Very special thanks to Clemency Pleming and Megan Smith, first readers always, who have married each other since my last acknowledgments. Maz, you are her cavalier; that is illegal.
To everyone who got to read Gideon the Ninth prepub and were so enormously kind, vocal, and supportive: thank you so much. I wish I could list all their names here, but there were so many, and they did so many things, that I am afraid of leaving someone out. The tireless work of booksellers, reviewers, bloggers, and fellow authors humbled me as much as it astonished me.
I am very thankful for the people who have broken bread with me and listened to me grumble—Lissa, Bo and Ben, the Wests, Ben Raynor, Chris Douglas. My Clarion class remains treasures, one and all. Isabel Yap is a light to many, but a bonfire to me; as dedicated, Gideon the Ninth would in a very real way not exist without her, and Harrow the Ninth owes her a huge and different debt. Thanks again to my family for their unending love and support, especially Andrew, who nonetheless cannot go five minutes without telling people about the time I ate too much chocolate mousse.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus did not have anyone to put soluble banana-flavoured antipsychotics under her tongue for her condition. I do, and therefore I would like to thank every key worker in my past who had to administer me medication, because they were always nice about it and often I was not.
Ultimately, I thank Matt Hosty, who mopped more blood, brewed more tea, and without whom this book would have been an excuse note. Matt, the best of this book is you. I can’t wait for you to see the next one. I don’t want to shock you, but it’s got … bones.