Dedication
To my parents, who tolerated my crazy insistence on wanting to be a writer, on majoring in astronomy and Russian history, and doing just about anything else that made it impossible for me to find a “normal” job. I’m proud of them for reading my stories and grateful to them for offering their encouragement even back when my fictio wasn’t as … er, polished as I hope it is now.
—KJA
To my parents, for allowing me to experience the world.
—DB
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Acknowledgments
Kristine Kathryn Rusch for her major text and plot surgery and sharp editorial eye; Marina Fitch for her prompt and thorough overhaul of (what we thought was) the final version; Laura Anderson for the inside scoop on working for an insurance company; Roberta Leong and Doug Rountree for a tour of the floor of the Pacific Stock Exchange and making it (somewhat) comprehensible; Mike McGuire and Ken Williams for their help with economic speculations; Rita Anderson for transcribing some of the chapters written with a microcassette recorder; members of the Wordshop—danl danehy-oakes, Michael C. Berch, Michael Paul Meltzer, Claire Bell, M. Colemn Easton, Avis Minger, Lori Ann White, Gary Shockley, and Dan Marcus—who provided the usual test read of the first draft and offered numerous helpful suggestions; Patrick Nielsen Hayden for his insightful editorial suggestions; and my wife Rebecca and stepson Jonathan for their love patience, and shameless pride in my accomplishments (KJA).
Special thanks to Dr. Clifford E. Rhoades for the citrus connection, and Dr. Don Petit for working it out; Dr. Stu Nozette and his graduate students for the orbits; Dr. Charles Sheffield for being a mentor; Lt. Col. (Dr.) Don Erbschloe for the flying; Dr. D. Allan Bromley, former Presidential Science Advisor, for allowing DB to work with him on the White House Staff; Rat Zeringue for the “coon-ass” dialect; Tamara, Amanda, and my wife Cindy for being there (DB).
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