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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements:

Tools:

Please note that figures done by me (listed below) were constructed using Microsoft Visio. This novel was composed using first Yeah Write (http://www.yeahwrite.com) and later, TreePadTM Business Edition (which is no longer available). To other writers, or would-be writers, I would recommend either of these fine products, except that they are not available on MS Windows 10 or 11. (Please note that YeahWrite is available but works on Windows 7 and earlier only.) The reason that I liked them so much is that each allowed me to keep the manuscript, characters, places, timeline, research issues and other subjects separate but instantly available. Such tools have been invaluable for an inexperienced novelist such as myself. For writers, I would recommend “outliner software” (there are many available) with word processing and export capabilities, so that a story could be easily transferred to MS Word or other word processor for publication.

For pre-publication copies as well as for publication, I used both Microsoft Office Word (http://www.microsoft.com) and OpenOffice Writer, a part of the OpenOffice suite, by OpenOffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org).

Another major resource in writing this book was Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.com), which is considered by many (myself included) as THE largest and most complete encyclopedia available today. Using it, I was able to research subjects in hours which might have required weeks and perhaps months if done by traditional off-line methods (such as reference books in a library, which I still recommend). Readers will note similarities between some Wikipedia articles and some of the items in the Glossary. (I did try not to plagiarize, but….)

Finally, what I couldn’t find in Wikipedia, I searched and researched mostly using Google (https://www.google.com/), one of the finest (though hardly the only) search engine on the web.

Other works:

I refer in several places to the American author Robert A. Heinlein, who primarily wrote science fiction (both novels and short stories) during his life. Although I do not quote him directly in this novel, I make reference to the following works:

  • The Door into Summer ©1957
  • Starship Troopers ©1959

I refer in several places to the British author C.S. Lewis, one of the most important theologians of the 20th century in the English language. He also wrote fiction, and I make reference to:

  • The Chronicles of Narnia (a seven-book series of children’s stories)
  • The Space Trilogy (a three-book series which was decidedly adult in nature)

I refer in several places to the comic books published by Marvel Comics. I make specific reference to the following titles:

  • Fantastic Four
  • Iron Man
  • Spiderman
  • Thor

I refer to “Star Wars,” a series of movies by George Lucas. I make specific reference to the following movie:

  • Star Wars ©1977 (Episode IV: A New Hope)

All quotations from the Bible are taken from the Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV) of 1611. The KJV is in the public domain.

The poem “Heffner Had A Magazine” from “MAD’S Up-dated Modern Day Mother Goose” by Frank Jacobs, is referenced in Chapter 2: Junior high school: 1970-1973. Mad Magazine does not license its properties for use in novels, so as not to infringe on their copyright, I quoted only five words of the poem, making the reference “fair use.” For the entire poem, see Mad for Decades ©2007 by E.C. Publications.

The poem “The Ballad of Eskimo Nell” (author, date unknown) is quoted in part in Chapter 2: Junior high school: 1970-1973.

The comic strip “Li’l Abner”, written and drawn by Al Capp is referenced in Chapter 11: Summer quarter: 1978.

The script “How to Ruin a Perfect Wedding” by Tim Sanko. “Good writers borrow from other writers. Great writers steal from them outright.” — Aaron Sorkin. I stole from the best while writing Chapter 23: 1983. Use of his script is by permission.

The science fiction novel Dune by Frank Herbert ©1965 is quoted in Chapter 25: 1989. The quotation is five words, is acknowledged, and is “fair use.”

The song “I Could Never Promise You” by Don Francisco ©1977 is referenced in Chapter 26: 1990 and later in Chapter 39: Day 1.

The book, movie, and play The Phantom of the Opera are referenced in Chapter 34: 1998 and in Chapter 40: Day 2.

Elmer Wheeler coined the advertising slogan “Don’t Sell the Steak, Sell the Sizzle,” quoted in Chapter 36: 2001.

The following songs are referenced by title in Chapter 39: Day 1:

  • Solitary Man ©1966 by Neil Diamond
  • I am a Rock ©1965 by Paul Simon of Simon and Garfunkel
  • Paint it, Black ©1966 by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones
  • Yesterday ©1965 by Paul McCartney of the Beetles (attributed also to John Lennon, but he did not write the song)
  • Yesterday, When I Was Young ©1969 by Roy Clark
  • And So It Goes © 1989 by Billy Joel
  • The Winner Takes it All ©1980 by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA
  • Long Long Time ©1970 by Jerry Jeff Walker, written by Gary White, performed by Linda Rondstat
  • I Could Never Promise You ©1977 by New Pax Records, written by Don Francisco

Much of the information concerning Lewisite, as well as the (supposed) origin of some of the munitions was gleaned from Dew of Death ©2005 by Joel A Vilensky with Pandy Sinish. Although I did not quote from the book, I must acknowledge his scholarship, which made my job (writing the novel) much more convincing.

Illustrations:

Cover art is by me.

Figure 1: This is a map of Ohio from Wikimedia Commons (wikimedia.org) and is in the public domain. It is taken from the National Atlas of the United States (http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/reference/pagegen_oh.pdf), also in the public domain. (Chapter 3: High school: 1973-1976)

Figure 2: This is an undated map of the BGSU campus from the 1990’s, printed by BGSU, and was taken from my own collection. The image was not copyrighted and is in the public domain. (Chapter 4: Fall quarter, 1976)

Figure 3: A drawing of the Kohl Hall and Commons Complex, by me. (Chapter 4: Fall quarter, 1976)

Figure 4: A drawing of the Kohl Hall dorm room layout, by me. (Chapter 4: Fall quarter, 1976)

Figure 5: A drawing of Harshman and Kreischer Quadrangles, Spirit Rock, and the pond circa 1977, by me. (Chapter 6: Spring quarter, 1977)

Figure 6: A drawing of Kohl Hall, first floor (old section), by me. (Chapter 10: Spring quarter, 1978)

Figure 7: A map of the southwest corner of BGSU, the railroad tracks, E. Wooster St., by me. (Chapter 11: Summer quarter, 1978)

Figure 8: A map of Bowling Green south of BGSU, by me. (Chapter 11: Summer quarter, 1978)

Figure 9: A drawing of a typical two-bedroom apartment in Bowling Green, by me. (Chapter 11: Summer quarter, 1978)

Figure 10: A drawing of a Maple Hill two-bedroom apartment in Toledo, by me. (Chapter 19: Summer quarter, 1980)

Figure 11: A map of Southwyck Mall, Southwyck Boulevard in Toledo, circa 1980, by me. (Chapter 19: Summer quarter, 1980)

Figure 12: A drawing of a Maple Hill one-bedroom apartment in Toledo, by me. (Chapter 22: 1982)

Figure 13: A map of Findlay, Ohio, by me. (Chapter 25: 1989)

Figure 16: A drawing of the Schmidt Independence house, by me. (Chapter 35: 1999-2000)

Figure 17: A map of Ohio Turnpike Exit 4, Exit 3A, Toledo Airport, Airport Highway in Toledo, by me. (Chapter 36: 2001)

Figure 18: This is a map of Utah from Wikimedia Commons (http://wikimedia.org) and is in the public domain. It was taken from the National Atlas of the United States (http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/reference/pagegen_ut.pdf), also in the public domain. (Chapter 40: Saturday 31 July 2004: Day 2)

Figure 19: Jail cells and administrative office, Wendover Field, Utah, by me. (Chapter 40: Saturday 31 July 2004: Day 2)

Figure 20: Jim’s camp, Nevada, by me. (Chapter 49: Monday 6 September 2004: Day 39)

Figure 21: Wendover Field Administrative Building, Utah, by me. (Chapter 49: Monday 6 September 2004: Day 39)

Figure 22: A drawing of a RCMP interrogation room in Toronto, Canada, by me. (Chapter 51: Friday 10 September 2004)

Please note:

Where real locations are depicted in the novel (especially locations in Ohio, such as Bowling Green, Findlay, and Toledo), I have done my best to accurately represent them both in descriptions and illustrations. If I have made mistakes, please blame my memory or my lack of skill with Visio, not artistic license.

Products and trademarks:

I refer to a number of companies and their products. Normally authors list them in a section like this, but instead I refer readers to the Glossary, which lists (as best as I could manage) everything referenced in this book.

Special thanks:

My thanks to Debbie Kohnle, who provided invaluable advice for making the novel readable, as well as valuable editing and other advice.

Finally, I wish to thank my wife and daughter for putting up with me while I composed this book. Their patience and assistance made this novel possible.