Richard Lyons brings his creative talents to an exploration of some of the most vexing and profound questions about war in this imaginative series of epic poems. But by the Chance of War is reminiscent of the great Greek and Roman works. Each of the four parts ranges in setting from ancient India to Colonial American, to battlefields of modern Europe and to a conjectured scene in the contemporary Mid East. Throughout the animated and lyrical writing, Mr. Lyons examines our impulses towards combat and encourages the reader to contemplate the seemingly inexplicable dynamic towards destruction despite our conscious knowledge of war's ultimate futility. Each play features memorable characters who come to grips with the implication of technological advances that hasten the scope and velocity of casualties as they grapple with the moral questions of individual responsibility, the nature of military leadership, and the impact of the evolution of war on civilizations. Those who join Mr. Lyons on this epic quest will gain new insights into human nature.