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 if he doesn't want to. Now, 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 will . . . after all, solving mysteries is his job.

Discworld stories stand alone as independent works set in the same fantasy universe. However, a number of the books can be grouped into grand story arcs dealing with a set number of characters and events – This title is part of the CITY WATCH arc, and was the 24th Discworld book to be published.

Author Biography

TERRY PRATCHETT is the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, “The Colour of Magic,” was published in 1983. In all, he is the author of over fifty bestselling books. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he is the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal, as well as being awarded a knighthood for services to literature. Worldwide sales of his books now stand at over 75 million, and they have been translated into thirty-seven languages.