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The Fifth Elephant

Published
Nov 1999
Main Genre
Fantasy Fantasy
Rating
Pages
400
Also Appears In
Discworld Book 24

About This Book

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.

Series Placement

Also Appears In
Book 24

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Jan 2001 HarperTorch ISBN 0061020400
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Jan 2000 Corgi (UK) ISBN 0060196459
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Feb 2001 Corgi (UK) ISBN 0552146161
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Jul 2003 A&C Black ISBN 0413771156
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Jan 2009 Corgi (UK) ISBN 0552154229
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Oct 2013 Transworld (UK) ISBN 0552167622
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May 2014 Harper ISBN 0062280139
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May 2023 Transworld (UK) ISBN 1804990620
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Aug 2024 HarperCollins ISBN 0063374234
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Hardcover

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First Edition Nov 1999 Doubleday ISBN 0385409958
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Jan 2000 Harper ISBN 0061051578
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Mar 2000 San Val ISBN 0613572084
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Jun 2008 ISBN 1435274601
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Oct 2016 Transworld (UK) ISBN 085752416X
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Sep 2008 Random House ISBN 1407035207
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Jan 2009 Harper ISBN 0061806757
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Oct 2009 HarperCollins ISBN B000W5MI9E
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Audio

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Nov 1999 Corgi (UK) ISBN 0552147206
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Dec 2000 ISIS Audio Books ISBN 0753108399
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Jan 2001 ISIS Audio Books ISBN 0753111322
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Aug 2003 ISIS Audio Books ISBN B0000BZ2TZ
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Jul 2006 Corgi Audio (UK) ISBN 0552154237
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Feb 2007 Random House AudioBooks ISBN B000NOKBZW
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Jul 2007 Random House AudioBooks ISBN B005NDD4OI
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Sep 2008 ISIS Audio Books ISBN 0753140470
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Large Print

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Dec 2000 Ulverscroft Large Print ISBN 0708992102
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Dec 2000 G.K. Hall & Company ISBN 0783893078
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