Do Not Fear the Reaper

This project was designed as a submission to the ISTD 2016 competition, in answer to a brief about the notion of death. I committed the book to the life and work of Terry Pratchett, highlighting his unique relationship with Death. One of the characters in his expansive saga of the Discworld novels, Death, the Grim Reaper, who is one of the most popular characters in the series. Death meant so much to Pratchett, that upon being knighted the motto on his coat of arms stated “Noli Timere Messorem” — “Do Not Fear the Reaper”, which I have chosen to be the title of my book.

Another connection of Terry Pratchett with death is his diagnosis with a rare form of Alzheimer’s, PCA. During the last years of his life he has waged a war against the disease and actively campaigned for the human right to dignified death, the right to choose assisted death. He has authored several documentary series on the subject.