The Fifth Elephant

Terry Pratchett

This book is about fat mines, werewolves, and a petrified scone. It also happens to contain an enlightened discussion on gender identity and racial tensions. Also, it's really fucking funny.

This is Terry Pratchett to the core. If you've read any Pratchett, you don't need me to explain him to you. If you haven't, read some goddamn Pratchett. As a side note, I wouldn't recommend starting with this book. Instead, go with Going Postal, or The Wee Free Men.

There's really not much else I can say about this. In the words of Neil Gaiman, "any Terry Pratchett book is a small miracle". Get some of that in your life.

I would recommend this book to fantasy readers. People who aren't at least a little experienced in fantasy could very easily be put off by the fantastical elements and miss the core experience. And that would be a tragedy.