Mort

A 1987 fantasy novel from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, Mort follows the story of a young man named Mort, whose father takes him to an apprenticeship fair, hoping to find him a mentor. Unexpectedly, Death himself—an anthropomorphic entity carrying out his duties with absolute precision—chooses Mort as his apprentice. Under Death's guidance, Mort learns the art of escorting souls to the afterlife. However, when given his first solo assignment, he disrupts the natural order by saving Princess Keli from her destined death. This decision causes a paradox, threatening to unravel reality. Meanwhile, Death, weary of his eternal role, takes time off to experience the pleasures of mortal life, leaving Mort to deal with the consequences of his actions. The novel is filled with Pratchett's signature humor, satire on traditional notions of death and fate, and thought-provoking themes about free will and responsibility.