A WORLD IN FLAMES . . . The cosmic balance between Light and Night has somehow been upset, causing a sudden, inexplicable escalation of old hatreds between humans and Starborns - bringing the two races into brutal, bloody conflict that can only end in complete annihilation. When Albaric's son is murdered, he turns to the forbidden rites of necromancy to reanimate the boy. The attempt creates an al'ghirol, an alien spirit incarnated in the living-dead body of the wizard's son. The monster is eerily knowledgeable about Albaric's past - and his future. Horrified, Tierny casts out her husband. Albaric's only chance - and the world's - is to find and correct the source of the cosmic imbalance. On his journey, Albaric is trailed by his bitterest enemy, Krolius the ambitious mountebank, who desires the power of true sorcery and has stolen Albaric's powerful staff to obtain it. In the blessed-seeming valley of Asrios, Albaric is reunited with Rutha Khan, unseen since their bitter parting so many years ago. While Rutha is glad to meet Albaric again, her new lover is less than pleased. For her consort is a powerful mage, who doesn't balk at using sorcery to prevent Rutha from rekindling her old flame. Moreover, she is the magician responsible for the disaster overtaking the rest of the earth, with a spell that seemingly only death can break . . . THE HOUNDS OF CHAOS is Volume 4 of WIZARD OF EARTH'S END. Although fitting into an over-reaching story arc, each volume in the series is a complete story in itself, and can be read on its own. The 8-volume WIZARD OF EARTH'S END series consists of: THE STAFF AND THE STONE QUEST FOR THE HYDRA MADMAN OF GHAVIER THE HOUNDS OF CHAOS THE SHORES OF SARGOTHROND THE SILK MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER THE CHAMPION OF NIGHT APPARITIONS AND OTHER DARK DOINGS