Dragonfish

Acknowledgments

A humble and heartfelt thanks to the following people:

My parents, Son and Nhai, for their love, their sacrifices, and their countless stories.

My sister Mai, who fights crime, is a fount of invaluable information, and has always taken care of me.

My brother Joseph, who has exceptional taste and an exceptionally good heart and is also one of my best friends.

My editor, Alane Salierno Mason, who made this book a great deal better, whose judgment I implicitly trust, and whose tremendous support I will always be grateful for.

My agent, Ellen Levine, whose patience and commitment and enthusiasm over so many years — including the uncertain ones — has meant the world to me.

My 12th-grade English teacher, Pat Sherbert, who taught me how to value literature.

My teachers at the University of Tulsa: Grace Mojtabai, Lars Engle, Gordon Taylor, James Watson, and George Gilpin.

My teachers at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop: Ethan Canin, Chris Offutt, Frank Conroy, Sam Chang, and Marilynne Robinson. And of course Connie Brothers.

Everyone at the Black Mountain Institute in Las Vegas, including Carol Harter and my indispensable mentors, Doug Unger and Richard Wiley, who have both given me so so much. Also from Las Vegas: the generous Glenn Schaeffer and the incomparable Dave Hickey, who sharpened my tastes and ambitions and gave me a little necessary edge.

My colleagues in the Committee on Creative Writing at the University of Chicago, especially Dan Raeburn, an outstanding writer and an outstanding friend.

Jenny Swann, a fantastic and crucial reader.

Julie Thi Underhill, who has believed in me since the sixth grade.

Stuart Jacobsen, my first serious reader.

Jarret Keene, who asked me to write the story that became this novel.

Embry Clark, Jess McCall, Aimee Phan, Matt Shears, John Nardone, Jason Coley, Ingrid Truman, and Peyton Marshall — whose friendship has been a refuge.

All the generous and supportive people at the Whiting Foundation and the Vilcek Foundation.

And finally, Kate Hoctor, my best reader and my best friend, without whom so much of this book could not have been improved, figured out, or struggled through into the light of day.