The Fifth Elephant

I think this is one of the better Discworld books, in principle, but I'm reluctant to give it more than three stars because, although quite funny initially, it becomes rather disagreeable towards the end. Seriously unpleasant characters, serious conflict, serious casualties: just what you might expect from some novels, but not quite what I expect from a Discworld novel.

It's a kind of City Watch book, in that all the City Watch characters are involved, but in this one Sam Vimes is sent to Uberwald as an ambassador; and Uberwald is populated mainly by werewolves, vampires, and dwarfs. Rather unexpectedly, Gaspode the talking mongrel also turns up again.

It's clear that Pratchett takes Uberwald seriously and doesn't want to make fun of it, except in minor peripheral ways.

Incidentally, Sybil reveals that she's pregnant, and the City Watch acquires an Igor.

In its favour, I think I enjoyed it somewhat better at second reading than I did the first time. By now I'm a bit more accustomed to Pratchett's serious side, which we see more of in the later part of his career.

As with Feet of Clay, I feel like I got more out of the story on the second read. Would have loved to have gone more in depth with the gender discussions, but I recognize that it was a side plot. Main theme, which seems to be a pattern in those works centred around Vimes, is the ethical use of power, and the use versus danger of tradition, as well as a cracking good mystery of course. Still loving my Discworld City Watch reread. 🥰
⚠️Animal death