The fifth elephant
Subtitle: a novel of discworld
By: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: HarperTorch
Published: 2001
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 389
ISBN-13: 9780061020407
Subjects: Discworld (Imaginary place); Fiction
Description: The flat world is supported on the backs of four elephants. But aren't there supposed to be five? Indeed there are. So what happened to the fifth elephant? An investigation of an attempted assassination leads Commander Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork constabulary on a wild goose-or rather, elephant-chase that will lead him to discover the truth about the missing pachyderm. Everyone knows that the world is flat, and supported on the backs of four elephants. But weren't there supposed to be five? Indeed there were. So where is it? When duty calls, Commander Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork constabulary answers. Even when he doesn't want to. He's been "invited" to attend a royal function as both detective and diplomat. The one role he relishes; the other requires, well, ruby tights. Of course where cops (even those clad in tights) go, alas, crime follows. An attempted assassination and a theft soon lead to a desperate chase from the low halls of Discworld royalty to the legendary fat mines of Uberwald, where lard is found in underground seams along with tusks and teeth and other precious ivory artifacts. It's up to the dauntless Vimes-bothered as usual by a familiar cast of Discworld inhabitants (you know, trolls, dwarfs, werewolves, vampires and such) to solve the puzzle of the missing pachyderm. Which of course he does. After all, solving mysteries is his job.
Notes: Originally published: London: Doubleday, 1999.