Reaper Man

Reaper Man is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett. Published in 1991, it is the 11th Discworld novel and the second to focus on Death. The title references Alex Cox's movie Repo Man. The Auditors of Reality force Death to retire because he developed a personality, giving him a timer with sand representing his life.

He works as a farmhand named Bill Door in the Octarine Grass Country, learning about humans and the value of life. His absence causes dead humans' life forces to build up, resulting in ghosts and poltergeists, including the zombie wizard Windle Poons. Together with wizards from Unseen University and the Fresh Start Club, they destroy a parasitic life form invading Ankh-Morpork that turns into a giant shopping mall. When humankind's fear creates a New Death without personality or form, Bill Door outwits and destroys it.

He then confronts Azrael, the Death of all things across the Universes, arguing that Deaths must care to exist. After receiving more time from Azrael, he escorts Miss Flitworth to her death at a harvest dance before reuniting her with her old fiancé for their final rest. Death resumes his duties and takes Windle Poons to his afterlife.