ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author would like to thank the following people for their various contributions to this book:

Janna Silverstein, Tom Dupree, and Ricia Mainhardt for getting me into this mess.

Sue Rostoni and Lucy Autrey Wilson for letting me get away with all they have in this universe.

Kevin J. Anderson, Kathy Tyers, Bill Smith, Bill Slavicsek, Peter Schweighofer, Michael Kogge, and Dave Wolverton for the material they created and the advice they offered.

Timothy Zahn for being a wonderful co-conspirator and vetting chapters so quickly.

Paul Youll for the stunning covers on the books.

Lawrence Holland and Edward Kilham for the X-wing and TIE Fighter computer games.

Chris Taylor for pointing out to me which ship Tycho was flying in Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi and Gail Mihara for pointing out controversies I might want to avoid.

My parents; my sister, Kerin; my brother, Patrick; and his wife, Joy, for their encouragement (and endless efforts to face my other books out on bookstore shelves).

Dennis L. McKiernan, Jennifer Roberson, and especially Elizabeth T. Danforth for listening to bits of this story as it was being written and enduring such abuse with smiles and a supportive manner.