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Peter Watts 307 Blindsight
Acknowledgments
Blindsight is my first novel-length foray into deep space—a
domain in which I have, shall we say, limited formal education. In
that sense this book isn't far removed from my earlier novels: but
whereas I may have not known much about deep sea ecology
either, most of you knew even less, and a doctorate in marine
biology at least let me fake it through the rifters trilogy.
Blindsight, however, charts its course through a whole different
kind of zero gee; this made a trustworthy guide that much more
important. So first let me thank Prof. Jaymie Matthews of the
University of British Columbia: astronomer, partygoer, and vital
serial sieve for all the ideas I threw at him. Let me also thank
Donald Simmons, aerospace engineer and gratifyingly-cheap
dinner date, who reviewed my specs for Theseus (especially of the
drive and the Drum), and gave me tips on radiation and the
shielding therefrom. Both parties patiently filtered out my more
egregious boners. (Which is not to say that none remain in this
book, only that those which do result from my negligence, not
theirs. Or maybe just because the story called for them.)
David Hartwell, as always, was my editor and main point man at
Evil Empire HQ. I suspect Blindsight was a tough haul for both of
us: shitloads of essential theory threatened to overwhelm the story,
not to mention the problem of generating reader investment in a
cast of characters who were less cuddlesome than usual. I still
don't know the extent to which I succeeded or failed, but I've never
been more grateful that the man riding shotgun had warmed up on
everyone from Heinlein to Herbert.
The usual gang of fellow writers critiqued the first few chapters
of this book and sent me whimpering back to the drawing board:
Michael Carr, Laurie Channer, Cory Doctorow, Rebecca Maines,
David Nickle, John McDaid, Steve Samenski, Rob Stauffer and the
late Pat York. All offered valuable insights and criticisms at our
annual island getaway; Dave Nickle gets singled out for special
mention thanks to additional insights offered throughout the year,