Acknowledgments
First and foremost, my heartfelt thanks and gratitude goes out to F&SF editor Gordon Van Gelder, who helped me fulfill my dream of having a job in which I’m paid to read all day; but more than that, he gave me my start in this field that I love, taught me everything I know about editing, and afforded me the chance to pursue other editorial opportunities like this one even though it would have been perfectly reasonable for him not to. Truly, if not for his tutelage and kindness, this book would not have been possible. Thanks, boss.
Additional thanks go to:
Jeremiah Tolbert, for our years of friendship, and our many late-night online chat sessions (which are probably indirectly responsible for this anthology). He also graciously hosts my website and blog on his server, and is responsible for the design of the kick-ass Wastelands website (johnjosephadams.com/wastelands)—which he built from the ground-up for me. Thanks for everything, bro.
Superagent Jenny Rappaport, who believed in this project from the moment I mentioned it, and sold it not only to a great market, but in what seems like record time.
Jason Williams and Jeremy Lassen of Night Shade Books, for taking a chance on a first-time anthologist and for all their support of this book.
Daniel Kvasznicza for the stellar cover art, Michael Fusco for the sleek design, and Marty Halpern for his copyediting prowess.
The creators of the video games Wasteland and Fallout, for the hours and hours of fun battling mutants and marauders in desolate, irradiated wastelands and for firing my passion for this sub-genre. Tangential thanks to Jared Braddock, my friend and frequent post-apocalyptic companion, who was always eager to charge into battle with me, with his AK-47 on full-auto.
Liz Holliday, for buying my article about post-apocalyptic SF, even if the magazine folded before she could publish it, and to the Internet Review of Science Fiction (www.irosf.com) for putting it in print (or pixels, as it were); it was this article that turned me from merely a rabid fan of the sub-genre into an expert.
Ellen Datlow, whose advice on editing anthologies—for this and other projects—over the years has been invaluable.
All of my friends, colleagues, and the kindly strangers who helped me through the editorial process—reading drafts, suggesting stories, securing permissions, etc.— Kathleen Bellamy, Douglas Cohen, Marsha DeFilippo, Charles Coleman Finlay, Vaughne Lee Hansen, David Barr Kirtley, Chris Lotts, Carol Pinchefsky, Claire Reilly-Shapiro, Betty Russo, Bill Schafer, Amy Tibbetts, Alex Wilson, and any others I may have forgotten.
And finally to all of the authors who allowed me to publish their stories in this anthology; this definitely wouldn’t have been possible without all of you.