The Fifth Elephant
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| Terry Pratchett The Discworld series 24th novel – 5th City Watch story  |
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| Outline | |
| Characters: | Samuel Vimes Ankh-Morpork City Watch |
| Locations: | Überwald |
| Motifs: | Diplomacy, Conspiracies, Vampires, Werewolves |
| Publication details | |
| Year of release: | 1999 |
| Original publisher: | Doubleday |
| Hardback ISBN: | ISBN 0-385-40995-8 |
| Paperback ISBN: | ISBN 0-552-14616-1 |
| Other details | |
| Awards: | |
| Notes: | |
The Fifth Elephant is the 24th Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. The title is a reference to the Fifth Element. It introduces the Clacks, a long-distance semaphore system.
[edit] Plot summary
Samuel Vimes, Commander of the City Watch of Ankh-Morpork and Duke of Ankh, thought that things were bad enough when he was forced to go to Überwald—a largely wild territory—on a diplomatic mission. That was before he found himself entangled in a plot to spark the dwarf equivalent of a holy war, not to mention running naked in the frozen wastelands of Überwald with werewolves on his trail.
The plot concerns the appointment of a new king of Dwarfs (the Low King). It is a controversial choice and the cause of a rift forming in the Dwarf community. Lord Vetinari sends Vimes as the Duke of Ankh-Morpork to be an ambassador along with Detritus and Corporal Littlebottom - the idea being Trolls and Dwarfs are ethnic majorities in Überwald, where the Low King resides. Littlebottom is not a typical dwarf, as she accepts her gender and even wears a dress, which is highly offensive to the conservative dwarf society. Accompaining them as both guard and spy is Inigo Skimmer, a scholarship boy from the Assassin's Guild school (the requirements for such a scholarship being left unsaid).
Once in Überwald Vimes finds his relationships with Dwarfs, Vampires and Werewolves very different from the ones he experiences back home and also finds the 'Scone of Stone' (a large piece of dwarf-bread the Low King MUST be crowned on, q.v.Stone of Scone) has been stolen. Perhaps there is a link to the recent theft of a replica of the Scone in Ankh-Morpork, and the murder of a manufacturer of prophylactics in that city. Vimes must use his detective skills to solve the mystery of the Scone, while trying to stay alive.
A sub-plot involves Carrot Ironfoundersson and Gaspode the Wonder-dog going in search of Carrot's werewolf girlfriend Angua. The simultaneous absence of both Vimes and Carrot from the city watch requires one of the existing watchmen to be promoted. Sergeant Fred Colon is the senior officer, and so is made Acting Captain. Colon is not comfortable being a leader, and deals with the position very badly, becoming excessively strict and paranoid as the Watch crumbles around him.
The novel gives more detail on werewolf society, including the concept of yennorks, werewolves who cannot shapeshift, and are permanently in human or animal form. It also explores the society of dwarfs on the Disc, introducing the drudak'ak (which roughly translates as "they who do not get out in the fresh air much"), conservative dwarfs who are the keepers and interpreters of dwarf law.
This is the fifth Discworld novel starring Vimes and the City Watch. Also starring Dwarfs, Werewolves, Vampires and Battle-Bread. Some versions of the book featured a short guide to the world of Terry Pratchett, which includes a crossword puzzle and information on the characters.
[edit] Translations
- Петият слон (Bulgarian)
- Pátý elefant (Czech)
- De vijfde olifant (Dutch)
- Le Cinquième éléphant (French)
- Der fünfte Elefant (German)
- Piąty Elefant (Polish)
