The original Ramayana �a classic tale of war between absolute Good and Evil�was written 3,000 years ago by Valmiki, a reformed thief-turned-sage. Now, with breathtaking imagination, Indian novelist Ashok K. Banker has recreated this epic tale for modern readers everywhere. Rama, king-in-waiting, has crossed the ocean, and the great war has begun. Ravana, lord of demons, unleashes terrible sorcery to deal a crushing blow to Rama�s forces. Before they can recover, he sends forth a legion of warbred rakshasas more terrible than any seen before, and the soil of Lanka runs red with the blood of Rama�s warriors. Still, the brave vanars and bears rally and fight on, despite the formidable odds. The war descends into a brutal maelstrom as champions die and heroes sacrifice their lives for Rama�s cause. And then Ravana commits the most dreaded act of all: rather than surrender Sita, he executes her before Rama�s eyes. On this darkest day, it hardly seems to matter that Rama�s exile is ended, and that he is now free to return to his homeland to claim his rightful place�as King of Ayodhya.