This brilliantly inventive fantasy epic by the award-winning author of Watership Down centres on the long-awaited reincarnation of the giant bear, Shardik. His reappearance among the half-barbaric Ortelgan people sets off a violent chain of events as faith in his divinity sweeps the land. A gripping tale of war, adventure, horror and romance, Shardik, on a deeper level, is a remarkable exploration of mankind's universal desire for divine incarnation, and the corrosive influence of power. . . 'Shardik is a powerful work, dipping deep into old forms - allegory, epic, myth - resonating in the caverns of the readers' unconscious. . . It is an exciting story, the adventures compelling. ' Los Angeles Times. . 'Grips with suspense, haunts with mystery. . . a memorable work, not to be read once only but to be reread as loved books are. . . a human saga. ' Wall Street Journal