Tal Klein - The Punch Escrow

SINCE THIS BOOK has been over half a decade in the making, and I’ve only been allotted seven hundred words, I’m pretty sure I’m going to miss a lot of people. So: if I’ve missed you below, I am a terrible person, and I already feel guilty. You are remarkable.

Chronologically, I must acknowledge my mom (Yona) and dad (Avi), without whom—technically—I wouldn’t be here, so they’re first. My dad was among the archetypes I used to build Moti: a bad ass Semite with a heart of gold. My mom was a biology teacher and she’s now a science exhibit curator at the Madatech museum in Israel. Considering I almost failed biology in high school, I think she was pretty shocked to learn I’d written a hard science fiction book.

Then there’s my amazing wife, Rachel, the better author in the Klein family. I am incredibly grateful for her input and support, especially when I couldn’t quite get into Sylvia’s mind. Rachel, thank you for your guidance in shaping Sylvia’s voice and personality.

And of course, my wonderful, superbly creative, intelligent, and beautiful-in-every-way daughters, Iris and Violet. Daddy loves you.

My sister, Liat. It was awesome growing up with such a loving, confident, intelligent, and beautiful little sister. Everyone should have one.

My in-laws, Vonda and Ray, in whose house much of the first draft of this book was written while we relocated from the polythelia of Northern California to the thenar of Michigan.

The Klein, Berger, Peeri, Cohen, Schrieber, and Dvir families.

Adam Gomolin, you’re right up there with mishpocha. I’m sorry people keep urinating on your porch.

This book is an official selection of the Semiannual “Big” Brown Family Reunion Book Club: Brown, Bowen, Cummings, Hooker, Grossenbacher, McKinney, Mursten, Maxwell, Overmiller, and Carrizales clans, I love y’all. (And I’m sorry about all the f-bombs and S words.)

Oh, and this book is also a selection of the Birmingham Oenophile Literary Society. Thank you, ladies. For the record, I’d pair this book with a nice Savagnin served slightly below room temperature.

Next, I’d like to thank four friends I’ve known since high school. I’m telling you, make a lot of smart friends in high school, kids, because someday you might need to get a lot of free legal and/or physics advice. Joe Santoro (with whom you should now be familiar) helped me more than I care to admit with the science of The Punch Escrow . He puts the hard in hard science fiction if you get my drift. David Sontag and Jay Wolman helped me form the legal framework that informed the anthropology of Earth 2147. There was this great part of the book where I dug a lot deeper into the legality of how Joel got his comms back, but it got edited out. Sorry, guys! And, of course, John Hannon, who helped me think through a lot of the humor and Rube Goldberg–esque plot devices. John is a connoisseur of poop jokes. He has a son called Hunter who takes after his father in the poop joke department. Hi, Hunter!

My developmental editors, Robert Kroese and Matt Harry. You guys, I’m sorry I am a terrible author. Thanks for helping me write good.

My beta readers: Ian Ellison—the guy’s read every version of this book, like, a million times, so if it sucks, it’s his fault. Seriously, not my fault—Ian’s. And of course, you can also blame Dan Salinas, Russ Mitchell, David Siddal, Bradford Stephens, Ben Murphy, and Gabe Coelho-Kostolny.

Group hug: Ryan “Brian Porter” Potter and the family; Vaughn, AJ, and Renee; my Scottish family: Chief, Dog, G, Martinho, Ike of Spain; Wes Wasson; Richard Jefferies Woodruff and the Chardmo (two completely different people); Chris and Donna Rosa; “Fun” Bobby Brown; Anthony “Garlique” Mansfield; Simon Wardley; Simon Crosby; Craig “Makes Lovely Pictures” Allen; Tomer “Tomash” Schwartz; Chris “Beaker” Hoff; Meredith “Etoile” Peruzzi; Mel “Spunky” Stanley; Dan “Gilmore” Burford; Barbara “Eclipse” Reece; Wade “Pandaflip” Bell; Danny Ryan; “Not So Big” Ben Morris; “Acceptable Up” Shepdog; Sean “Chester” Manchester; Patricia “Margarita del Toro” Chavez; Hillary “Hillycake” Qualtieri; Lai Long; Mr. and Mrs. Goodgroove; Sean “Hardway” Johnston; Lisa Carlini; Mark Gebert; Sam Johnston; Heather Fitzsimmons; Mike Spinney; Kevin Kosh; Kristy “Shut Up” Cowart; Michael Kellerman; Carlos Estaban; Angela and Mark Broxterman; Julie and Tom Warmbrodt; Naddine and Mike Morgan; Matt “the Tax Ninja” Whatley; Greg Silverman; and Ben Luntz.

Oliver Evilord for pointing out that Talking Heads’s “Psycho Killer,” although classified as New Wave, was released in 1977 and thus would not have qualified for Joel’s 1980s New Wave mix.

The Inkshares crew: Thad, Avalon, Elena, Angela. Heart emojis, yay.

Scott Meyer: without Martin Banks, there would be no Joel Byram.

Legendary Entertainment and Geek & Sundry: Rachel Romero, Alex Hedlund, Rob Manuel, and of course, Felicia Day.

Howie Sanders and the UTA crew: thanks for putting your faith in me.

Ajar and everyone at Penguin Magic—you guys really helped make this happen.

Jean-Francois Dubeau, Jamison Stone, and Brian Guthrie—thanks for talking me off the ledge. Shouts to all other Inkshares and Quill authors.

Oh no, I’m out of words! To those I’ve missed: may I live a thousand years and never hunt again.

LIST OF PATRONS

Acar Altinsel

Adam Gomolin

Adam Helfgott

Avi Klein

Chris Coluzzi

Christopher L. Rosa

Danelle Au

Dov Calderon

Dylan F. Weiss

Galit Klein

Gregory P. Dolan

Gur Talpaz

Jeremy Steinman

John C. Bertrand

John.Fanelli

Joshua J. Gorciak

Kwang Kim

Mark R. Shuttleworth

Mike P. Wertz

Peter Birdsall

Peter J. Downing

Peter Lindstrom

Rachel Jane Perkins

Richard Woodruff

Robert A. Brown

Ryan Potter

Russell Mitchell

Sean Manchester

Steven Moody

Tom Howie

Todd D. Smith

Victor Y. Thu

Wes Wasson

Yona Klein

INKSHARES

INKSHARES is a reader-driven publisher and producer based in Oakland, California. Our books are selected not by a group of editors, but by readers worldwide.

While we’ve published books by established writers like Big Fish author Daniel Wallace and Star Wars: Rogue One scribe Gary Whitta, our aim remains surfacing and developing the new author voices of tomorrow.

Previously unknown Inkshares authors have received starred reviews and been featured in The New York Times . Their books are on the front tables of Barnes & Noble and hundreds of independents nationwide, and many have been licensed by publishers in other major markets. They are also being adapted by Oscar-winning screenwriters at the biggest studios and networks.

Interested in making your own story a reality? Visit Inkshares.com to start your own project or find other great books.