The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24; City Watch, #5)

Title: The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24; City Watch, #5)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Published in: 1999

Date read: 28th April 2009

Score: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Crime, Mystery

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Fifth Elephant" by Terry Pratchett, published in 1999, is the 24th Discworld novel and another installment featuring Commander Sam Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. It's a sharp, politically charged satire that takes Vimes out of his comfort zone and into the chilly, tradition-bound land of the Dwarves, exploring themes of national identity, prejudice, diplomacy, and raw meat.

The story begins with Samuel Vimes, now Duke of Ankh, husband to Lady Sybil, and Commander of the Watch, being reluctantly appointed as the Ankh-Morpork ambassador to Überwald. This mountainous, ancient land is home to vampires, werewolves, and, most prominently, the deeply traditional and powerful Dwarves. Vimes, a pragmatic and incorruptible copper, is ill-suited to the intricacies of diplomacy and high society, much preferring the honest chaos of his city streets.

His mission to Überwald is critical: to represent Ankh-Morpork at the coronation of the Low King of the Dwarves and to secure a treaty concerning a vital resource – fat. Überwald's fat mines produce the world's supply of fat, a crucial commodity for lamps, soap, and food, especially for the Discworld's growing population. This "fifth elephant" of the title refers to a legendary, hidden elephant made entirely of fat that is rumored to exist deep within the dwarf mines, symbolizing the vast, hidden wealth of the region.

However, the diplomatic mission is quickly complicated by a series of events:

The Scone of Stone: A powerful and ancient artifact, a sacred relic of the Dwarves (a parody of the Stone of Scone), is stolen. Its disappearance threatens to ignite a full-scale civil war among the various dwarf factions, particularly between the modernizers and the deep-down, tradition-bound "grags."

Political Intrigue: Vimes encounters powerful figures from various Überwald races, all with their own agendas, including the pragmatic werewolf Lady Margolotta (Vimes's former tutor in subtle policing) and the manipulative vampire Count Dracula.

A Murder Mystery: A murder occurs, dragging Vimes back to what he does best – detective work. He suspects the stolen Scone is connected to a larger conspiracy involving powerful interests seeking to destabilize Überwald for control of its fat.

Vimes, accompanied by the resourceful Cheery Littlebottom (the female dwarf forensic expert), finds himself battling ancient customs, political machinations, and dangerous enemies, all while trying to recover the Scone and prevent a continent-wide conflict. He uses his street smarts and unyielding moral compass to navigate the arcane laws and prejudices of the Dwarves.

The novel is a brilliant exploration of cultural clashes, the tension between tradition and modernity, and the subtle ways prejudice manifests. Vimes's struggle to uphold justice in a land where different species have deeply ingrained hatreds for one another forms the core of the narrative. The climax involves Vimes uncovering the true perpetrators behind the theft and the murder, leading to a confrontation that ensures the fragile peace of the Discworld. "The Fifth Elephant" is a compelling and often hilarious adventure that highlights Vimes's growth as a character and Pratchett's incisive social commentary.

Comments:
One of the best by far. I adored this and the Watch were at their finest.

Books that we've read by Terry Pratchett (39):
The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) (1983), The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2) (1986), Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1) (1987), Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1) (1987), Sourcery (Discworld, #5; Rincewind, #3) (1988), Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches, #2) (1988), Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1) (1989), Pyramids (Discworld, #7) (1989), Eric (Discworld, #9; Rincewind, #4) (1990), Moving Pictures (Discworld, #10; Industrial Revolution, #1) (1990), Witches Abroad (Discworld, #12; Witches, #3) (1991), Reaper Man (Discworld, #11; Death, #2) (1991), Small Gods (Discworld, #13) (1992), Lords and Ladies (Discworld, #14; Witches, #4) (1992), Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch, #2) (1993), Soul Music (Discworld, #16; Death, #3) (1994), Interesting Times (Discworld, #17; Rincewind, #5) (1994), Maskerade (Discworld, #18; Witches, #5) (1995), Feet of Clay (Discworld, #19; City Watch, #3) (1996), Hogfather (Discworld, #20; Death, #4) (1996), Jingo (Discworld, #21; City Watch, #4) (1997), Carpe Jugulum (Discworld, #23; Witches, #6) (1998), The Last Continent (Discworld, #22; Rincewind, #6) (1998), The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24; City Watch, #5) (1999), The Truth (Discworld, #25) (2000), The Last Hero (Discworld, #27; Rincewind, #7) (2001), Thief of Time (Discworld, #26; Death, #5) (2001), Night Watch (Discworld, #29; City Watch, #6) (2002), The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30; Tiffany Aching, #1) (2003), Monstrous Regiment (Discworld, #31; Industrial Revolution, #3) (2003), A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld, #32; Tiffany Aching, #2) (2004), Going Postal (Discworld, #33; Moist von Lipwig, #1) (2004), Thud! (Discworld, #34; City Watch, #7) (2005), Wintersmith (Discworld, #35; Tiffany Aching, #3) (2006), Making Money (Discworld, #36; Moist Von Lipwig, #2) (2007), Unseen Academicals (Discworld, #37; Rincewind, #8) (2009), I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld, #38; Tiffany Aching, #4) (2010), Snuff (Discworld, #39; City Watch, #8) (2011), Raising Steam (Discworld, #40; Moist von Lipwig, #3) (2013)