Stormblood, стр. 152
I moved to respond, but suddenly I heard a warbling echo from the trenches of my mind. My arm hairs stood up, body heat rising. A reminder of something far more sinister than anything that had happened on Compass. It had been there ever since I’d gazed into Jae’s signalling device. I hadn’t told a soul about it. Not yet.
Katherine was still looking at me. ‘I’m just afraid we traded one enemy for another.’ I swept a hand out at the chaos around us. ‘What Jae and the Suns did … it’s going to ripple. I don’t know how we’ll fix it.’
‘We will,’ she whispered. ‘It doesn’t matter what happens, you won’t be alone, Vak. I’m not going anywhere,’ she said.
‘Neither am I,’ Grim said with a wide grin, slinging his arm around my neck.
‘I couldn’t get rid of you even if I tried,’ I said.
‘And what sort of friend would I be if I let you?’
Katherine came up to me. ‘I promise.’
‘Promise what?’ I asked.
‘That this won’t be for nothing,’ she told me, cupping my face in her hands until her face filled my entire field of vision. ‘We’ll make this chaos count. All of it. I promise.’
And you know what? I almost believed it.
Acknowledgements
I never thought I’d get to write this.
It’s one thing to write a novel. It’s another thing entirely to put it through the gladiatorial tournament that is the publishing process, hoping it’ll one day end up on the bookshelf for all the world to read. Something that, in my case, took years of endurance, blood, sweat, tears and alcohol. With every frustrating writing day, trunked project and rejection letter, the odds of writing the acknowledgements page to capstone my debut novel seemed slimmer and slimmer. Now that it has happened, I can’t pretend it was a solo effort. Many, many people helped bring this book into existence. I’d give you all Rubix caretakers and spaceships, if I could. Alas, you’ll have to settle for thanks.
Many thanks go to my absolute legend of agent, John Jarrold. For picking a rough diamond like me out of the slush pile, for answering all my pesky midnight emails, and for putting in a phenomenal effort to get my work seen by the right people. May there be gin in your future.
A world of gratitude goes out to my wise and long-suffering editor, Gillian Redfearn, for giving a debut author that elusive second chance and helping me tell the story I’ve always wanted to tell. She’s spent more time than anyone should in Vakov’s head, using her insight, wit and mighty red pen to sharpen his adventure to be as cutting-edge as it can possibly be. Bouncing bizarre ideas off her as we conspire on these books together has been an insanely fun ride. I’m lucky as hell to have someone who just gets my work as well as she does. A big thanks to Will, Rachel, Marcus and the wonderful folk at Gollancz Towers, for doing what you do.
I wouldn’t be here without my brave beta readers, who read Stormblood in its various stages: Jared W. Cooper, G.V. Anderson, Mel Melcer, Spencer Ellsworth, Natailia Theodoridou, and Erin Latimer (who suffered through more of my first-drafts than anyone legally should). Each of them told me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear. Without their feedback, you’d be holding a very different book in your hands.
A tip of the hat to all the amazing authors, editors and artists I’ve crossed paths with, providing wit, wisdom and plenty of ideas worth stealing. You know who you are.
A shout-out goes to the various mates who kept me sane with encouragement and beers along the way: Adrian Collins, T. R. Napper, Rob Boffard, Derek Kunsken, Alex Shvartsman, Ian MacDonald, Zach Chapman, Alessia and Noemi. A special mention is required for Lyndon Hill. About six years ago now, when I confessed I wanted to publish a science-fiction novel, he told me that very few ever make it, and to keep my expectations in check. He also told me that he’d help me get there, providing feedback and keeping me humble. He kept his promise. Thanks mate, for your unwavering candour and giving me a friend to look up to. Although, you totally deserved your cameo appearance getting shafted (you know why).
To my creative writing teachers helping me hone my craft over the years: Jodie Brooks, Stephanie Bishop, and Meredith Jones, thanks.
A round of applause for the mad bastards over at StarShipSofa: Tony, Gary, Ralph, Amy, Lisa, Kelly and Michael. Still not quite sure how we managed to keep our show running over the years, but we got it done. We achieved some insane things that shouldn’t be spoken of in polite company. I’ll always look back on my time there with fond memories, no small part thanks to you and the incredible cast of authors and narrators who made it all happen.
Further thanks go to Brandon, Mary, Howard and Dan at the Writing Excuses podcast, who dispense weekly writing advice that anyone else would charge for, to good folks at the Fantasy Writers Bar and GFRWs on Facebook for being kick-ass support groups when I needed somewhere to rant.
None of this would be possible without my family. My mother, for the endless patience required to homeschool a hyperactive kid like me, for teaching me to read and instilling in me a love of books, and for introducing me to science-fiction by way of Star Wars and Blade Runner. My father, for taking me around the world, for never doubting in me for a second, and for always being there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it. After graduating university, when I said I wanted to work part-time to write the book I always wanted to write, you never hesitated and supported me every step along