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Hi there,

I've been lurking on your boards for about a week and decided to join in. I just got back into writing recently, been away from it due to a crazy work schedule, and I thought I'd put something up for discussion:

So I've been toying with an idea lately regarding the grim reaper, and on a quest for some research I've come up relatively empty handed. Since death is such a prominent part of horror you'd think there would be more out there on the origin of the reaper aside from death in religions. Has anyone come across any good stories or lore regarding the Grim Reaper, especially regarding bargains for extending life? If so can you point me in the right direction.

- Chrissy

I totally asked you about your story in the intro section and then found this...

My first instinct was to look on wikipedia and there's tones of info on Mr Reaper's story over there. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grim_Reaper )

But seeing as it looks like his background is varied and pretty mysterious, I wouldn't mind picking up a book that reinvented him in the author's own style. I think most people don't know all that much about him, so I think if you have a cool idea for his story, go for it.

The whole notion of a reaper comes from the Revelation of John, the last book in the New Testament. So, you will
not find a source of info without religious roots. As John tells it, the reaper will actually be sent from Heaven, so
he/she/it is angelic.

Yep, slingink, that's why he's called The Angel of Death. Most of what I have(all of 2 books)are reference and I can't think of any books of hand that mention Death, so I agree, I would make it your own. My own first book is about The Angel of Death and his command from Heaven. I will be shopping it soon. Good luck!!

The notion of the grim reaper has existed in lots of different cultures and religions, not just christianity.

Sure, it has been represented internationally. However, our friend, Sullenriot,
specifically requested info about the origins. As far as I am aware, the origin is in
Christian scripture.

If you know otherwise, please share it with us.

Other cultures/religions have someone who escorts the deceased to their final destination, but the Grim Reaper is based in Christianity. Going back to the Greeks, there's Charon who ferried people across the river Styx to the underworld. But again, that was their religion at the time. I'm not sure you're going to find any references to spiritual entities associated with death that aren't based in a religion.

Bargaining for more time makes me think of the Sims 2 game where the Grim Reaper comes for the victim and loved ones can plead for the deceased's life. They play paper/rock/scissors to decide the outcome. Rather amusing, but not quite what you're looking for.




Tina

Hey there, wow, thanks for the responses. I feel like I've been through every wiki out there and a few paranormal sites, agreed most origins sort of stem from either Christianity or Greek Mythology, which were the two things I was aiming to avoid.

I think mostly what I was looking for was the origin of the bargaining, or lore regarding bargaining. I guess I'm thinking of that classic image of a man playing chess to bargain his life. I think this idea's been eating at my brain since I saw a show a while back where death haunts an old age home, and allows one person to live if that person takes the life of another.

Currently, what I'm working on is a piece where the characters are loosely based on the major arcana cards of the tarot, my protagonist being the fool, and one of the major antagonistic entities is death. I have a lot of ideas regarding how I want to work death, but I'm having a hard time putting it together because I don't have a solid origin for it just yet.

Thank you all so much for responding, and if anyone comes across anything with death and bargaining, please send it my way.

I think there is a connection between the Reaper and the Roman/Greek deity Saturn. A god of the harvest.

I've played with quite a few short stories revolving around the Grim Reaper over the years, exploring the modern representations. I'm fascinated by the Reaper I even have a gorgeous Reaper graphic on my horror markets book that I love.

I've seen some excellent comedy done with the Angel of Death - what happens to dying people if he's on vacation in Hawaii? What does the Reaper do when he needs an administration assistant? How does he cut corners to get off work early for the day? etc. Very cute comedy.

And as Tina said, in the Sims 2 the characters can beg for their lives by grovelling on their knees before the Reaper. They play rock/paper/scissors to determine the outcome.