Liberty

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This story was developed and written in the twelve months following the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., by suicidal religious fanatics who again proved, if more proof were needed, the vulnerability of the civilization and economy that feeds, clothes, and houses the six billion people marooned on this small planet.

The author’s editor at St. Martin’s Press, the indomitable Charles Spicer, and the author’s wife, Deborah Buell Coonts, were instrumental in the development of the plot. Gilbert “Gil” Pascal assisted with numerous technical points and suggested one of the main plot twists. Ross Statham shed valuable light on the world of computers and the Internet. Tom and Kay Harper assisted with the descriptions of Cairo. Dr. Matt Cooper provided valuable information on the effects of the drug ketamine. The author is deeply in their debt.

This novel is a work of fiction. As usual, the author is solely responsible for the story, characters, incidents, and dialogue contained herein.