Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Corgi Adult (2000), Paperback, 459 pages
Description
Sam Vimes is a man on the run. Yesterday he was a duke, a chief of police and the ambassador to the mysterious fat-rich country of Uberwald. Now he has nothing but his native wit and the gloomy trousers of Uncle Vanya (don't ask). It's snowing. It's freezing. And if he can't make it through the forest to civilisation there's going to be a terrible war. But there are monsters on his trail. They're bright. They're fast. They're werewolves--and they're catching up. Sam Vimes is out of time, out of luck, and already out of breath ...
Media reviews
Trying to summarize the plot of a Pratchett novel is like describing "Hamlet" as a play about a troubled guy with an Oedipus complex and a murderous uncle. Pratchett isn't Shakespeare -- for one thing, he's funnier -- but his books are richly textured, as the pundits say, and far more complex than
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they appear at first. You don't have to be familiar with folklore, Leonardo da Vinci and Capability Brown, the history of religion, "Macbeth" and Laurel and Hardy to appreciate them, but if you aren't, you will miss some of the in-jokes. Just consider yourself grabbed by the collar, with me shouting, "You've got to read this book!" Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member atimco
I hadn't read Discworld in awhile so I picked up The Fifth Elephant and was pleased to find it was a City Watch novel featuring Sam Vines, Captain Carrot, and the rest of the crew charged with keeping an eye on Ankh-Morpork. Only this time, most of the action happens in Überwald, a wild hinterland
This story moves rather slowly, and while I enjoy the progression of the characters (we get more on Carrot and Angua, Sam and Sybil find out they are pregnant, etc.), somehow the whole thing lacks the energy and punch of the better novels. As to the humor, sure, Pratchett is funny, but he can never get more than a quiet chuckle out of me, if that. I find most fans' ecstatic ravings about his comedy a little overdone, to be honest. He's no Wodehouse. But some of his wordplay is fun... like the "mystery wrapped in an enigma" becoming a "misery wrapped in an enema." Teehee.
But overall, things dragged. I really had to force myself to finish this book, and that doesn't bode well for the rest of the unread Pratchett novels on my shelf. Unfortunately this isn't one of the brighter stars in the Discworld constellation.
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of up-until-recently warring werewolves, vampires, and dwarves. Sam Vines, Commander of the Watch, also happens to be the Duke of Ankh-Morpork, and as such is sent (most reluctantly) on a diplomatic mission as the dwarves choose a new king. Along the way Pratchett introduces the Scone of Stone, gender politics among the dwarves, a couple of surgically talented Igors, vegetarian vampires (see, it isn't original with Stephenie Meyer!), and a whole host of typically satirical and sometimes just silly characters and situations. This story moves rather slowly, and while I enjoy the progression of the characters (we get more on Carrot and Angua, Sam and Sybil find out they are pregnant, etc.), somehow the whole thing lacks the energy and punch of the better novels. As to the humor, sure, Pratchett is funny, but he can never get more than a quiet chuckle out of me, if that. I find most fans' ecstatic ravings about his comedy a little overdone, to be honest. He's no Wodehouse. But some of his wordplay is fun... like the "mystery wrapped in an enigma" becoming a "misery wrapped in an enema." Teehee.
But overall, things dragged. I really had to force myself to finish this book, and that doesn't bode well for the rest of the unread Pratchett novels on my shelf. Unfortunately this isn't one of the brighter stars in the Discworld constellation.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Newly promoted Duke of Ankh, Commander Vimes suddenly realises his responsabilities include diplomatic visits to Uberwald - to represent Ankh in the ceremonies for the crowning of the new Low King of the dwarves. And as he's going there anyway maybe he could try and negoiate some new lower prices
Filled with Pratchett's trademark puns and bad jokes, it is humourous fantasy writing at it's best. Underneath the locked room mystery and general crime scene send-up it is also a barely concealed parody of international politics and racisim. Fat=Oil is one of the most obvious of Terry's analogies but whether it's fair to equate the plight of the mountain dwarfs with muslims is a harder question. What is the best approach to take to tradition?
There are certainly many parallels that can be drawn. As always very funny, and deeply thoughtful writing make this an appealing book for all readers at whatever level you read it at.
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from their famous fat deposits. In a move to show that AnhkMorpock is civilised place much like Uberwald and a place where you can do business, Vimes elects to take a Dwarf, a troll and a werewolf with him - Cherry a newly discovered female, Detritus and Angua. However angua can't be found as she's secretly left the city after discovering her family are causing troubles in Uberwald, and Captain Carrot flees after her - so all our key protagonists are on the scene when the wrong dwarf is elected to the throne. Filled with Pratchett's trademark puns and bad jokes, it is humourous fantasy writing at it's best. Underneath the locked room mystery and general crime scene send-up it is also a barely concealed parody of international politics and racisim. Fat=Oil is one of the most obvious of Terry's analogies but whether it's fair to equate the plight of the mountain dwarfs with muslims is a harder question. What is the best approach to take to tradition?
There are certainly many parallels that can be drawn. As always very funny, and deeply thoughtful writing make this an appealing book for all readers at whatever level you read it at.
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LibraryThing member jaygheiser
One of his best. Doesn't wallow in silliness, but instead, actually comes close to real meaning.
LibraryThing member kaylol
I wanted more of Carrot but the last few pages presented an incredilble bit with Carrot and Angua. Vimes is his usual everything-but-a-duke character and Sybil us really surprising!
LibraryThing member Greatrakes
A thriller set in Ankh-Morpork and Uberwald. Uberwald is a cross between pre-Bismark Germany and pre-revolutionary Russia, really a set of city states and spheres of influence. Under ground the new Low King of the Dwarfs is experiencing internal troubles in a parody of the struggle between
In to this cauldron Lord Vetinari sends plain speaking copper Sam Vimes as an ambassador. Sam, of course, triumphs as his values are superior. Underlying all of Pratchett's 'satire', it seems to me, is a classically condescending British belief that we should be tolerant of all cultures and races until they see the error of their ways and become just like us.
Features a large role for Angua as her family, the Von Uberwalds, are werewoves, who are planning a Nazi style coup d'état. This is not one of my favourite Discworld books, but it has some good jokes.
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secularism and religious fundamentalism in the islamic world.In to this cauldron Lord Vetinari sends plain speaking copper Sam Vimes as an ambassador. Sam, of course, triumphs as his values are superior. Underlying all of Pratchett's 'satire', it seems to me, is a classically condescending British belief that we should be tolerant of all cultures and races until they see the error of their ways and become just like us.
Features a large role for Angua as her family, the Von Uberwalds, are werewoves, who are planning a Nazi style coup d'état. This is not one of my favourite Discworld books, but it has some good jokes.
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LibraryThing member benfulton
Boy, is it annoying when Pratchett comes up with really interesting new characters and then bumps them off before we really get to know them! This book definitely has its moments, but many of the later Watch books have gone very serious and dark; a bit lacking in the energy that the finest
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Discworld books have. It's perhaps a necessary evil when attempting to write about characters that have had major successes and promotions in previous books - what do they do now, except hobnob with other important people and play politics? Tom Clancy's wonderful Jack Ryan fell into a similar trap. Unless Ankh-Morpork finds a serious contender to its Leading City Of The West status or something really happens to Captain Carrot, there's just not too much farther the Watch can go. I wonder if Pratchett will try to wrap up all of his fundamental storylines - the relationship between Carrot and Sergeant Angua; the potential fireworks between Tiffany Aching and Granny Weatherwax; the kingship of Ankh-Morpork - and bring the Discworld series to a close. I think I'd like to see that. Show Less
LibraryThing member Maaike15274
One of my favourite Discworld novels. Samuel Vimes at his best.
LibraryThing member Zmrzlina
Love the diplomacy theme in this Discworld novel. Sam Vimes is always a favorite character. There were times when I wasn't 100% sure some main characters would get out of certain situations without resorting to the handy back-from-the-dead trick. I love it when an author can create that sort of
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illusion. Show Less
LibraryThing member ironicqueery
Another good Pratchett book focusing on race relations, patriotism, and changes towards acceptance and greater tolerance towards others. The first half of the book is the best, as Vimes and his watch are slowly clued in to how diplomacy works. As they catch on, the story slows a bit, but not enough
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to cause any interruptions in the story. Overall, another nice story from Pratchett. Show Less
LibraryThing member asciiphil
Yet another Terry Pratchett book. Specifically, another City Watch book, though much of this one takes place in Überwald. No witches are visible, though there are plenty of werewolves, dwarves, vampires, and Igors.
There is, as usual, a good story. Being a City Watch book, it's largely a detective
I had worried that Terry Pratchett was losing his plain humor in being overly satirical, but The Fifth Elephant is merely a funny, well-told story with satirical elements running through some of the details. (Well, "politics" is a pretty big detail, but still...)
Yet another Terry Pratchett book I'm happy to add to my collection.
There is, as usual, a good story. Being a City Watch book, it's largely a detective
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story, with the details swirling around the coronation of a new dwarven king, a very revered piece of dwarf bread, and the politics of the region, including the involvement of Sergeant Angua's parents. And, of course, plenty of very funny bits; Pratchett has a tendency to make me laugh out loud while on the bus.I had worried that Terry Pratchett was losing his plain humor in being overly satirical, but The Fifth Elephant is merely a funny, well-told story with satirical elements running through some of the details. (Well, "politics" is a pretty big detail, but still...)
Yet another Terry Pratchett book I'm happy to add to my collection.
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LibraryThing member 391
The Fifth Elephant is a neat little political satire, set in the Translvanian-esq Uberwald. Pratchett covers a lot of ground with the material he pokes fun at, and he does it so magnificently. I really, really love the city guard series, and The Fifth Elephant is definitely one of the stronger
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books in it. Show Less
LibraryThing member verenka
I read a German translation of this book and I just can't get over the fact that they translate the names. Some of the names, that is, some are left in English, some aren't. It took me 20 pages to realise that Sam Mumm is Vimes.. And for some strange inexplicable reason the word assassin and
which always annoys me to no end. I'll stick to the original versions from now. There sometimes are typos, too but at least the puns work.
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assassin's guild was translated with Assassine, which frankly, is not a word in German. In addition to that I found two typos,which always annoys me to no end. I'll stick to the original versions from now. There sometimes are typos, too but at least the puns work.
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LibraryThing member love2laf
It's amazing to read Discworld books that I haven't read before, especially when it's one of The Watch books. As with many of the more recent books, it's strongly political, and done as satire, but, there is much truth in the humour.
LibraryThing member isabelx
"Well, he thought, so this is diplomacy. It's like lying, only to a better class of people."
Another City Watch book, in which Vimes is sent as ambassador to Uberwald (Discworld's Germany, run by dwarfs, vampires and werewolves), to attend the crowning of the Low King. And it was nice to meet
Another City Watch book, in which Vimes is sent as ambassador to Uberwald (Discworld's Germany, run by dwarfs, vampires and werewolves), to attend the crowning of the Low King. And it was nice to meet
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Gaspode (the talking dog from "Moving Pictures") again. Show Less
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
The story lost me, to be honest, but plenty of good jokes, and the further development of the relationship between Vimes and Sybil.
LibraryThing member Janientrelac
Ankh-Morpork is an Arrival City and a very good one. Read Doug Saunders's book on rural to urban migration, what makes a good arrival city and a bad one and then read or reread the the City Watch series. Prachett is a comic genius and a great city planner.
LibraryThing member atreic
Solid but unremarkable Pratchett where Vimes solves another crime. This is the one where the Scone of Stone is stolen. It's hard to work out if he's paradying Switzerland or extreme Muslims, or possibly some strange mash-up between the two.
Most notable for things glossed over that I wanted to be
But quick to read, great fun, and perfectly acceptable Pratchett
Most notable for things glossed over that I wanted to be
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egged slightly more than they were - Angua turns against her family with almost trivial ease, the motives of the Bad Guys are very swiftly explained and two dimensional.But quick to read, great fun, and perfectly acceptable Pratchett
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LibraryThing member Narilka
Dwarves, vampires and werewolves. Oh my.
The Fifth Elephant is the 24th Discworld novel and the 5th in the Guards series. This book builds on the previous Guards novels, with knowledge from those books necessary to fully understand and appreciate the characters and their situations this time around.
This is a bit different than a regular Discworld novel with less quick laughs and a more complicated plot. The story follows three primary threads:Commander His Excellency Duke Samuel Vimes and his diplomatic mission to Uberwald for the coronation of a new Low King; Sergent Angua goes missing and Carrot is off to find her; Sergent Fred Colon is promoted to acting Watch Captain in their absence and just what that does to both the Watch and the City. However, where there are cops there is crime.
The book has many high points. Vimes, Sybil, Detritus, Carrot, Angua and Cherry are great as always. My absolute favorite was the addition of the Igors. What a great play on that old trope! I hope they are included in future books.
While not my favorite Watch book I still found it an enjoyable read.
The Fifth Elephant is the 24th Discworld novel and the 5th in the Guards series. This book builds on the previous Guards novels, with knowledge from those books necessary to fully understand and appreciate the characters and their situations this time around.
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Also, being a Guards novel, there is a mystery to solve and Vimes is on the case! Or is that on the diplomacy? This is a bit different than a regular Discworld novel with less quick laughs and a more complicated plot. The story follows three primary threads:
The book has many high points. Vimes, Sybil, Detritus, Carrot, Angua and Cherry are great as always. My absolute favorite was the addition of the Igors. What a great play on that old trope! I hope they are included in future books.
While not my favorite Watch book I still found it an enjoyable read.
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LibraryThing member polarbear123
I hadn't read a Pratchett novel for a while as I was mildly disappointed with the two or three efforts prior to this one. I am glad I persevered though because here Pratchett is on top form. As always I think the secret to a good Discworld book is a trade off and balance between several things
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including plot, philosophical ruminations, recurring jokes and stand out characters. Pratchett works best when the balance is just right and this is one of those novels. Compare it to the Last Continent which kind of got stuck going nowhere becasue the plot was forgotten about and you will see what I mean. Show Less
LibraryThing member pussreboots
Oh boy. Here's another book that has twice now fallen through the cracks of my reading and blogging system. First and foremost, it sat pushed in the back of the bookshelf, unseen, and therefore, unread. Then, somehow beyond my ken, it either wasn't added to my list of books I wanted to blog about,
But in it's own special irony, it's the perfect introduction to The Fifth Element by Terry Pratchett. See it opens with a very important thing going missing — the Stone of Scone — the thing upon which the Low King sits during coronation. A replica of the Scone, kept in Ankh-Morpork, has also gone missing.
Vimes due to his marriage to Lady Sybil, has to don the tights and attend the upcoming coronation of the Low King. Vimes, ever the member of the Watch, sees things aren't as they seem.
Now I happened to read The Fifth Elephant on the heels of Raising Steam the 40th and final book of the adult Discworld books — and the sequel to this one. What that meant for me, is that I could see many of things Vimes could see (and a few he couldn't yet see).
Somewhere around the mid-point of the Discworld series, the books became more plot driven and more oriented towards social commentary. What is begun in The Fifth Elephant is finished in Raising Steam.
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or it was somehow deleted from the list before I had a chance to review it. In fact, even more distressing for my own list keeping (a hand written list I've kept since 1987), the book failed to make it into my book diary.But in it's own special irony, it's the perfect introduction to The Fifth Element by Terry Pratchett. See it opens with a very important thing going missing — the Stone of Scone — the thing upon which the Low King sits during coronation. A replica of the Scone, kept in Ankh-Morpork, has also gone missing.
Vimes due to his marriage to Lady Sybil, has to don the tights and attend the upcoming coronation of the Low King. Vimes, ever the member of the Watch, sees things aren't as they seem.
Now I happened to read The Fifth Elephant on the heels of Raising Steam the 40th and final book of the adult Discworld books — and the sequel to this one. What that meant for me, is that I could see many of things Vimes could see (and a few he couldn't yet see).
Somewhere around the mid-point of the Discworld series, the books became more plot driven and more oriented towards social commentary. What is begun in The Fifth Elephant is finished in Raising Steam.
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LibraryThing member Aldrea_Alien
From vampires in Carpe Jugulum to werewolves. This time it's a trip to Uberwald to see the new dwarf king being crowned and, with Vimes playing ambassador to Ankh-Morpork I knew this wasn't going to be a cut-and-dry event. Especially when he's bringing Detritus and Cherry into the fray. So I was
I wasn't disappointed.
As so often with the Watchman books, there's a heavy mystery going on underneath (literally in this case, we are dealing with dwarves here). Somebody's stealing stone scones that are big enough to serve as a chair. Wait ... no they aren't. In fact, we're not even having this conversation. How foolish to suggest it. People are certainly not stealing scones. And they most definitely aren't trying to start a war amongst the dwarf factions.
But as I said, there are werewolves. Angry werewolves. Spearheaded by Angua's family, most notably, her insane brother. To say the boy's got a serious problem is putting it mildly.
Of course, there's stuff going on at the home front of good old Ankh-Morepork, but as the mystery gets on, the 'little stuff' they were dealing with back there seemed rather dull and I completely forgot about it (as you would when dealing with werewolves) until the end whomped me with the 'little problem'.
On the other hand, I'm starting to see Carrot in a different light.
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all geared up for a good read.I wasn't disappointed.
As so often with the Watchman books, there's a heavy mystery going on underneath (literally in this case, we are dealing with dwarves here). Somebody's stealing stone scones that are big enough to serve as a chair. Wait ... no they aren't. In fact, we're not even having this conversation. How foolish to suggest it. People are certainly not stealing scones. And they most definitely aren't trying to start a war amongst the dwarf factions.
But as I said, there are werewolves. Angry werewolves. Spearheaded by Angua's family, most notably, her insane brother. To say the boy's got a serious problem is putting it mildly.
Of course, there's stuff going on at the home front of good old Ankh-Morepork, but as the mystery gets on, the 'little stuff' they were dealing with back there seemed rather dull and I completely forgot about it (as you would when dealing with werewolves) until the end whomped me with the 'little problem'.
On the other hand, I'm starting to see Carrot in a different light.
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LibraryThing member Helenliz
The dwarves in Uberwald are about to crown a new king - only there is trouble brewing. The King elected isn't the one that everyone thought it would be, and now the scone of stone on which he's crowned has gone missing. Co-incidentally, so has the replica scone that was in the dwarf bread museum in
The city needs to send an Ambassador to Uberwald for the crowning and The patrician decided to send Vimes - not the obvious candidate, as he loathes all diplomacy and politicing as lying! Uberwald is in a state of turmoil, there's trouble between dwarves, the werewolves (who happen to be Angua's family) are interferring and the vampires are watching everything closely, prepared to lend a hand when necessary to keep the equilibrium.
Vimes tries to act the diplomat, with predictable results. But finally he stops acting and starts being the policeman he is at his core. There's trouble in all quarters, but a settlement is reached and Vimes regains his composure just in time for Sybil to drop a bit of a bombshell..."
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Ankh Morpork, which is now the largest dwarf city on the disc and had a large part to play in the election. The city needs to send an Ambassador to Uberwald for the crowning and The patrician decided to send Vimes - not the obvious candidate, as he loathes all diplomacy and politicing as lying! Uberwald is in a state of turmoil, there's trouble between dwarves, the werewolves (who happen to be Angua's family) are interferring and the vampires are watching everything closely, prepared to lend a hand when necessary to keep the equilibrium.
Vimes tries to act the diplomat, with predictable results. But finally he stops acting and starts being the policeman he is at his core. There's trouble in all quarters, but a settlement is reached and Vimes regains his composure just in time for Sybil to drop a bit of a bombshell..."
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LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
More Night Watch procedurals, except this time Vimes goes on vacation! (Sort of.) I adore the Uberwald characters and setting, so Vimes vs. the werewolves totally works for me, the mystery is clever, the ruckus back home is amusing although ultimately inconsequential, and the continuing plot where
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the dwarves discover gender continues to be interesting. Show Less
LibraryThing member bunwat
This was a perfect palate cleanser after two different audiobooks that disappointed me. I always enjoy Pratchett, and Stephen Briggs (who narrates all of Pratchett's audiobooks) makes me smile every time. So that made things all much better.
If you haven't read Terry Pratchett before (audio or text)
If you haven't read Terry Pratchett before (audio or text)
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go do so now, because you are missing out. Unless you are very serious and don't much enjoy levity. In which case you are not missing out, carry on. Show Less
LibraryThing member IAmAndyPieters
A wonderful story about love, friendship, and politics
Subjects
Awards
Gaylactic Spectrum Award (Nominee — Novel — 2001)
Language
Original publication date
1999-11-04
Physical description
464 p.; 6.85 inches
ISBN
0552146161 / 9780552146166