The Subject of Death
Death has been present on our planet since the first single-cell organism, and our reaction to this inevitable circumstance ranges from fear, acceptance, enjoyment, and worst of all, infliction. Of course, writers tap into this subject with gusto because death represents so many extreme attributes. “Do this, or you will die!” “Are you willing to risk your life?” “Sam died to protect us.” “Jane allowed her child to die to satisfy her strong beliefs.” An author could base an entire book on one of those sentences.
At the other end of the spectrum, we have characters who do their best to avoid death. “I walk every day and eat healthy.” Then, some people seem oblivious to the subject. For example, I recently read the book Frozen Hell by William Trotter, which is about the Russian-Finland war. In a single battle, Joseph Stalin ordered 27,500 Russian soldiers to fight a hopeless battle, and they all perished. Why? To get some land. So pointless.
Death spans the story spectrum from comic relief to horror story nightmare fuel. We even created an entire branch of science (medicine) to keep death at bay and another branch (the mortuary) to preserve our dead bodies. There is even the pseudoscience of freezing people hoping to be brought back to life.
Authors often revolve their plots around death and even invented physics-defying concepts, such as immortals, ghosts, daemons, werewolves, vampires, and zombies. That’s correct. Authors have successfully cheated death. They even take it a step further with time travel. A character can see they are about to die, go back in time, and speak to themselves so they prevent their death.
Fortunately, there is no such thing as time travel and zombies—pure fiction. So, can an author transport those 27,500 Russian soldiers into the future to save their lives? Yup. However, once the reader puts that book down, those brave soldiers return to their graves. Then, the fiction author will review the historical documents and write another groundbreaking book to entertain new readers. This time, the Russian soldiers turned into zombies.
Even I am guilty of snatching death from the grim reaper’s icy cold grasp. In my first book, the main character is a 500-year-old woman who survives by killing others and harvesting their organs. Am I taunting death? Seems like it.
We love fictional characters who take a hard slap at death. The recent famous vampire and zombie stories explored such characters. Video games take this further and allow players to kill other characters. The screen vividly displays the opponent’s deaths by splattering blood all over the screen as if death’s hand is grasping the joystick.
Even non-fiction writers appreciate a good battle scene. In the book Frozen Hell, death is studied, glorified, and given a new perspective. Why would somebody want to glorify death by writing all about it? Good stories sell books, and book sales pay the author’s rent. Well, at least that is a worthy goal (that I have yet to experience).
On a personal level, I fear death. I want to experience all I can out of life and do my best to be healthy. Yet, I am curious. What will happen when I die? Science tells us our cells will stop functioning and decay into dust. Religion, hope, and pseudoscience provide an alternative view. This included reincarnation, heaven, hell, and the afterlife. According to that logic, I can meet Amelia Earhart, which would be amazing.
I spend a lot of time thinking about death. This includes avoiding danger, embracing the topic in writing, learning about our deadly history, and keeping my body healthy. I have come to understand that death is not necessarily bad. If humans were immortal, it would be impossible to feed everybody. Those who seek revenge could never accomplish their goals, and wars would continue into eternity. Death wipes the slate clean and provides food for ants.
I suppose we should thank death. The Grim Reaper has taken so much from us yet left us a fantastic world free from dying people. Plus, he provided endless story material. Perhaps that makes death the best character there has ever been.
You’re the best -Bill
October 02 2019 Updated August 24, 2024
At the other end of the spectrum, we have characters who do their best to avoid death. “I walk every day and eat healthy.” Then, some people seem oblivious to the subject. For example, I recently read the book Frozen Hell by William Trotter, which is about the Russian-Finland war. In a single battle, Joseph Stalin ordered 27,500 Russian soldiers to fight a hopeless battle, and they all perished. Why? To get some land. So pointless.
Death spans the story spectrum from comic relief to horror story nightmare fuel. We even created an entire branch of science (medicine) to keep death at bay and another branch (the mortuary) to preserve our dead bodies. There is even the pseudoscience of freezing people hoping to be brought back to life.
Authors often revolve their plots around death and even invented physics-defying concepts, such as immortals, ghosts, daemons, werewolves, vampires, and zombies. That’s correct. Authors have successfully cheated death. They even take it a step further with time travel. A character can see they are about to die, go back in time, and speak to themselves so they prevent their death.
Fortunately, there is no such thing as time travel and zombies—pure fiction. So, can an author transport those 27,500 Russian soldiers into the future to save their lives? Yup. However, once the reader puts that book down, those brave soldiers return to their graves. Then, the fiction author will review the historical documents and write another groundbreaking book to entertain new readers. This time, the Russian soldiers turned into zombies.
Even I am guilty of snatching death from the grim reaper’s icy cold grasp. In my first book, the main character is a 500-year-old woman who survives by killing others and harvesting their organs. Am I taunting death? Seems like it.
We love fictional characters who take a hard slap at death. The recent famous vampire and zombie stories explored such characters. Video games take this further and allow players to kill other characters. The screen vividly displays the opponent’s deaths by splattering blood all over the screen as if death’s hand is grasping the joystick.
Even non-fiction writers appreciate a good battle scene. In the book Frozen Hell, death is studied, glorified, and given a new perspective. Why would somebody want to glorify death by writing all about it? Good stories sell books, and book sales pay the author’s rent. Well, at least that is a worthy goal (that I have yet to experience).
On a personal level, I fear death. I want to experience all I can out of life and do my best to be healthy. Yet, I am curious. What will happen when I die? Science tells us our cells will stop functioning and decay into dust. Religion, hope, and pseudoscience provide an alternative view. This included reincarnation, heaven, hell, and the afterlife. According to that logic, I can meet Amelia Earhart, which would be amazing.
I spend a lot of time thinking about death. This includes avoiding danger, embracing the topic in writing, learning about our deadly history, and keeping my body healthy. I have come to understand that death is not necessarily bad. If humans were immortal, it would be impossible to feed everybody. Those who seek revenge could never accomplish their goals, and wars would continue into eternity. Death wipes the slate clean and provides food for ants.
I suppose we should thank death. The Grim Reaper has taken so much from us yet left us a fantastic world free from dying people. Plus, he provided endless story material. Perhaps that makes death the best character there has ever been.
You’re the best -Bill
October 02 2019 Updated August 24, 2024
