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Notes
The Boy Who Fell from the Sky and the other books in the House Next Door trilogy represent my version of the future, inspired by non-fiction books by Michio Kaku, Martin Rees, K Eric Drexler, George Friedman, Alan Weisman, James Lovelock and James Hansen, amongst others. My full list of sources can be found on my website at
http://juleowen.com/futurology-resources
We are now living in the Anthropocene age, the first period in geological history when humans have had a significant impact on the earth's ecosystem. One direct result of this is climate change. We are also living in a time of exponential technological innovation. It is an extraordinary and frightening time to be alive. My stories are my way of coming to terms with this and exploring possible futures. Find out more about the background to my stories here http://juleowen.com/futurology/
WITH THANKS
I think the point when I realised that I needed others help to complete this book was the point when it became possible.
Thanks to my editors Jill Mason and Lynda Thornhill. You have saved me many blushes. Any blushes I consequently have are entirely of my own making.
Thanks to Tommy Nakamura, Marc Weldon, Amy DuBoff and Lorna Barker for reading and offering useful comments on this book. Thanks also to others who were generous with their time, by reading my book, supporting me on Wattpad or helping with my launch, including Emilie MacMullen, Akvilė Štuopytė, Caroline Juricic, Caroline Bertin, Rita Liotisaite, Lara Hayward, Mark Klein, Jennifer Wirth, James McCarthy, Henry Blanchard, Adam Masojada, Pilar Knoke, Nativ Gill, Lizzy Arnold, Camille Rougié, Jonathan Hulse, Victoria and Nigel Webb, Ruanne Cluer, Lydia Foulkes, Kim Huggins, Triin Kambek, Natalie Waser, Rory McNeice, David Sorsoli, Christina Hegele, Emily Brett, Simon Darby, Heather Allen, Lindsay Charman, Ailsa McLaren, Elizabeth Garnham-Jong, Stefanie Wai, Sophie Salisbury, Julie Walsh, Eilis Kerr, Mauro Doni, Rob Crossen, Sam Martin, Cynthia Crossley, Max Beckmann, Rae Dowds, Anna Fullerton-Batten, Peter Bell, Bridget Beirne, Daren Pickering, Cassie Condon, Zuzana Dobrovolna, and Laxmi Hariharan.
I’m lucky enough to be part of a few awesome communities that have eased my way. Thanks to the Alliance of Independent Authors and to the extraordinary Escape the City community. Thanks especially to Alexis Garnaut-Miller, Bella Zenesco and the my12for12 crew. Your friendship and support this year has mattered more than you could possibly know.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mark Speed, who was kind enough to read early versions of this book, edit and offer invaluable feedback. He took me under his wing and has been a constant source of encouragement and useful advice. Mark is the creator of the wonderful Doctor How series, the real story behind the Doctor Who myth. For those of you who like some comedy with their sci-fi, Mark’s books are a tonic. The first in the series, Doctor How and the Illegal Aliens: Book 1: The Doctor Who is not a Time Lord is available to buy now.
Thanks to my Dad, John Owen, for always being there, no matter what.
Most of all, thanks to Lauren for your endless patience, support and kindness. This book would never have been written without you.