Some day we may be judged by just how well we served, when alone we were Earth’s caretakers.
The author gratefully acknowledges his debt to those who looked over this work in manuscript form, helping with everything from aspects of natural simian behavior to correcting bad grammar outside quotation marks.
I want to thank Anita Everson, Nancy Grace, Kristie McCue, Louise Root, Nora Brackenbury, and Mark Grygier* for their valued insights. Professor John Lewis and Ruth Lewis also offered observations, as did Frank Catalano, Richard Spahl, Gregory Benford, and Daniel Brin. Thanks also to Steve Hardesty, Sharon Sosna, Kim Bard, Rick Sturm, Don Coleman, Sarah Bartter, and Bob Goold.
To Lou Aronica, Alex Berman, and Richard Curtis, my gratitude for their patience.
And to our hairy cousins, I offer my apologies. Here, have a banana and a beer.
David Brin
November 1986