Death needs an apprentice so that he can commence with his midlife crisis without worrying that his responsibilities will be neglected. Enter Mort, a young boy who is hopeless at everything and has never been entrusted with much responsibility at all.
My thoughts
I needed something quick and fun to read after the Choirboys disappointment. This was perfect. Technically, it's the fourth book in Terry Pratchett's acclaimed Discworld series, but it's the first one I've read and I don't get the sense that it's the kind of series you need to read in any kind of order. (It's not a traditional series where you follow the same protagonists as they age/progress through life. You meet some of the same characters in every book—Death, for instance, shows up a lot, although Mort apparently does not—but they don't always stick around or play a central role in each book.)
Mort is arguably the star of the book, but Death often steals the show. Death sincerely tries to gain a better understanding of humans and why they enjoy the things they do, but he's just not capable of it. His fishing trip and his stint as a short-order cook are two of the funniest parts of the book, even though they don't contribute to the main storyline.
Terry Pratchett is a comic genius and I laughed out loud throughout the book. His sense of humor is very British—very dry with a dash of absurdity. (Think Douglas Adams but with fantasy instead of science fiction.)
Bottom line
It's a great read for anyone. I'll definitely read more.
Fine print
Mort, by Terry Pratchett
Genre: fantasy
Photo from Goodreads
I borrowed this book from the library
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