Special Thanks to

Tara, my soul mate and best critic.

Dad and Nancy who made me who I am.

Uncle Johnny, for his unwavering support.

Pat and Red, my two biggest fans.

Nancy P., who kept the project going.

Bob, Darren, and Liz, who dotted my i’s and made sure that everything made sense.

Thomas, who was always there when I needed help.

Heather, who gave me a chance when I needed it most.

Judy, Boyd, Dr. G and teachers everywhere who care. Keep up the good work.

Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), for writing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

John Tenniel & Arthur Rackham, for their incredible illustrations of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Douglas Adams, H.P. Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman, Philip K. Dick, and Carl Sagan whose teachings and writings inspire me every day.

BBC 6 Music, The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show, Rasputina, Electric Six, Cake, Client, Jonathan Coulton, Cracker, Nine Inch Nails, Bitter:Sweet, Metric, Captain Sensible, HIDE, Origa, Richard Hawley, the Pogues, New Model Army, Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, the Sisters of Mercy, the Smiths, Mojo Nixon, Bauhaus, Lady Tron, David Bowie, Bad Religion, The Black Belles, T. Rex, Bad Religion, Dr. Rubberfunk, Smoove and Turell, Dury, The Kinks, This Mortal Coil, Rancid, Monty Python, the Dead Milkmen, New Order, Regina Spektor, The Sex Pistols, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Handel, Mozart, Liszt, Vivaldi, Holst, Synergy, and Garrison Keillor (for The Writer’s Almanac) whose noise helped keep me from going insane while writing this book.