The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #24)

In The Fifth Elephant, the 24^th Discworld novel, Sir Terry Pratchett took readers away from the city of Ankh-Morpork. Together with Samuel Vimes and the City Watch, we travel to the snowy land of Uberwald. This is a place where dwarfs dwell in the deep mines, while werewolves and vampires lurk in gothic castles, squatting upon the sombre, forest hills.

The Fifth Elephant is a medium sized novel. It tells a very gripping story. In fact, this novel drew me in so deeply that I finished it in 2 sittings. I'd say The Fifth Elephant ranks among my top 5 Discworld novels. This is my review for the book, let me begin by providing a synopsis.

Synopsis:

One has to wonder, whether if it is a mere coincidence, that from the earth to Discworld, people have the tendency to explain the question of origin via stories, legends and mythologies. Some people interpret these stories as real history, while some interpret them as metaphors, stories with meanings. One such a story, is the tale of the fifth elephant.

You see, legend on Discworld whispers that long ago, upon the back of A'tuin the Star Turtle, stood five elephants bearing the burden of the world. Until one day, the fifth elephant came crashing down through the sky as a fiery comet, and landed in what today is known as Uberwald. Over millennia, the remains of the fifth elephant fossilised and became mineral resources of great value, such as gold, iron and fat. At least, this is how dwarfs from Uberwald explain the origin of all the minerals buried there.

Thus begins our story. The dwarfs in Uberwald are having a new king. Commander Samuel Vimes was caught in surprise, when he was appointed the ambassador for Ankh-Morpork to attend the coronation. So together with Lady Sybil, Sargent Detritus, and Corporal Littlebottom, Vimes journeyed to Uberwald. However, a fine line divides the art of diplomacy from police work. This time, Vimes found himself in hot water, as he became trapped in a tidal wave of political tensions. Tensions that if not dealt properly, could lead to explosive outcomes.

My thoughts on this book:

In comparison to other Discworld novels, The Fifth Elephant is a very plot-driven book. The narratives focused on the main story with little distractions. This means the story in The Fifth Elephant moves at a fast pace, and the story flows very smoothly as one event transitioned to the next. For this reason, I particularly enjoyed The Fifth Elephant (more than Jingo), the adventure in this book is one heck of a ride! Apart from having a funny, and gripping story, The Fifth Elephant can also be seen as a social commentary. As the story takes readers to Uberwald on exhilarating adventures, they will also encounter contemporary issues that challenge our world; such as conservatism, sexism, modernisation, and advancing technology, all of which are related to “changes”, which is the main theme in this book.

I thought The Fifth Elephant can be described as a comedic thriller. The central plot for this book revolves around the theft of a priceless, dwarven artefact, and the story is shrouded in an atmosphere of suspense and mystery. This book also features a cast of vividly portrayed, and likable characters who are bound to cut marrow-deep impressions into readers' minds. Samuel Vimes took the spotlight as the main character, rummaging through Uberwald, stepping into dangers while becoming trapped in the shadow of political conspiracies. This book also narrates a sub-plot about Carrot and Angua's romantic relationship, which further spiced-up the already brilliant storyline, adding further depth to character developments. I would also like to mention, I am becoming very fond of a character called Cheery Littlebottom, a she-dwarf, and a brilliant forensic expert who serves in the City Watch, while fighting for her right to wear feminine clothes in a dwarven culture where feminine clothing and jewellery are considered taboo. For me, Cheery Littlebottom is one of my favourite female characters in fantasy fictions.

What sets Discworld novels apart from just some parodies of fantasy literature, is Terry Pratchett's writing prowess to use satires, and embed important issues and ideas in excellent storytelling, then getting his messages across. His satires are often thought-provoking yet inoffensive, inviting his readers to explore the sad realities of our world. Personally, this is what I like the most about Discworld novels. I often feel that Terry Pratchett spoke of important things in his stories that I, an average person, often find hard to articulate in words. This is why I really appreciate Terry Pratchett's works. In this regard, The Fifth Elephant is a classic example of a brilliantly written Discworld novel. It has a gripping story, vivid characterizations, and a meaningful message. Therefore, if you have read other Discworld novels featuring Ankh-Morpork City Watch, then The Fifth Elephant should be on your “must-read” list.