And with that final appendix the original text ends, leaving the stranded time traveler to their (now hopefully much-improved) fate. I can almost summon the emotions they must’ve felt upon completing this book and looking up from it out to a new world: satisfaction at having learned so much, mixed in with the complete and abject terror of having to rebuild everything ever from first principles in a random time period. Pretty intense! Glad I don’t have to worry about that!
While no bibliography was included in the original text (which makes sense, as it’d obviously be useless to anyone stranded in an era before books were invented), I thought adding my own on the following pages would help interested readers to find out more about the technologies, ideas, and innovations this guide describes. I used these books when verifying the text you just read, and as references before publication.
Besides some really good books, I also consulted some really good humans. I’d like to thank my brother Victor North for his knowledge of both art and brewing, and my friends Dr. Priya Raju (for sharing her secrets of the medical profession), Allene Chomyn and Will Wadley (for their knowledge of music and music theory), David Malki (for his knowledge of flight), and Mike Tucker (for his knowledge of boats). Huge thanks to Zach Weinersmith, Randall Munroe, Jenn Klug, Mick Tucker, Emily Horne, and my dad for being beta readers, with a particular shout-out to Randall for instantly knowing how much land would be covered if the ice caps completely melted this afternoon. He practically volunteered that information before I even asked. Thanks to Dr. Hélène Deval for helping me research the laws surrounding the preserved corpses of accused criminals in France in 1670 CE, and to Sergio Aragonés for being so kind when I asked him about his experience with iceboxes. Finally, my editor, Courtney Young, was invaluable, and everyone should work with her because she’s great, except don’t, because I still want her to work with me.
Any errors that remain are my own. I must’ve introduced them when I transcribed the guide.
Ryan North
Toronto
2018 CE