The Death of Terry Pratchett: A Discworld Quiz

Answer: RINCEWIND

The "caps" were, of course a clue, Death's words almost always appearing entirely in the upper case. When Death's "family members" assume his role, they too begin to speak in all caps. In a scene from "Soul Music", Death's granddaughter must concentrate in order to speak with the proper voice while addressing two members of the Watch.

Twoflower is a well known character to "Color of Magic" lovers. For The star turtle on which the four giant elephants that carry the Discworld stand, Great A'Tuin, is the first character name to appear in "The Color of Magic, Terry Pratchett's first Discworld novel. Bravd the Hublander, who with his friend Weasel accost Rincewind the wizard (or wizzard if you prefer) in the book's opening scene, utters the first words of any Discworld novel character, "There go all those little alleyways". One has to wait nearly another entire page before Rincewind becomes the first of many characters to utter what may be the most characteristic of all Pratchett expletives - "Bugger". (In this case "bugger off", although "bugger it" seems to be an even bigger favorite.)

Answer: Death becomes him.

Open the cover of Corgi book's edition of "Reaper Man" (the British Edition). On the left hand page the book's enigmatic author stares at you from underneath one of his familiar cowboy-esque hats. On the right we read, " Terry Pratchett is Britain's best selling living novelist." One can only speculate whether the Reaper Man would disapprove of this undue emphasis on one's mortal state in a book that seems to celebrate the un-living. Certainly, the "anti-vitalist" members of the "Fresh Start Club", might take umbrage and remind us that the living are, compared to their postmortem compatriots, a distinct and perhaps less important minority.

It would be accurate to say that Death takes Bill Door's name and becomes him. But we must wait for "The Hogfather" for our grim hero to fly in a pig-pulled open sleigh. In the end, we learn that soul gathering is lonesome work, work that might be less grim if shared. Faced with the duty of reabsorbing the subordinate entity, the Death of Rats, Death chooses instead to let the squeaky rodent continue to live...er...exist.

Answer: Family

In the Discworld novel "Soul Music", author Terry Pratchett points out that having rescued the baby Ysabell and having raised her as a daughter, Death believed that older children "would be easier to deal with than younger children". His daughter Ysabell ultimately marries his apprentice Mort, and they provide Death with his granddaughter Susan.

If you have somehow stumbled into this quiz having never read a Terry Pratchett Discworld novel, I would suggest considering beginning with the novel in which Death begins his family: "Mort". In my opinion, it is in "Mort" that Death becomes an altogether endearing character. It should in no way spoil the ending to provide the following excerpt from near the end of the book: "Death grinned, because as so often has been remarked, he didn't have much option. But possibly he meant it, this time."

Mort's daughter Susan has become a favorite character of mine, and "Thief of Time", in which Susan is the main character, is my current favorite Discworld novel - but then Mr. Pratchett is still writing.

Answer: Auditors

Although the origin and significance of the Auditors has been linked to sources as diverse as Ben Franklin and Samuel Becket (in the latter's Play "Not I"), this may merely demonstrate the tendency of some Pratchett commentators to wax entirely too intellectual; just as I might be tempted to believe that Mr. Pratchett speaks of the auditor in all of us, that gloomy speck of inhumanity that seeks to poison the creative will within us and move us to compose intolerably long and meaningless sentences like the one you have just read. Fortunately, each time one is tempted to over-intellectualize a Pratchett book, one of his characters is likely to say, "Bugger it".

Answer: Binky

It was necessary to specify both color and state of mortality of this particular steed of Death's because of the two other horses Terry Pratchett has described Death as having ridden. A skeletal horse, which was no doubt pale, was presumably non-living; and Binky could never have been mistaken for the fiery black steed that apparently lost favor because of its habit of setting its bedding on fire.

What kind of man might Terry Pratchett be? An immensely popular author, he seemed embarrassed to be literally worshiped by attendees of a Pratchett convention. An uncommonly gifted writer, he seems to very much enjoy hanging out with his common readers. To perhaps glimpse the real man who hides behind a hat and beard consider the following Binky related tale. Terry Pratchett received a request to sign an object for a charity auction hosted by an organization with the unlikely name of "UK PonyCon". Mr. Pratchett sent an autographed, white "My Little Pony" doll with a note reading, "Here's your pony, you loonies. Best wishes." You can see pictures at http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=005811 The pony was auctioned on Ebay for £129.00. If I'd known, I just might have bid.

Answer: five

The well known four horsemen - Death, War, Famine, and Pestilence - begin appearing in Terry Pratchett's second Discworld book "The Light Fantastic". Not until "Thief of Time", his 25th Discworld book, do we learn that Ronnie Soak is none other Kaos (soak backwards), the fifth horseman of the Apocalypse.

What author, I wonder, would have such confidence as to be willing to share his most popular character with another author in the writing of a joint piece of fiction? Yet, in "Good Omens" Terry Pratchett teams with Neil Gaiman in writing a novel featuring the traditional four horsemen including Death.

Answer: Death's grandfather clock

I do hope I did not inadvertently fool you, for a scythe is the pendulum for Death's grandfather clock not a hand. Death's son-in-law Mort and granddaughter Susan both carry Death's scythe, and the Death of Rats has his own.

Death does not strike the dead or dying with his scythe of course but rather cuts the cord binding them to their discly (or earthly if you prefer) body. Thus Death's scythe liberates rather than kills. It requires a terribly sharp edge to severe body and soul - an edge, we are informed, sharp enough to slice a breeze or cut time. Perhaps that fixed grin militates against Death being appreciated as a liberator of the soul.

Answer: An hourglass

For each living Discworld entity there is a lifetimer. When the final grain of sand drops into the bottom of the hourglass, death occurs. In the usual course of events, the soul must separate from the corpse in order to enter the afterlife. On the Disc, your expectations principally determine whether the Valkyries carry you off to paradise or you descend into an abyss. One learns the consequences of Death neglecting his job in "Reaper Man".

Answer: Somewhat paradoxically, there is no death in Death's realm.

Poor Albert wrongly believes that reciting backwards a spell that brings Death to a person will result in keeping Death away. Unfortunately, reversing the spell means that Albert is transported to Death in Death's realm. There Albert learns that his lifetimer is nearly empty signifying imminent death and decides to remain in Death's realm. Albert's mannerisms are coarse, his food greasy and his personality cantankerous. Yet, he proves to be a loyal servant to Death and family.

Answer: CAT(S)

Those who have read the full Discworld canon are well aware that Death's character has evolved and expanded as the number of Discworld novels has increased. In the only survey of Discworld characters I was able to reference, one from 1999, Death was first in the popular vote with 32% followed by Granny Weatherwax at 12% and Sam Vimes at 8%. One can only speculate how much of the author's character can be found in Death (some maintain that no live author can be fully known).

But certainly author and character both demonstrate a liking for cats.