This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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Copyright © 2000 by Blizzard Entertainment

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

ISBN: 0-7434-1897-2

First Pocket Books Ebooks Edition December 2000

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Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Cover illustration by Bill Petras and Chris Metzen

Visit us on the World Wide Web:
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To my folks, Pete and Kathy Metzen,

for all their love, support, and encouragement over the years.

To Team Hamro—

Sam Moore, Michael Carrillo, Mike Pirozzi, and Daniel Moore,

for always reminding me of what “epic” really means.

To Walter Simonson,

whose portrayal of a certain thundergod defined everything I value as an artist and a storyteller.

And last, but not least—

to all of my talented brothers and sisters at Blizzard with whom I’ve had the distinct privilege of building the greatest worlds in computer gaming. This one’s for you, y’all.