Monster Nation(113)

It didn't look as bad as he'd thought before. It didn't look so bad at all, really, though you could see the cracks where the hammer came down. The eyes still pointed in random directions.

Except when one of them swiveled around and focused on Dekalb's face.

Dekalb was well beyond the ability to shriek, or else he would have.





Monster Nation





Acknowledgements


The following is a message from the author to those who have read “Monster Nation” in its entirety. If this is your first visit, please click onchapter one to start from the beginning.

Hello everyone.

This is the part where I bring down the lights, have a seat on my simple wooden stool, and bring the mood down for a moment to talk about something very close to my heart: the book you just read.

This was a very different kind of book from what I'm used to writing. It was much, much more difficult and a little more fun. It was also very therapeutic. I'm coming off the most eventful year of my life as I'm writing this. A lot of great things happened. I got married for one, and had the best day of my life surrounded by our two families. A lot of dark things happened, too, though. I've taken solace in these pages, turning to my writing as a way to get my demons out. I don't know if it shows or not. I think on the whole this was a darker book than “Monster Island”, but I suppose that's up to the readers to decide.

I hope you enjoyed coming along on this tour of my psyche. I definitely enjoyed having you. Normally the acknowledgements page comes at the start of the book--but this is not a normal book. I'd like to thank everyone who read “Monster Nation”, whether you read it on your cell phone, your PDA, your computer, or printouts you clutched in shaking hands as you read under the covers on a moonless night. I especially want to thank those who commented on the chapters. Adrian Padden, of course, was the sexiest cheerleader of all, yet again. Alnjo tried to keep him (and me) honest. The Laura(s), Digbeta, igame3d, Feral Fish (who started a fan site!), Marbo/Marbotty/Marb-something, Don, Donny D, DavidKaye929, Mendoza, Mel, Jacqui, Carlos, Shadowfusion99, Timmy, Baglegod, liam, Saketini and everybody else I'm forgetting, thank you so much. You kept me going, you kept me writing when I just wanted to curl up and go to sleep forever. Your role in this project has been far more dynamic and far more valued than you know.

There were two people who provided information without which I could not have read this book:

Raul Gallego, provided information on topics military, architectural, and religious. Then there was Clint Freeman, who knew more about Florence, Colorado and its famous prison than I had room to fit into the book.

There are those who say a book like this is only as good as its research. If you enjoyed “Monster Nation” you owe these two men a round of applause.

Also, let us never forget Alex Lencicki, of course, our intrepid publisher. And webmaster. And Halo 2 instructor (the man is unstoppable with an energy sword). And friend. Alex went so far past the call of duty this time I nearly lost sight of him. During the last few months Alex made this story available on cellular phones, PDAs, and now, of all things, iPods. Alex Lencicki is no Johnny Halfways.

I would like to thank my wife, Elisabeth, who put up with all of this when she really didn't have to. Thanks, Pepper. Just one more to go.

Speaking of which.

“Monster Planet.”

Well. Give me a little time. I've been working on a bunch of side projects. There are some “Monster Universe” short stories out there floating around in the process of getting published. I'm in school, I have a full time job, and I'm moving to a new apartment.

Let's meet back here in three months. Call it Monday, May 23rd. I reserve the right to change that date if necessary, but I'll do my best to stick to it.

I know it's a long time, but it will be worth it, I promise. “Monster Planet” is going to finish this thing in style. Think running gun battles between the living and the dead. Think mysteries uncovered and solved, think legends made and broken, think bizarre new dead characters with bizarre new powers. Think Nilla and Dekalb and the Russian Boy. Think Ayaan. Think Sarah. Think Gary. Think the end of the world.

Think how much fun we still get to have together.

-Dave Wellington