One reply lists both in the same breath as valid Discworld starting points, 'start with Mort or Guards! Guards!,' without arguing for one over the other.
Is Mort the best of Terry Pratchett's Death books?+
Not according to the most detailed answer in the sample, which names Reaper Man instead and credits Mort mainly with setting up the farmer-named-Bill-Door arc that pays off in the later book.
Is Mort a good pick for a teenager getting back into reading?+
Yes, per the sample: one reply recommends it to a self-described 17-year-old alongside gateway fantasy picks like Mistborn and Kings of the Wyld, aimed at rebuilding a reading habit rather than at established Discworld fans.