O Death, Part 3: Dark Mother, Always Gliding Near

The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, who is two-thirds god and one-third human. The gods create Enkidu, a wild man, to counterbalance Gilgamesh's oppressive rule. Enkidu and Gilgamesh become friends after a trial of strength and embark on several adventures, including the slaying of the monster Humbaba and the killing of the Bull of Heaven. Following Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh sets out on a perilous journey to find Utnapishtim, the survivor of the Babylonian Flood, in search of the secret of eternal life. Despite his efforts, Gilgamesh learns that death is inevitable and returns to Uruk, reconciled to his mortality and appreciative of the enduring achievements of humanity.

Mort is the fourth novel in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. The story follows Mort, a gangly and unpromising teenager, who is hired as an apprentice by Death, the Grim Reaper of the Discworld. As Mort learns his duties, he becomes entangled in a complex situation when he falls in love with Death's adopted daughter, Ysabell, and intervenes in the fate of Princess Keli, who is scheduled to be assassinated. This interference creates an alternate reality and puts the entire fabric of causality at risk. The novel explores themes of mortality, fate, and the human condition with Pratchett's characteristic humor and wit.