Death in writing

I've mentioned a number of times how much I dislike Game of Thrones, and that the main reason for that is the excessive amounts of death. I hate how frequently the characters die. That the one thing you can count on in the story is that a character is going to die, or might as well be dead. With the new season recently out, I'm being recommended the show all over again, even from people who I've already been over how much I hate it with. "How can you not like it?" they always ask. "It's medieval. You're the medieval guy. There's swords and magic and dragons and fighting and sex. What more do you want?"

I want death that actually means something, and I don't understand why that's so hard to get. It's not that I don't like death in stories. I dislike the death of the main character, sure, but it's not death overall that I dislike. Death is an important part of some stories, and when implemented well, its implications and consequences create depth and meaning to a story and its actions. Pain that touches characters, and touches readers, creates an innate connection between reader and story. And the world that those characters exist within can only proceed onto the next evolution if the things that are holding it back die. And what is a story without evolution?

One story in particular which I have read comes to mind as a good implementation of death, that being the Night Angel Trilogy. A very bizarre series, I concede, but one of the few in which the nature of death therein is what draws me to the story. And if you wish to read it for yourself, I advise you stop reading this here, because I can't explain why that is without giving spoilers.

Part way through, the main character becomes immortal, but only in a sense. He can still die, but he will inevitably be revived after a period of time, without injury or lasting consequences for himself. But that is the key word - himself. As he learns, with each death he suffers, someone else must pay the consequence for his actions. Every time he is revived, someone else must die in his place. And there is a good chance that that someone is near and dear to him. But this is a sacrifice he learns of too late.

This is an amazing implementation of death. Important characters die, there is immense pain, yes. But it is death that leads somewhere. Death that gives the main character motivation to change and to grow. Death that, despite the sadness and the pain, eventually leads to happiness. That is exactly the kind of death that I love.

I guess it's just uncommon to have that kind of death in a story, I suppose. I wish it wasn't. Perhaps that's simply something that I will have to change.