The Fifth Elephant (UK)

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. He has nothing but his native wit and the gloomy trousers of Uncle Vanya (don't ask). It's snowing. It's freezing. And if he can't make it through the forest to civilization 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. 'precisely Balanced . . . A Cracking Comic Thriller' The Times The Discworld Is Very Much Like Our Own - If Our Own Were To Consist Of A Flat Planet Balanced On The Back Of Four Elephants Which Stand On The Back Of A Giant Turtle, That Is . . . '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 In The City Watch Series. 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. 'WELL, HE THOUGHT, SO THIS IS DIPLOMACY. IT'S LYING, ONLY FOR A BETTER CLASS OF PEOPLE.' Commander Sam Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch is a long way from home. Sent as reluctant ambassador to Uberwald, a mysterious region inhabited by dwarfs, vampires and werewolves, Vimes must learn the art of diplomacy. Fast. But when he uncovers a mystery with ties back home, the policeman in him can't help but investigate. What could possibly go wrong? Well, quite a lot actually. Vimes finds himself on the run through the frozen forests of Uberwald, armed with only his wits and the trousers of Uncle Vanya (don't ask). And if he doesn't make it, there's going to be a terrible war. But there are monsters on his trail. They're smart. They're fast. They're werewolves. And they're catching up . . . 'Precisely balanced . . . a cracking comic thriller' The Times The Fifth Elephant is the fifth book in the City Watch series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order. Sam Vimes is a man on the run. Yesterday he was a duke, a chief of police and the ambassador to the mysterious, fat-rich country of Uberworld. Now he was nothing but his native wit and the gloomy trousers of Uncle Vanya (don't ask). It's snowing. It's freezing. And if he can't make it through the forest to civilisation there's going to be a terrible war. But there are monsters on his trail. They're bright. They're fast. They're werewolves - and they're catching up. Sam Vimes is out of time, out of luck and already out of breath... Sam Vines is a man on the run. Yesterday he was a duke, a chief of police and the ambassador to the mysterious fat-rich country of Uberwald. Now he has nothing but his native wit and the gloomy trousers of Uncle Vanya. It's snowing, it's freezing, and if he can't make it through the forest to civilisation there's going to be a terrible war. But there are monsters on his trail. They're bright, they're fast, and they're werewolves - and they're catching up They say that diplomacy is a gentle art. That its finest practitioners are subtle, sophisticated individuals for whom nuance and subtext are meat and drink. And 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. Fifth book of the original and best CITY WATCH series, now reinterpreted in BBC's The Watch'Precisely balanced . A few days ago Sam Vimes was a copper - an important copper, true - chief of police - but still, at his core, a policeman.