Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) was an English author best known for the Discworld series, a sequence of forty-one comic fantasy novels set on a flat world carried through space on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle. Across four decades, the Discworld grew from a parody of sword-and-sorcery fantasy into one of the most sustained works of social satire in English literature, examining politics, religion, science, gender, race, capitalism, and the nature of stories themselves. Pra...
The Fifth Elephant
The Fifth Elephant
Synopsis
Sam Vimes is sent to Uberwald as Ankh-Morpork's ambassador — an appointment he did not want, for a culture he does not understand, at a moment when the Uberwald political situation is on the verge of catastrophe. Werewolves, dwarfs, and vampires are all jockeying for power. Someone has stolen the Scone of Stone, the sacred symbol of dwarf kingship, and without it the coronation cannot proceed. A novel about diplomacy, cultural collision, and the moment when Sam Vimes the policeman meets Sam Vimes the politician.
Vibe
Genres
Characters
Sam VimesProtagonist
Thrust into the role of diplomat in a foreign country, discovering that his policeman's instincts are both an asset and a liability in Uberwald.
Wolfgang von ÜberwaldAntagonist
A werewolf supremacist who wants Uberwald to remain closed to outside influence and is willing to use political assassination to achieve it.
Lady MargolottaSupporting
An Uberwald vampire of enormous political intelligence — and Vetinari's chess correspondent, which tells you something about her capabilities.
AnguaSupporting
Returns to her homeland of Uberwald, where her family history complicates her identity as a member of the Ankh-Morpork Watch.
Subjects
Places
Edition
No cover available
Fifth ElephantUnknown, 2009
440 pages
Penguin Random HouseLanguage: EnglishISBN: 97814070676055 editions available
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to read other Discworld books before The Fifth Elephant?
While part of the Discworld series, The Fifth Elephant is a standalone story within the Watch sub-series. Readers new to Discworld can start here, though familiarity with Commander Vimes and the Ankh-Morpork City Watch from earlier books will enrich the experience.
Is there a TV or film adaptation of The Fifth Elephant?
The Fifth Elephant has not been directly adapted into a film or television series. However, other books featuring the Ankh-Morpork City Watch characters have received adaptations.
What real-world inspirations influenced The Fifth Elephant?
Terry Pratchett drew inspiration from various real-world political and cultural elements for Uberwald, including Eastern European folklore, vampire myths, and the complexities of international diplomacy and resource control, particularly concerning oil and gas.