I was wondering if anybody knew which character features in the most Discworld novels...there's Death of course, who does come in a lot, but is Sam Vimes in more? I don't actually have all the books (shame, I know), but is there anyone out there with all the books and a rainy afternoon who wouldn't mind seeing who the top few candidates are, or even the answer?

(Hope no-one's already asked this...)

It depends on how you define "most featured" - does that mean

A) a story with them as a main character? (Then I see a match between Vimes and DEATH, depending a bit on how you define main character, for example, was DEATH a main character in Hogfather or a support for Susan... in which Vimes might win, so to say.)

Or B) appearance in the book? (In that case it definitely is DEATH, no question.)

Or C) absolute mention? (Which would be almost impossible to find out).

Another contender for most frequent occurence would be the Librarian. And Vetinari.

Mrs G
The Garner who cares.

Just waiting for the weather to change before I start the computation

Okay... between The Colour of Magic and Making Money (32 Books) here are the number of appearances the following characters have made...

Vetinari - 17
Granny Weatherwax - 10
Vimes - 11
DEATH - 28
The Librarian - 23


Assuming I still have "Turtle Recall", DEATH looks to be the popular character.

Death has also appeared in Maurice and Hatful of Sky, but I don't count these as part of the Discworld books
Granny Weatherwax has also appeared in The Wee Free Men, Hatful of Sky and The Wintersmith, but again I didn't count these.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, just like grandpa. Not screaming and panicking like his passengers.
Don't drink and drive from The Lancre Tavern

Which ones hasn't death appeared in?

From memory, and the fact that I haven't read pTerry's latest books for a while (over a year)... I think there are only four books.

Making Money, Going Postal, Mostrous Regiment and Night Watch.

As i said, my memory isn't too good on the latest works so I expect to be corrected.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, just like grandpa. Not screaming and panicking like his passengers.
Don't drink and drive from The Lancre Tavern

Note that Death - although maybe not precisely the Discworld one - also appears in Good Omens.

Damn Spider pig

Quick correction... Take Going Postal off the list... Death turns up when the golem, Anghammarad, is rapidly cooled by the water from the Post Office roof after the fire.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, just like grandpa. Not screaming and panicking like his passengers.
Don't drink and drive from The Lancre Tavern

He also makes an appearance in Night Watch when they're clearing out the cells and Swing is killed.

Having just reread it, Death is in Making Money as he comes for the soul of Topsy Lavish nee Turvey.

PhD Student: Research information sheet

There once was a man named Bruce
Who liked to sit on a spruce
He ate lots of chowder
And yelled at me louder:
"I'm talking to YOU, Mrs. Hughes!"
--> The Literary Genius: Mowgli

So there's only one book in which Death doesn't feature? And that's Monstrous Regiment, a book about war? Seems a bit odd...

Bugg'rit..

Polly has a near Death experience in Monstrous Regiment ...

Polly shivered, and was aware that someone was walking beside her. She looked up and groaned.
‘You’re a hallucination, right?’
OH, YES. YOU ARE ALL IN A STATE OF HEIGHTENED SENSIBILITY CAUSED BY MENTAL CONTAGION AND LACK OF SLEEP.
‘If you’re a hallucination, how do you know that?’
I KNOW IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT. I AM SIMPLY BETTER AT ARTICULATING IT.
‘I’m not going to die, am I? I mean, right now?’
No. BUT YOU WERE TOLD THAT YOU WOULD WALK WITH DEATH EVERY DAY.
‘Oh . . . yes. Corporal Scallot said that.’
HE IS AN OLD FRIEND.YOU MIGHT SAY HE IS ON THE INSTALMENT PLAN.
‘Do you mind walking a bit more . . . invisibly?’
OF COURSE. HOW’S THIS?
‘And quietly, too?’

There was silence, which was presumably the answer. ‘And polish yourself up a bit,’ said Polly to the empty air. ‘And that robe needs a wash.’

There was no reply, but she felt better for saying it.


Full house for Death!

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, just like grandpa. Not screaming and panicking like his passengers.
Don't drink and drive from The Lancre Tavern

Well, thankyou all for answering my question. Death appears in all of them.

Kinda obvious, though I was hoping for Vimes...

I was a bit surprised at the thought of Death not appearing, since he'd appeared in all the previous ones!

You can find out a lot of information like this, if you're interested, DoR, at L Space.

Mrs G
The Garner who cares.

So I should check in L-space before asking here?