Well, I’m sure you’re aware of the four basic elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. According to the founder of the Order of Wen (who founded the History Monks and also known as Wen the Eternally Surprised), Surprise is the fifth element.
I think the first place that this came up was in the book “Thief of Time” when Sweeper Lu-Tze was showing his latest apprentice, Lobsang, around. Having been shown the Garden of the Four Elements and the Garden of Five Surprises, each of which seemed to be missing one, Lobsang reasoned:
“There were, in fact, five elements, as they had been taught. Four made up the universe, and the fifth, Surprise, allowed it to keep on happening.”
That wasn’t quite the answer, but the concept of the fifth element being Surprise was now established and expended on as the book went on.
By having Surprise be one of the primary motes, elemental if you like, I perhaps read too much into it.
I’m looking forward to the book (preordered) and to the podcasts you have lined up with Tom Merritt about the tech behind the book. August is looking to be a good reading/podcast watching month.
It’s not too late to get into Sir Pratchett’s works. I was much older than you are when I started. (Thanks to a South African school teacher on a photography circle on Google+ in its heyday. I dread to think what Phluttr would have introduced me to.)
Take care.