We would like to thank, for their help in many different areas: Greg Bear, Ginjer Buchanan, Chris Cerasi, Leland Chee, Richard Curtis, Sam Dix, Jeff Harris, Nick Hess, Greg Keyes, Jim Luceno, Midge “McCool” McCall, Christopher McElroy, Ryan Pope, Michael Potts, Sue Rostoni, Shelly Shapiro, Walter Jon Williams, and Lucy Wilson. The Mount Lawley Mafia and the SA Writers’ Centre provided, as always, valuable support. Our debt to all the previous authors in the series—and everyone whose creativity has ever enriched both The New Jedi Order series and the Star Wars universe—cannot be expressed in words. The warm reception we received upon joining the team is a tribute to the vibrancy of the community that has grown around these stories. We would particularly like to thank George Lucas for starting the story in the first place, and the fans for making the daunting task of continuing it not only easier but also incredibly enjoyable.