Mort
1987 • 272 pages

Ratings432

Average rating4.1

15

3.50/5.00

Reading this book was a learning experience for me. When I finished this book, I didn't like the ending. I watched some review and I read the ending again, slowly this time, and realized that I missed many things. I am glad to have this experience since I think it made me appreciate discworld so much more. Mort is a beautiful story, and with an ending I did like. I get it now. “THERE IS NO JUSTICE, THERE IS JUST ME” - DEATH.

SPOILERS!!

Plot -> Great plot, a character driver story, which I did not pick up on in the first read through. I will strongly recommend reading this slowly. Some details like Mort realizing how time zones worked, and Mort and Ysebell's relationship and so endearing.

Worldbuilding -> This was much better. The life-story books, Binky, Death's role and Mort, the bubble of alternate reality, the gods and the whole concept of afterlife was just first class worldbuilding.

Characters -> Mort's character is subtle but powerful. The book's character development is focused on Death, and how all these Mortals are changing as a person ( or to a person). Mort himself seems pretty much himself through the book. His character is very consistent, driven by instincts and his gut, he challenges Death in many ways. Ysebell's final scene with Death where she confronts him on his hypocrisy is just gold. Then Death realizing that he is a hypocrite is pretty satisfying.

Prose -> Excellent prose. Probably I am not able to appreciate the book as much as some others because of Terry Pratchett's style. His humor is often based on similes and metaphors, which often exit from the discworld and use real-word elements, which I found disorienting.

Emotional Impact -> A very fun story, so philosophical, so deep! I loved the worldbuilding so much. Death as a character is a masterpiece of fantasy storytelling. I don't find the humor as funny as most others but I think Discworld books are funnier than most.

December 23, 2023Report this review