People gather to be a part of the ceremony where one single candle or torch or bright cell phone light in the center slowly begets another, and the lights multiply exponentially, spreading outward until they become an amazing, brilliantly glittering multitude. It is a soul-stirring event to witness.
Even more so to be a part of.
We would very much welcome you to our next celebration which is upcoming.
On the following page is your personal, engraved invitation . . .
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For their invaluable help in getting this book into your hands, I am greatly indebted to:
My friends at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL) including: Uday Shankar & Justin Atchison, for expertly calculating Comet Avery’s velocities, complex orbital dynamics, and for providing the astronomical charts and deep-sky photos.
Seneca Bessling, also at JHUAPL, for her biological and biotechnology expertise.
Dr. Lisa Prato at Lowell Observatory for her key suggestion of the star DF Tau.
And particularly Alice Berman, my dear friend at JHUAPL, for her broad-ranging scientific advice and suggestions (including Starfire) and for introducing me to all the brilliant people above—plus inviting me to speak at the APL. It was my honor to do so, to meet them all, and thank them in person.
Gifted artist Damon Freeman for his sterling cover design.
Editor Tegan Tigani, who once again brought her sharp, smart ideas for fixes and enhancements with excellent taste, superlative instincts, and beguiling humor.
Copyeditor Elisabeth Rinaldi for her fine-tooth-combing, thorough fact-checking, and insightful ideas on turning a phrase to improve it immeasurably.
Senior Editor Jason Kirk at Amazon’s 47North, who reacted so strongly to my concept and, as he had with The Man of Legends before, expertly guided this novel through the entire publishing process.
Italia Gandolfo at Gandolfo, Helin & Fountain Literary Management, for her wisdom, ongoing perspectives, and for introducing me to Jason.
Of course I reserve my deepest personal gratitude to the most solid, humanistic helpmate and moral compass that anyone could hope for, my wise, witty, and wonderful wife, Susie.
And lastly, to the late beloved educator, Susie’s sister, Jessie May Appling, without whom there would never have been a Susie.
Portions of the author’s proceeds
from this work go to benefit
Doctors Without Borders,
Amnesty International,
and
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © Susan Appling Johnson
Kenneth Johnson has been a successful writer-producer-director of film and television for more than four decades. Creator of the landmark original miniseries V, he also produced The Six Million Dollar Man and created iconic Emmy-winning shows such as The Bionic Woman, The Incredible Hulk, and Alien Nation. In addition, he directed numerous TV movies as well as the feature films Short Circuit 2 and Steel. Johnson has received multiple Saturn Awards from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, as well as the Sci-Fi Universe Lifetime Achievement Award and the prestigious Founders Award from the Viewers for Quality Television. He has presented his unique graduate-level seminar, The Filmmaking Experience, at UCLA, USC, NYU, Loyola, the New York Film Academy, the National Film and Television School (UK), Moscow State University (Russia), and many others. The author of the recent bestseller The Man of Legends and V: The Second Generation, Kenneth and his wife, Susan, who have been married forty-one years, live in Los Angeles with their latest two golden retriever rescues. Visit Johnson at kennethjohnson.us and www.facebook.com/KennethJohnsonAuthor.
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