Thank you, in a fundamental way, to Bill Clegg, who saw a shimmer of promise in the book way, way back and helped me chase it, relentlessly, and who became the book’s most tireless and fiercest advocate, even in the midst of global collapse. Without him, this project would have stalled out long ago. Alongside Bill, my sincere thanks go to the chorus of the Clegg Agency: Marion Duvert, David Kambhu, Lilly Sandberg, and Simon Toop, each of whom has offered indelible insight, warmth, and enthusiasm throughout this book’s long life.

And thank you to Daphne Durham and Lydia Zoells, whose sage, incisive, and steady counsel helped crack the book open, filling it with light and new shadow. I’m grateful to you both for your faith in the vision of this weird book, and for your creative insight, tough questions, and unanimously good ideas.

Thank you to Clara Spars for translating Viceroy’s lyrics into something truly special, to Na Kim and June Park for the perfectly uncanny cover design, and to the production, publicity, and marketing teams at MCD/FSG for their support of this book and others of its kind.

Thank you to the other writers who have helped bolster this book on its journey toward publication, especially Mona Awad, Rachel Eve Moulton, and Kira Jane Buxton, and to the many other artists whose work shaped the writing of this book in tone and form.

—SIMON JACOBS
October 2021, Portland, OR

Also by Simon Jacobs

ALSO BY SIMON JACOBS

Palaces

Masterworks and Other Stories

A Note About the Author

Simon Jacobs is the author of Palaces, a novel, and of Masterworks, a collection of short fiction. His fiction has appeared in Tin House, Black Warrior Review, and Joyland. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, he now lives in Portland, Oregon. You can sign up for email updates here.

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