Mystery, history, horror--it's a sword-rattling adventure with as many lopped heads and limbs as a nightmare...as much wild and drunken sex as a dream. It's the incredible chronicle of Ibn Fadlan, emissary of the Caliph of Bagdad, relating his expedition to the wild Viking barrens and his terrifying encounter there with the ferocious hairy demons of the Northland. It's the marvellous new Crichton novel with all the amazement of THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN and the captivating suspense of THE TERMINAL MAN. --back cover