The Fifth Elephant

Rating:
Summary: A copper that isn't an ore
Review: Role models are a major topic these days. Who are the good ones, and who the bad? Once we had monarchs, presidents, explorers, all good and/or bad with some migration from the first to the second. In Sam Vimes, we may have a unique example of the reverse.

When we first met Sam Vimes in GUARDS! GUARDS!, he was sodden in a gutter, soddin' drunk. Hardly an auspicious beginning for a heroic figure. Discworld heroes are often found in unusual circumstances, rarely admirable at first sight. Sam's a copper, Commander of Ankh-Morpork's Night Watch. It's a job to send any man's hand groping for support, even if the brace is in the form of a bottle. Now he's on his way to Uberwald. Trolls, Dwarves and Werewolves have all emigrated from this region, taking up residence in Sam's city. He hasn't shed his resentment at this intrusion, nor his suspicion of these bizarre life forms. His earlier cultural challenges came from the likes of Klatchians, who were at least human. The Patrician has made him a diplomat, a real challenge for a man with so little tact. He must deal with all these creatures he resents. Failure to deal successfully may result in his becoming part of the local cuisine.

Sam has an advantage over many of us. Strongly self-aware, he manages to control his temper and intemperance. He's pulled himself out of the gutter. Now the Duke of Ankh- Morpork, he's married into the city's aristocracy. His diplomatic skills are going to be put to severe tests. To ease the pressure, Sam is accompanied by his recently acquired spouse, Sybil Ramkin. Her presence with him on this venture is an indication of his newly elevated status, and recognition of her well established one. Ironically, Sam is also supported by some of his mates from the Watch, Detritus the Troll and forensic expert Cheery Littlebottom, a Dwarf. Both are originally from the Uberwald. Sam's diplomatic assignment is a commercial treaty and attendance of the Coronation of the Low King. Regrettably, not all Uberwald is happy with the new monarch, and Sam is drawn into a miasma of plots and counter plots no diplomat should enter.

Sam Vimes is anything but a hero of the ideal romantic stamp. His blemishes are apparent, but, to his credit, he recognizes them and deals with them. His temper, which he controls with effort, leads him into difficult situations. His prejudices blind him to unexpected values in people [and, in this case, a scruffy dog], but when he finally recognizes the truth, he acknowledges it. Maybe with glum grace, but without rancor. Pratchett has drawn him as a strikingly real figure. He's unique on the Discworld. And that's sad in one sense because both the Discworld and our world could do with more like him.

Pratchett's plots have never been overly convoluted or difficult to unravel. His wit more than makes up for that. His characters are immensely significant in these stories. Those of us who've followed Sam along the cobblestoned streets of his life will rejoice at this portrayal. They will also encounter an Angua with enhanced reality. And Sam and Sybil are . . .

Rating:
Summary: Dwarfs, wolves and werewolves, the Watch and some Igors...
Review: The Fifth Elephant is the 24th Discworld novel.

In Ankh-Morpork, the Scone of Stone, the Dwarfs' sacred relic, has been stolen, and the director of the rubber factory has just been murdered.

As Sam Vimes is sent on a diplomatic mission to Uberwald for the coronation of the new King of the Dwarfs, and Captain Carrot has gone in search of missing Angua, Lord Vetinari reluctanctly promotes Fred Colon as Captain of the Watch...

Although presented as a novel of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, the action is principally centered on Sam Vimes and his struggle with the not-so-nice werewolves of Uberwald.

With its numerous winks to our own world, as well as the guest appearence of dear characters such as DEATH or Gaspode the Wonder Dog, the Fifth Elephant turns out as funny as I expected a Pratchett novel to be. Definitely a very good read!

Rating:
Summary: Upper-tier comedy writing
Review: I've always thought that Discworld is what you would get if the Monty Python cast re-wrote Lord of the Rings. The tongue-in-cheek approach to fantasy is a welcome breath of fresh air. Some of his works (ex: Small Gods) bog down a little and the comedy is thin, but The Fifth Elephant is an excellent blend of genuine plot and humorous flavoring. I give 4-5 stars to the entire series.

Rating:
Summary: Pratchett's best book EVER!
Review: After wondering if Terry Pratchett was losing it, he suddenly comes up with this absolutely BRILLIANT novel! Not only does he have all the humor we've come to expect and demand from a Pratchett novel, not only does he have an engaging plot, but he manages to throw in some philosphy! I won't spoil it, since the philosophy is actually pretty crucial to the plotline, I'll just say: YOU WANT TO BUY THIS BOOK. Don't worry if you've never read any of the Pratchett books before. This is as good as any book to start with.

Rating:
Summary: Not a great Terry Pratchett novel.
Review: A Terry Pratchett book is always a good thing,and I certainly enjoy a 3-star novel by Terry Pratchett more than some other people's 5 stars, but I am comparing this to the other Discworld novels and I thought that it was not a particularly good one. It' s more similar to Color of Magic and Pyramids than to Guards Guards or Small Gods. MY problem is not that this is more "serious" or "darker" or is less funny (it is less funny, lots of recycled jokes), it might have been precisely the opposite. Terry Pratchett has a very special talent to have dark serious things under a lot of superficial fun and jokes, and that underlayer was something missing here, while the what was here was somewhat recycled and felt superficial. I did not find Wolfgang as interesting, as Fido in Men at Arms for example. For Pratchett fans, I am sure you will enjoy it as I did, but I hope you are not as disapointed in it as I was.

Rating:
Summary: A New Step for Pratchett
Review: I feel that with this book Pratchett truly expands himself as an author. Following in the foot steps of "Feet of Clay" Pratchett shows his ability to produce a captivating mystery storyline that will keep you guessing to the very end. Filled with suspense and excitment he further delevops many of his beloved characters from the previous "Guards" series breathing into them more life and personality than ever before. It is truly a great book and if you liked "Feet of Clay" you should definitetly read "The Fifth Elephant".

Rating:
Summary: A Darker Pratchett
Review: The Fifth Elephant is a continuation of Pratchett's attempts to become more 'mature' in his storytelling. As the author said, he can't continue writing about incompetent wizards forever (although many of his fans would disagree).

This novel set in the City Watch parodies equal opportunities and considers stereotypes. Unlike what others may say, part of Pratchett's success is his continual quality, although with this novel Pratchett writes in a slightly darker, grittier mode than before in his depictions of life in his fantasy New York.

I met Pratchett once, and he is very gracious to his fans.

Rating:
Summary: Pratchett simply rules
Review: And that's enough to get this book four stars straight off. As a longtime Pratchett fan though, I couldn't give it the extra star because it just can't compare with some of his earlier novels. If you're new to Pratchett, it's probably best to begin with the first Discworld novels ('The Colour of Magic' and 'The Light Fantastic') which are both incredible, or the first book involving the Ankh-Morpork Watch, 'Guards! Guards!', also one of his best in my opinion.

Fellow T.P veterans: not as good as 'Feet of Clay', but better than 'Jingo'. As much as I love the watch, it might be good if they were given a rest for a bit. Just how far can Vimes possibly get promoted?

Pratchett rocks. 'The Fifth Elephant' is thoroughly enjoyable, as always. Read it!

Rating:
Summary: Superb Comic Fantasy
Review: I was blown away by this novel.

I haven't read a lot of Pratchett, two books and a couple of short stories, but I wasn't overly impressed. Sure he's good (I particularly enjoyed his 'Troll Bridge' story) but I've always preferred Douglas Adams or Tom Holt. This book changes everything.

With 'The Fifth Elephant', Pratchett creates a comic masterpiece. He flawlessly weaves humor, both subtle and laugh-out-loud funny, into the framework of an engaging story.

City Watch overlord Sam Vimes travels into a dark and mysterious country to attend the coronation of a new Low King. He discovers that the dwarf's hallowed Stone of Scone has been stolen by unknown nefarious persons. Vimes strives, amidst interference from disingenuous vampires, bloodthirsty werewolves and loyal Igors, to find the sacred Stone.

If that's not enough, Pratchett throws in Fred Colon, Vimes temporary replacement on the Watch, panicking in his new authority. There's the traveling clerk with distinctly un-clerklike skills and the tangled love story between straight-arrow watchman Carrot and werewolf Angua.

After reading through reviews for recent Pratchett books I received the impression that they were steadily declining in quality. If so, this one is a major comeback. An excellent, excellent book. A recent magazine reviewer for F&SF calls this the best Discworld book in a long time. I'll go a step further and call this the best book I've read in months. Pratchett now holds a solid place on my must-read list.

Don't miss this one.

Rating:
Summary: Rich, complex, and funny fantasy.
Review: (If you're new to the Discworld series, you should start with Guards! Guards! for an introduction to the characters in this book).

This latest installment in the Discworld series is Pratchett's most ambitious story yet. It chronicles the violent collision of Samuel Vimes with Dwarvish, Werewolf, and Vampire high society in a tale of political intrigue set in the Transylvanish Uberwald.

The most impressive thing here is the attention to detail. Not even in other Discworld books is the world so textured and rich, the mystery so well-thought-out, the characters so intriguing. While not devoid of Pratchett's signature silliness and wit, there's suspense to spare amid the rib-tickles.

Thematically, Pratchett's not covering new ground here: The world of politics is by necessity corrupt, belief creates truth, the common man is swept up in events beyond his control, etc. But the similarities to the other "Watch" books (Feet of Clay, Guards, Guards!, Jingo) are superficial. Pratchett is not content to cover the same ground with the same characters; he takes them in surprising directions and tests their mettle.

All in all, a thoroughly entertaining book and worthwhile chapter in the Discworld saga.