Volcanoes have been a part of the Earth since its very creation. They terrified and rained destruction on the earliest life forms, on the dinosaurs, and on our forebears. As mankind evolved, volcanoes were an integral part of the landscape, and they have shaped the lives of many nations and cultures. In "The Fires Within", John Murray analyzes the origins and effects of these turbulent forces of nature. His text shows how our planet is made up of "plates" on which the continents ride, and at whose borders Earth's active areas, consisting of volcanoes and earthquakes, are found. Here, the Earth itself has been shaped, for it is true to say that without them we should not exist: the crust of our planet, the water that forms the oceans, lakes, and rivers, and the bulk of our atmosphere originated in volcanic eruptions. With the help of David Hardy's full colour paintings, mankind's entire knowledge of volcanic activity is surveyed - the causes of volcanoes, their ingredients, damage limitation, how to tap and explore their vast energy source, and how to predict their imminent eruption. Also examined is one of the surprises of the Space Age - the discovery of volcanoes, some highly active, on other worlds, such as Mars, Venus, and Io.