The Fifth Elephant cover art

The Fifth Elephant

(Discworld Novel 24)

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The Fifth Elephant

By: Terry Pratchett
Narrated by: Jon Culshaw, Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Over 1 million Discworld audiobooks sold – discover the extraordinary universe of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld like never before.

'Well, he thought, so this is diplomacy. It's lying, only for a better class of people.

They say that diplomacy is a gentle art. That mastering it is a lifetime's work. But you do need a certain inclination in that direction. It's not something you can just pick up on the job.

A few days ago Sam Vimes was a copper - an important copper, true - chief of police - but still, at his core, a policeman. But today he is an ambassador - to the mysterious, fat-rich country of Uberwald. Today, Sam Vimes is also a man on the run.

At some point during his ambassadorship, things went very wrong. It's snowing. It's freezing. And if Vimes can't make it through the forest, with only his wits and the gloomy trousers of Uncle Vanya (don't ask), there's going to be a terrible war.

There are monsters on his trail. They're bright. They're fast. They're werewolves - and they're catching up.

The Discworld novels can be read in any order but The Fifth Elephant is the fifth book in the City Watch series.

'Precisely balanced . . . a cracking comic thriller' The Times

© Terry and Lyn Pratchett 1999 (P) Penguin Audio 2023

Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Humorous Literature & Fiction Satire Fiction Funny Comedy Witty Thought-Provoking Celebrity Werewolf Wolf Shifter

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Critic reviews

'Precisely balanced...excellent set pieces...a cracking comic thriller' (Peter Ingham)
The twenty-fourth Discworld novel
All stars
Most relevant
Another great story from Terry Pratchett with much intrigue and twisted and turns. I do like the series of books covering The Watch. Unfortunately, the narrator does not have enough range of accents and annoyingly makes Vimes sound either like Les Dawson or Sean Bean at times. Bill Nighy's talents are wasted for the few footnote readings he is engaged for. I forget Pratchett's penchant for too many of these that can actually take you out of the story and I think they would be handled better by the main narrator as if they were in brackets in line. Get Michael Sheen to do these. He would be fabalas.

Great story, lost in translation

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have never lifted or heard a Discworld book that had anything bad about it

the amazing humour that is the signature of Sir Terry Pratchett that I have loved for near 40 years

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The Fifth Elephant is one of my Favourite STP books and the City Watch a well loved bunch of old friends. I often think that Sir Terry felt that his books were viewed as comedy/ fantasy a bit fluffy , but they’re wayyy more. They’re a reflection on humanity shining back at us.,John Culshaw and co aren’t playing for laughs, still witty , but with a less manic tone which I believe facilitates these layers to shine. Well done

Well loved tale

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Pratchett in top form - again! Absolutely loved the story, and the narration fitted perfectly, especially Sam Vimes' voice, Definitely recommend this one!

Fantastic story & narration

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Packed with charm, humour and action, every bit a diskworld book. Jon Culshaw captures the comedic flow of the words perfectly, with great voice work from start to finish.

Never a miss from Pratchett

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