Reaper Man

The Auditors of Reality, formless entities who ensure the universe operates efficiently, decide that Discworld's Death needs to be replaced because he has developed a personality. They get permission from a supreme being called Azrael and force Death to retire. They give him a timer with a finite amount of sand representing his own life. Death, relieved of his duties, goes to a village in the Octarine Grass Country and works as a farmhand for an elderly Miss Flitworth. He takes the name "Bill Door". In this village community, Death learns more about humans, friendship, the experiences of living and the value of life–some of this he struggled to understand when he was immortal and performing his duties.
Death's absence from his role results in the life force of dead humans building up because they no longer have a place to go. This results in poltergeist activity, ghosts, and other paranormal phenomena. Most notable among them is the recently deceased wizard Windle Poons in Ankh-Morpork, who is now a zombie. After several misadventures, including being accosted by his Unseen University wizard colleagues, he finds himself attending the Fresh Start Club, an undead-rights group. His wizard peers, on their part, investigate the stranger phenomena occurring in the city. The Fresh Start Club and the wizards discover that the city is being invaded by a parasitic life form that feeds on cities and ultimately turns into a giant shopping mall. Together, they destroy it.
When humankind's collective fear eventually creates a New Death, one without any form or personality, it comes to take Bill Door whose time has run out. Door, having planned for this moment, outwits and destroys it. Having defeated the New Death, Door takes back his form as Death and confronts Azrael, who is the Death of all things across the Universes, and thus, his superior. The Auditors watch Death's victory and protest to Azrael, saying that he has committed multiple crimes against the order of the universe. Death pleads to Azrael that Deaths have to care or they do not exist and there is nothing but Oblivion, which must also end some time.
Death asks for and receives some time. He meets up with Miss Flitworth again with gifts and offers to take her anywhere she wanted. Realizing that the time of her death has come, she asks to go to the local harvest dance. After enjoying herself, she realizes she had died hours before the dance even started. Death escorts her to her old fiancé, who had died in an accident before their marriage could take place, and the couple are reunited for their final rest. Death resumes his duties and returns to the city of Ankh-Morpork. Death meets up with Windle Poons, finally taking him to his afterlife.