In "The Fifth Elephant," Commander Vimes from the Discworld City Watch is sent as an ambassador to Uberwald for the coronation of the new Low King of the dwarves, but things quickly spiral out of control with the theft of the sacred Scone of Stone and complex political plots involving werewolves, vampires, and dwarves. The book is praised for its mix of fun, drama, and literary jokes, as well as the development of characters like Sybil Vimes and the exploration of themes like race relations and diplomacy in a fantastical setting.
The narrative of "The Fifth Elephant" is filled with exciting action, world-building, and memorable character moments, even though it is meant to be a parody with a rare touch of seriousness. While some readers appreciate the humor and fully realized setting of Discworld, others find certain elements like the B story focusing on Sgt. Colon to be less successful, questioning whether Pratchett's writing could have been even better without the pressure to maintain constant levity.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include themes of political corruption, violence, and discussions surrounding gender identity.
Has Romance?
The book includes a medium level of romance, primarily focusing on the relationship between Angua and Carrot.
From The Publisher:
Everyone knows that the world is flat and supported on the backs of four elephants. But weren't there supposed to be five? Indeed there were. So where is it?
When duty calls, Commander Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork constabulary answers-even if he doesn't want to. Now, he's been invited to attend a royal function as both detective and diplomat. The one role he relishes; the other requires, well, ruby tights. Of course, where cops (even those clad in tights) go, alas, crime follows. An attempted assassination and a theft soon lead to a desperate chase from the low halls of Discworld royalty to the legendary fat mines of Uberwald, where lard is found in underground seams along with tusks and teeth and other precious ivory artifacts. It's up to the dauntless Vimes-bothered as usual by a familiar cast of Discworld inhabitants (you know, trolls, dwarfs, werewolves, vampires, and such)-to solve the puzzle of the missing pachyderm. Which, of course, he will . . . after all, solving mysteries is his job.
Ratings (41)
Incredible (12) | |
Loved It (23) | |
Liked It (5) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (52):
Read It (42) | |
Want To Read (6) | |
Not Interested (4) |
What can you read after
The Fifth Elephant?
About the Author:
Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal, as well as being awarded a knighthood for services to literature. He died in March 2015. terrypratchettbooks.com
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