- Acknowledgments -

My first hardcover release. An awe-inspiring, spine-tingling, totally wonderful event—for me, at least. Thank you, Sheila Gilbert, for moving my work up to the next, albeit scary, level. Isn’t it gorgeous? All due to the creative talents of Luis Royo (wow), G-Force Design, and all those at DAW.

I take great care with my facts. While some places are fictitious, and this story is an extrapolation into an imagined future, I’ve done my utmost to reflect what is known now, from shorelines to eye sockets. My thanks to the following individuals for letting me pick their brains: Erin Kenny, Kaila Krayewski, staff of Nahanni River Adventures, and Dr. Isaac Szpindel. Any factual errors in this book are mine. (If I’ve forgotten anyone who helped answer my endless questions, you may smack me with a salmon.)

The final version of this book I owe to the insightful comments of my editor, Sheila Gilbert, as well as those of colleagues who kindly read it in first draft. Thank you, Doranna Durgin, Kristen Britain, Nalo Hopkinson, Jack McDevitt, and Jana Paniccia, for wanting more.

There are real people whose names appear in this story, each for good reason: Professor Jabulani Sithole, as a gift from my Jennifer, who values what she learned from you so highly. John Ward and Lee Fyock, from me to thee, gentlemen, for your friendship and support.

My sincere thanks to those wonderful folks of www.sff.net, who’ve created such a welcoming, enthusiastic community for writers and readers alike. Hounds and IPU? Get ready to wait again! Heh heh.

Last, and never least, thanks to my family for taking for granted I could do this, which meant, of course, that I could. Hugs to all. Thank you, Scott, for listening to my plot. And thanks for “Mac,” Jennifer.