Reaper ManReaper Man
Score Modern
What it's about
Death has started to think about life, which worries his bosses, so they retire him with a gold watch. Freed, Death takes a job as a farmhand named Bill Door, and discovers what it means to have a limited amount of time. Meanwhile, with no one collecting the dead, life force builds up in the city, and 130-year-old wizard Windle Poons finds he can't stay dead.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the BBC's Big Read and is one of Pratchett's most moving novels. It's very funny, and it has some of the most beautiful passages he ever wrote about time and mortality.
You'll love it if you liked
Hogfather
Small Gods
Good OmensGood to know
It's a Discworld book that stands alone. Death is one of Pratchett's best characters.
By the numbers
- Readers89 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller47 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #11 of the 35 humor books we rank
- #79 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #310 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #619 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Funny, Uplifting
More by Terry Pratchett
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Guards! Guards!
The TruthIf you like this, read next
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Quick answers
Is Reaper Man worth reading?
Yes. It's on the BBC's Big Read and is one of Pratchett's most moving novels. It ranks #619 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Reaper Man about?
Death has started to think about life, which worries his bosses, so they retire him with a gold watch. Freed, Death takes a job as a farmhand named Bill Door, and discovers what it means to have a limited amount of time. Meanwhile, with no one collecting the dead, life force builds up in the city, and 130-year-old wizard Windle Poons finds he can't stay dead.
How long does it take to read Reaper Man?
About 8 hours (305 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Reaper Man?
If you liked it, try Hogfather by Terry Pratchett, Small Gods by Terry Pratchett or Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.