British science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke famously wrote that “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” I play around with this quote in some of my dialogue, but never cite Clarke—so I’m doing so here.
A lot of research goes into the writing of fiction. Two sources I’ve not yet mentioned are Bioterrorism: Guidelines for Medical and Public Health Management, edited by Donald A. Henderson, Thomas V. Inglesby, and Tara O’Toole; and the article “Parallel Universes,” by Max Tegmark, in the May 2003 issue of Scientific American.
Acknowledgments
I wrote the first draft of this book as a choose-your-own-adventure, in the second-person POV, with numerous diverging paths from which the reader was to choose. Then, over the course of four years, I revised it over and over, gradually shifting it into a third-person POV story intended to be read from beginning to end. Sometimes it takes many attempts (and a lot of frustration) to figure out what a book is asking you to do!
Did I figure it out alone? Hell no.
The early drafts of this book were pretty headache-inducing reading. I am endlessly grateful to my early readers, who waded in, sorted out what I was aiming for, and gave me the feedback I needed in order to achieve it. Thank you to Marie Rutkoski, Rebecca Rabinowitz, and my agent Faye Bender (all of whom read it more than once); thank you to Catherine Cashore, Claire Evans, Deborah Kaplan, Amanda MacGregor, Marc Moskowitz, JD Paul, Cindy Pon, Jessica Quilty, Anindita Basu Sempere, Rebecca Stead, and Tui Sutherland. Thank you to my partial readers who gave feedback on their particular areas of expertise: Dorothy Cashore, Joe Flowers, Kevin Lin, and Kate Marquis.
Thank you to Aunt Mary Previtera, Aunt Rose Luscan, Sarah Manchanda, and Nikhil Manchanda for answering nitpicky questions about things like how bridge is played and what kinds of names are given to pets in Indian cultures. Thank you to Deborah Kaplan, Marc Moskowitz, Lance Nathan, Michelle Dunnewind Nathan, and JD Paul for helping with questions about stuff like what sorts of things governments do underwater, who has police jurisdiction over private islands, and what basset hounds are like. Thank you to Stephanie Smith, David Kroll, Meg Curley, Eric Idsvoog, Case Kerns, Kevin Birmingham, and Scott Hirst for horror-story brainstorming sessions over dinner. Thank you to Eve Goldfarb for her strength, support, and kindness.
Special thanks to JD Paul, who answered (nearly) infinitely many questions, on numerous topics but especially things science-related, quickly, tirelessly, and completely. JD went above and beyond this time, for real. Special thanks to Marie Rutkoski and Kevin Lin, for talking me through plot points over and over, brainstorming, living the book with me, and keeping me company while the book beat me over the head for a very long time.
Thank you to my warm, enthusiastic, tireless, crackerjack team at Penguin, which includes Elyse Marshall, Jen Loja, Jocelyn Schmidt, Emily Romero, Carmela Iaria, Rachel Cone-Gorham, Shanta Newlin, Felicia Frazier, Erin Berger, Todd Jones, Mary McGrath, Cristi Navarro, Claire Evans, Debra Polansky, Regina Castillo, Alan Winebarger, Mary Raymond, Ev Taylor, Nicole White, Nicole Davies, John Dennany, Sheila Hennessey, Steve Kent, Biff Donovan, Colleen Conway, Doni Kay, Jill Nadeau, Jill Bailey, Judy Samuels, Tina Deniker, Christina Colangelo, Erin Toller, Alexis Watts, Venessa Carson, Kathryn Bhirud, Madison Killen, Theresa Evangelista, Dana Li, Deborah Kaplan, Jenny Kelly, Lily Malcom, and Vanessa Robles. There’s no way to express it without sounding trite and clichéd, but I really actually am the luckiest writer to have this group of people in my life, along with all the Penguin folks, each of whom plays such an important role in the process of getting a book out into the world. Thank you.
Thank you, as always, to my parents and sisters, without whom I would be lost. My father in particular caught a lot of little errors before this thing went to press. I dedicated this book to my many aunts and great-aunts, whom I’ve always considered to be models of all the wonderful things I could decide to be, if I chose. My aunts are kind, adventurous, creative, funny, accepting, and full of love. (Uncles, you’re not so bad, either.)
Faye Bender, I don’t even know what to say. You are my rock, and my friend. Thank you.
Do you notice I haven’t mentioned my editor yet? It’s because every time I try, I tear up.
If this book is any good, my editor, Kathy Dawson, is the reason why. I thrive on the difficult work Kathy and I do together, and this book was the most difficult one yet. Kathy took my hand and led me through, sometimes gently, sometimes firmly, always patient when I insisted on a circuitous path, and always aiming me toward my vision. Kathy, my books and I would follow you into another dimension, if that’s what we needed to do in order to be with you.
About the Author
Kristin Cashore grew up in northeast Pennsylvania and has a master’s degree from the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons College. She lives in the Boston area. Her epic fantasy novels set in the Graceling Realm—Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue—are all New York Times best sellers and have won many awards and much high praise, including picks as ALA Best Books for Young Adults, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Booklist Editors’ Choice, and Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. In addition, Graceling was shortlisted for the William C. Morris Debut Award and Fire is an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award Winner.
You can find Kristin online at
kristincashore.blogspot.com.
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Kristin Cashore, Jane, Unlimited
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