The Villain of the Earth marks the fourth appearance of Philip Fletcher - dedicated lecher, supreme egoist, professional actor, and occasional amateur murderer. Thwarted in yet another attempt at theatrical glory, Philip is forced to settle for a dubious avant-garde production of Antony and Cleopatra, directed by megalomaniac Russian boor Sergei "Shitski" Shustikov. Philip finds himself sharing the stage with not only a rusting car but also old flame Natasha, and she's shacked up with Shitski. Tempers flare, confrontations multiply, and then the inevitable happens - on opening night Shitski winds up dead. Can Philip sidestep yet another backstage homicide? After all, with his record the police won't have far to look for a prime suspect. It takes some very fancy footwork and all the amoral ingenuity at his disposal to keep his career on the rails - but then Philip, as he would be the first to point out, is a very good actor.
