The Fifth Elephant: A Discworld Novel (Paperback)
by Terry Pratchettpublished
September 11th 2006
(first published 2000)
by Corgi
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binding
Paperback, 464 pages
isbn
0552154229
(isbn13: 9780552154222)
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 h...more
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Read in June, 2008
I know that many have stated that there had been a decline in his writing as time goes on… I personally would have to disagree. There is a change in his writing; however I feel that it has been for the better. As his book have progressed, he has leaned less toward the quick giggle and insane rush of nonsense and more toward a satirical plot with darker edges and the giggles interspersed within the story rather than his jokes running the story.
The Fifth Elephant is one of Pratchett’s mo...more
The Fifth Elephant is one of Pratchett’s mo...more
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Read in August, 2007
Previously Read: March 2003 & May 2005
Commander Vimes is dispatched to Uberwald as a diplomat... yes, a diplomat. Uberwald is the homeland of the dwarves, as well as vampires and werewolves, who usually co-exist in a delicate balance. The coronation of a new dwarf king threatens this balance, and Vimes finds himself in the thick of things, as usual. Not surprisingly, Sergeant Angua (a werewolf) and her semi-boyfriend Carrot Ironfounderson (an adopted dwarf) figure fairly heavily i...more
Commander Vimes is dispatched to Uberwald as a diplomat... yes, a diplomat. Uberwald is the homeland of the dwarves, as well as vampires and werewolves, who usually co-exist in a delicate balance. The coronation of a new dwarf king threatens this balance, and Vimes finds himself in the thick of things, as usual. Not surprisingly, Sergeant Angua (a werewolf) and her semi-boyfriend Carrot Ironfounderson (an adopted dwarf) figure fairly heavily i...more
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I really enjoyed this book. I read it on a Pratchett-reading spree, trying to hunt down all of the published Night Watch books. This book, I believe, follows one of Pratchett's first dealings with "women." The witch books do mainly deal with female characters, but there was a always the feeling that a lot of their behavior was attributable to the fact that they were witches or peasants or both.
In the Fifth Elephant, Pratchett deals with Cherry returning to her people (with an aweso...more
In the Fifth Elephant, Pratchett deals with Cherry returning to her people (with an aweso...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
Pratchett fans, and fantasy fans
I loved this. Granted, I love Terry Pratchett, but still. This book (one of the discworld series) had a few laugh out loud moments, but not as many as Jingo or Going Postal. It was, however, a more complex novel, with actual danger, people dying, and complicated political machinations.
I enjoyed Pratchett's usual subversion of fairy tales and common myths, and this book, more than most, contained a number of familiar fairy tale tropes. I'd definitely recommend this to all Pratchett fans, but...more
I enjoyed Pratchett's usual subversion of fairy tales and common myths, and this book, more than most, contained a number of familiar fairy tale tropes. I'd definitely recommend this to all Pratchett fans, but...more
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Read in November, 2007
"He'd noticed that sex bore some resemblance to cookery: It fascinated people, they sometimes bought books full of complicated recipes and interesting pictures, and sometimes when they were really hungry they created vast banquets in their imagination- but at the end of the day they'd settle quite happily for egg and chips, if it was well done and maybe had a slice of tomato." p. 233
"The world wasn't moved by heroes or villains or even by policemen. It might well be moved by s...more
"The world wasn't moved by heroes or villains or even by policemen. It might well be moved by s...more
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Read in June, 2008
I thought of saying this is a good-but-not-quite-as-good-as-others book in the Discworld series. I thought of saying Pratchett doesn't seem to have a heart for writing a full fledged mystery. I thought of saying that between the dwarf, werewolf, Margolotta-Patrician, Vimes, Cheery, and Carrot-Angua plots and subplots, the story tilted into the too-busy. I thought of saying exploring the Carrot-Angua relationship is dreadfully limited due the character of Carrot being based on never being able...more
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Criticizing Terry Pratchett's novels -- particularly his Discworld novels -- is akin to sneering aloud at a performance of the Metropolitan Opera: even if you're right, people will still be angry with you.
Though written with the same care as his other works (as A.S. Byatt observes, "He writes beautiful sentences.") I found the Fifth Elephant required far too much familiarity on the part of its readers. It was meant to be funny, but I can't imagine anyone who hasn't read many of t...more
Though written with the same care as his other works (as A.S. Byatt observes, "He writes beautiful sentences.") I found the Fifth Elephant required far too much familiarity on the part of its readers. It was meant to be funny, but I can't imagine anyone who hasn't read many of t...more
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Read in August, 2008
This is another good discworld book. It's not the best, but it is interesting in that almost the whole book takes place outside of Ankh Morepork. The story is good, but not quite as inspired as I've come to expect from Pratchett, however the extent to which it really fleshes out other regions and cultures of the Discworld is excellent. Thematically it's more in line with Thud! but I would still consider it the lesser work. Despite this, a merely good Terry Pratchett book is still worth reading o...more
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Read in January, 2004
recommended to Juliana by:
Peterecommends it for: those new to Discworld, fantasy-satire fans
This was my first introduction to Sam Vimes and the rest of the Watch. It took me a while to warm up to Vimes, but the novel is full of fantastic characters and Pratchett's typical warm satire. Discworld is surreal but at its core entirely plausible, based on constructs of imagination and caricatures of our own world. It's a great place to put your mind out to pasture, but be warned that it may be returned in a sharper, refreshed state than when you left it.
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Once again, couldn't resist picking up another Pratchett book about the Watch. Always a great read, I love Uberwald. Vimes is especially featured in this one, a little less the other characters (even Angua, and the book has a lot to do with werewolves). I'm okay with all of that, though. I dug it, laughed a lot, too.
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Read in July, 2004
This was the first of the City Watch books that I read, and it made me fall in love with Sam Vimes. And Terry Pratchett. I reread it a week or two ago, and in reflection, it's not my favourite Discworld novel by a long shot, but it's still good. And it gets bonus points for firing my obsession with the series.
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Read in June, 2008
I love the Discworld subseries that's all about the Ankh-Morpork watch, and this one did not disappoint. I would read this one after you read Feet of Clay and before Thud!, though I read them out of order and still understood what was going on (at least as well as the characters did).
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Fat comes from mines in Ubervald; who knew? I'll read any Night Watch book, and this one sees Vimes out of his city as an ambassador to Ubervald, which is fun and mixes up the formula. Got a bit tired of the werewolves at the end, but still a good binge-read before class started.
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recommends it for:
sci-fi heads
"Samuel Vimes? Is he a diplomat?"
"No, Igor, he's the reason for diplomats."
Previous Discworld reading is somewhat necessary for this book, but the political nature of this book, like Thud, makes it a thinly veiled but valid commentary. That, and I just dig Vimes.
"No, Igor, he's the reason for diplomats."
Previous Discworld reading is somewhat necessary for this book, but the political nature of this book, like Thud, makes it a thinly veiled but valid commentary. That, and I just dig Vimes.
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Terry Pratchett at his best!: Selten habe ich ein Buch so verschlungen, wie dieses! Es gibt neue Einblicke in die Beziehungen bzw. die Verwirrungen der Ankh Morpork Stadtwache. Und Vimes als Diplomat ist einfach eine Schau!! 100%ig empfehlenswert!!!
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My copy of this book is now residing in a hotel room in Lincoln, Nebraska. My only consolation to my bout of forgetfulness is that maybe someone will discover these books who didn't already know about them. That would be the only positive.
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
pratchett lovers
A good Discworld novel. Introduces Igor and a great view of Uberwald. I really enjoy the Captain Carrot, Angua, Detritus, and Cheery Littlebottom appearances. And, of course, Commander Vimes. One of my favorites in the series thus far.
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This is the one where Sam learns that Sybil is pregnant. She tries to tell him on page 11 and finally manages to finish the conversation on page 300 or so. I am sorry to contemplate a future without a novel a year from Terry Pratchett.
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"Uncle Vanya's trousers." Hehehehh...
Ada penampakan keluarga Angua yang super eksentrik. Ada Sam Vimes dalam pelarian. Dan ada Kapten Carrot yang tetap... lugu. Ada gajah. Ada pemalsuan barang keramat suku dwarf. Heboh.
Ada penampakan keluarga Angua yang super eksentrik. Ada Sam Vimes dalam pelarian. Dan ada Kapten Carrot yang tetap... lugu. Ada gajah. Ada pemalsuan barang keramat suku dwarf. Heboh.
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This is a great Pratchett novel. It features Commander Vimes and is a great showcase of his wife. It also includes some wonderful moments with Carrot and Agnes. If your a Pratchett fan, it is not to be missed!
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