Mort, the Discworld's Apprentice

«Mort, the Discworld's Apprentice» — a humorous fantasy about a young man who becomes Death's apprentice and disrupts the order upon which the entire world relies. The familiar image of the Grim Reaper coexists here with rural life, court intrigues, and the strange logic of the Discworld, where even the most serious matters easily take on an absurd appearance. This is the fourth novel in the «Discworld» series and the first book in which Death emerges as a main character with his own habits, interest in people, and almost human bewilderment at their lives. The story is built on the contrast between duty, fate, the mistake of choice, and a feeling that does not conform to the laws of the universe.

The young man feels out of place on his father's farm and sets out to find a craft, but instead of a usual mentor, he gets a job that no one seriously dreams of. He learns to accompany souls, observes the workings of the invisible side of the world, and gradually takes on part of Death's responsibilities. Everything changes when a personal feeling turns out to be stronger than duty. Against this backdrop, Death gets a rare chance to live humanely and is surprised to discover what makes people human.