Your definition of the Reaper

[kelpiebeans]

One of my ever-simmering story ideas involves a teenaged girl basically tagging along with Death for a year as a job shadow. It's a slightly dark comedy deal if that wasn't obvious, with much sarcasm and drama injected into it.

My question is, what are your ideas on the whole 'grim reaper/death/angel of death' deal in literature? I'm curious. Have you ever written a story involving a character like this?

My story involves separate characters that represent death, the reaper, and Satan as different individuals, so it's a little more flexible, but I'd like to see other variants.

[Sir Icehawk]

I have written stories involving a "Grim Reaper" character. It's one character. I put my own spin on the whole afterlife thing which has carried over to a few stories.

[kelpiebeans]

Sir Icehawk

I have written stories involving a "Grim Reaper" character. It's one character. I put my own spin on the whole afterlife thing which has carried over to a few stories.

That sounds interesting. It's nice when you can pull something from one plot and bring to tie in with another.

[I_Write_Ivre]

Grim reaper: death form Discworld.

Angel of death: Azael, but the neutral version, not the evil version.

[Sir Icehawk]

I_Write_Ivre

Grim reaper: death form Discworld.

That's sorta like mine. Discworld D is just brilliant. Hogfather is my favorite movie to watch around Christmas time.

[kelpiebeans]

Hogfather? xDDD

[I_Write_Ivre]

American_Flyleaf_Girl

Hogfather? xDDD

The discworld series was the most popular series in the UK until Harry Potter bumped it down to number 2.

Hogfather is a great movie, if you want to check that out.

[kelpiebeans]

I_Write_Ivre

American_Flyleaf_Girl

Hogfather? xDDD

The discworld series was the most popular series in the UK until Harry Potter bumped it down to number 2.

Hogfather is a great movie, if you want to check that out.

que interesting surprised

[Rotsab M. Hyolf]

I usually have agents that work for (several beings known as) Death, collecting souls. Agents are chosen though an ultimatum, whereby if they discover certain truths, the location of Death, or interact with Death, they are offered to either become an agent and age at a much slower rate or be permanently destroyed. Rebirth and reincarnation play large parts in this 'life wheel.'

The agents and Death(s) vary in temprament. Some are very antisocial, others are completely mad. One of the agents I use revels in collecting souls and killing the occasional stubborn human; the Death he answers to is pretty blase and mellow. In another story, a different Death presses the destruct button and detonates the entire planet.

I'm not big on the Grim Reaper/Death being portrayed as a skeleton in a cloak*. It feels old-fashioned, and plays into the stereotype that death is something that should inspire absolute terror; it undercuts a lot of the more interesting ideas you can play with. I respected Supernatural's choice to make them pleasant looking and personable, so as to be more convincing that you should go with them. It made a lot of sense in that context.

*I want to note that a Grim Reaper who is portrayed as a blue skeleton in a cloak is absolutely fine by me. Especially if said skeleton has tattered wings and a writhing blade.

[kelpiebeans]

Rotsab M. Hyolf

I usually have agents that work for (several beings known as) Death, collecting souls. Agents are chosen though an ultimatum, whereby if they discover certain truths, the location of Death, or interact with Death, they are offered to either become an agent and age at a much slower rate or be permanently destroyed. Rebirth and reincarnation play large parts in this 'life wheel.'

The agents and Death(s) vary in temprament. Some are very antisocial, others are completely mad. One of the agents I use revels in collecting souls and killing the occasional stubborn human; the Death he answers to is pretty blase and mellow. In another story, a different Death presses the destruct button and detonates the entire planet.

I'm not big on the Grim Reaper/Death being portrayed as a skeleton in a cloak*. It feels old-fashioned, and plays into the stereotype that death is something that should inspire absolute terror; it undercuts a lot of the more interesting ideas you can play with. I respected Supernatural's choice to make them pleasant looking and personable, so as to be more convincing that you should go with them. It made a lot of sense in that context.

*I want to note that a Grim Reaper who is portrayed as a blue skeleton in a cloak is absolutely fine by me. Especially if said skeleton has tattered wings and a writhing blade.

Wow. That's a pretty cool layout.I like the supernatural death as well, though I havent' watched enough of the show to really get into that part.

[Rotsab M. Hyolf]

American_Flyleaf_Girl

Wow. That's a pretty cool layout.I like the supernatural death as well, though I haven't watched enough of the show to really get into that part.

Haha, thanks. It's something I've probably spent more time thinking on than I should have, given how little of it I've written about.

I wouldn't consider myself a big fan of Supernatural, but that was definitely something I liked.

[kelpiebeans]

Rotsab M. Hyolf

American_Flyleaf_Girl

Wow. That's a pretty cool layout.I like the supernatural death as well, though I haven't watched enough of the show to really get into that part.

Haha, thanks. It's something I've probably spent more time thinking on than I should have, given how little of it I've written about.

I wouldn't consider myself a big fan of Supernatural, but that was definitely something I liked.

Biggest thing I've thought about for my 'Job-Shadowing Death' what-have-you is 'how the hey do you end up following around the collector of the dead?'

[Rotsab M. Hyolf]

American_Flyleaf_Girl

Biggest thing I've thought about for my 'Job-Shadowing Death' what-have-you is 'how the hey do you end up following around the collector of the dead?'

Haha, sounds like a pretty good question to try and know the answer of, given the plot of your piece!

[Sir Icehawk]

Ah that Supreme Reaper is amusing too, but I enjoy playing with the bag of bones. It's a nice contrast to the afterlives.

Both the Discworld and Supernatural characters break the mold of the "Grim Reaper" character. That's the key. Taking something and making it your own.

Random idea: Even Death needs an apprentice. wink Run with it someone.

[kelpiebeans]

Rotsab M. Hyolf

American_Flyleaf_Girl

Biggest thing I've thought about for my 'Job-Shadowing Death' what-have-you is 'how the hey do you end up following around the collector of the dead?'

Haha, sounds like a pretty good question to try and know the answer of, given the plot of your piece!

I can't very well just THROW them in there. Well, i could, but I'd be burned at the stake. xD