The Omicron Legion

Acknowledgments

In many ways this is the most important page of the book, because the people mentioned upon it affect so many other pages. As always, a special thanks to those who have appeared here before. Also as always, any mistakes contained on the pages following are mine, not theirs.

First and foremost is Toni Mendez, whose genius as an agent is exceeded only by her brilliance as a human being in times both good and bad. Ann Maurer continues to amaze me with her knack for making my words better. If there’s a better editor in the business than Daniel Zitin, I haven’t met him. And the whole Fawcett family, especially Leona Nevler, Clare Ferraro, and Susan Petersen, have never stopped believing in me as a person as well as an author.

Emery Pineo continues his streak; he has never failed to solve a technological problem for me. Morty Korn, meanwhile, remains the only person to have read all my works in early drafts that I would never have shared with another soul. Tony Sheppard has also bravely struggled through my first drafts.

Special thanks to Walt Mattison, the real Blaine McCracken and newest member of the team that helps put all the pieces together. This will be the first of many appearances on this page for him.

Thanks again to Marc Levine for his help with Boston geography, to David Schecter for probing the manuscript for potential legal concerns, to Jim Bilopeau for help with Japanese terminology, to Richard Levy of Corporate Air Newport for assistance in all matters pertaining to aviation, and to Chuck Flanagan for introducing me to the world of firefighting. My appreciation also goes to Lee Ann Sink for her help with Newport News and to the warm staff of Colonial Williamsburg.

Finally, my most special acknowledgment to my guides Geldo Laffront and Luis Antonio Nunes Pereira for showing me the real Rio De Janeiro.