# 100 Greatest Deaths in Literature? (SPOILERS, probably) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2003, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-greatest-deaths-in-literature-spoilers-probably/188611 "2003-07-15T10:06:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![skeptic\_ev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@skeptic\_ev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skeptic_ev)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-greatest-deaths-in-literature-spoilers-probably/188611/41 "2003-07-16T18:58:52Z")
The death of the brother in Ray Bradbury’s short story, “Mars Is Heaven.” Thinking of it scares me still. ---
**Author:** ![maddiesilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@maddiesilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maddiesilver)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-greatest-deaths-in-literature-spoilers-probably/188611/42 "2003-07-16T19:45:04Z")
Ralph Touchett (who is coughing up his lungs throughout the book) in James’ Portrait of a Lady…the man is doomed from the get-go, but that deathbed scene is the most sentimental and heart-tugging you could imagine (coming from the oh-so-UN-sentimental Henry James)… also, the final death in Paul Auster’s Music of Chance… ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-greatest-deaths-in-literature-spoilers-probably/188611/43 "2003-07-16T20:05:27Z")
From George R.R. Martin’s _Song of Ice and Fire_ series… Ned Stark’s execution, Prince Joffrey’s poisoning at his wedding feast, and poor beleaguered Catelyn Stark gets treacherously murdered and cast into the rivers Piggy’s death in _Lord of the Flies_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-greatest-deaths-in-literature-spoilers-probably/188611.md?page=2)