E very time I produce an anthology, there are a host of people, beyond the writers themselves and my publisher, to whom I am immensely grateful. This time out, foremost among them are my wife Xin Anders for her infinite patience and support; Stephenson Crossley, who read it first; Gordon Van Gelder, for introducing me to Paolo and making sure I paid attention; Deanna Hoak, our marvelous copyeditor; John Picacio, for talent beyond imagination; Frederik Pohl, for the use of his superb definition of SF as well as providing the initial inspiration for a new anthology series; Robert J. Sawyer, for friendship and a shared point of view; Eric Spitznagel, for assigning me the article that circuitously led to Robyn Hitchcock's involvement; Hitchcock himself, for willingness to be drawn into SFnal waters; and Jonathan Strahan, for early and much-appreciated enthusiasms. You are all wonderful people, and you have my heartfelt thanks. Even you, Eric.