A novel by Roger Zelazny, originally published as a series of separate short stories. Dilvish is the descendant of both elves and humans. Hundreds of years ago, he was turned into stone and his soul banished to Hell by the sorcerer Jelerak. When he returns with the metal demon horse Black, he desires revenge on Jelerak, but is interrupted by an assault on his homeland, which he helps to repulse. Dilvish then goes to call up the Shoredan - a cursed people bound to his family. He searches for Jelerak in the Tower of Ice and finds the sorcerer's apprentice and his sister trapped there. The two of them believe him to be a servant of Jelerak sent to kill them.

Followed by The Changing Land.