I’m grateful to a great many people over a long period of time, for aiding in the effort to begin, work on, complete, and publish this novel. First, I acknowledge the people to whom this book is dedicated: my wife Hiroko, our son Daniel, and her parents, sister, and nephew back in Japan. I owe a lot to my side of the family as well: my late parents, my late step-parents, and especially Ron and Karla Franko and the indomitable Chelsea Emma Franko.
I’ve had excellent colleagues and friends who have also encouraged me; I thank them all, too many to list; but in particular, I would like to name Tom Moisan, Tom Walsh, Roger Lundin, Lt. Col. Keith Donnelly, and Georgia Johnston as chief among these beloved friends, for having passed on to whatever awaits us. I miss them all very much. I gained terrific help, and avoided terrific blunders, thanks to the impeccable readership of the likes of Devin Johnston, Aaron Belz, Saher Alem, Ray Benoit, Jim Hutchisson, Matt Nickel, Janie Chang, Kevin Mac Donnell, Kent Rasmussen, Jason Ashlock, my relentless agent Jill Marr and her colleagues at the Sandra Dijkstra Agency, and the towering team at Blank Slate Press, including Kristina Blank Makansi, Donna Essner, and Lisa Miller.
Finally, and like Jack: I thank God in all things, and I’m happy to recognize that every good gift comes down from above, from the Father of Lights (James 1:17)—including all the fine people listed above.