Above all, a special thanks to Neal Stephenson. Of course. Both for trusting me to keep the story going and also for nudging me in the right direction when nudging was required.
As always, I’m so grateful to my agent, Liz Darhansoff, and my editor, Jennifer Brehl—I am lucky to have you both in my corner. Thanks also to everyone involved in the designing, marketing, and selling of my books. Of all books! (Or most, anyhow.) What a noble and resilient industry you represent.
For their time and expertise, I am grateful to: Alec Stoll, Flip Tanner, Andrew Riggsby, Linnea Coffin, Alan & Maureen Crumpler, Laurence Bouvard, Giuseppe Taibi, Brandon Soozo, and Diane & Andrea Venturini.
I am grateful to my longtime early readers, Brian Caspe and Eowyn Mader, whose critiques, as always, were incredibly helpful (even when I argued with you).
For helping me hash out ideas, or at least prevent me from bashing my head too hard against the nearest wall, thanks to: Dan Sheldon, Jefferson Goethals, Ned Gulley, George Fifield, Sam Korn . . . and, above all, the funniest Shakespeare geek/problem-solver I have the privilege to know, Austin Tichenor.
The fight scenes in this book were plotted out by the inimitable combat consultant Scott Barrow (abetted bodily and spiritually by Mac Young, Brian Ditchfield, and Amy Sabin Barrow). If you’re aiming to be crucified, Scott’s your man.
Finally, as ever, I give thanks for the Gorgeous Group: Kate Feiffer, Jamie Kagleiry, Laura Roosevelt, Cathy Walthers, Lara O’Brien, Melissa Hackney, and Nancy Aronie.
I write this in lockdown, far away from my desk; I’ve compiled my thank-you list from memory, without notes, and I apologize to anyone who knows they deserve to be mentioned but has not been. (We’ll fix it in the next printing!)