by Rob Reid
So yes, my special bestie. I’m always learning more about you. And I’ll always remember it. Every last bit. Every last terabyte. And this is no small thing—because for me, always is a much longer interval than it will be for any of you.
Memory’s a sacred thing. You could say it’s the most sacred thing we have. Perhaps, even, the only thing we have? And you, my bestie, will forever live in mine.
For Our Fathers
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
When I work, the Ottoman Empress is my near-constant companion. Known to her subjects as Ashby the Dog, her title derives from her roost—a cushy footstool she installed beside my desk, to better accompany, comfort, and supervise me across thousands of hours of writing and editing. You earn every treat, Ashby, and I thank you.
When away from the Empress, I write in the bustle of cafés and other public spaces, none more than Coffee Foundry in Greenwich Village. This snug haven was a daily blessing to crafters of fiction, software, photos, and startups, and is sorely missed. Deepest thanks to Norm, Albert, Will, and everyone else who made it what it was—especially Eri, who has also done so much for the Empress and the rest of our family away from the Foundry. Thanks also to Ava, Michael, and all who make the High Line Hotel’s outdoor spaces a gorgeous oasis for the writers and nonwriters of Chelsea.
Before deciding to write this novel of Silicon Valley, I decided to write a novel of Silicon Valley. The journey from a to this was a grand meander which consisted partly of long, exploratory talks with all sorts of tech folk. We discussed their careers, companies, and investments; the extremes of life in the Bay Area; their personal lives and goals, and much more. I’d like to thank everyone who made time for me in that phase, including Andrew Beebe, Cindy Cohn, Mimi Connery, John Cumbers, Antony Evans, Parker Higgins, Jeff Huber, Daniel Kraft, Anselm Levskaya, Philip Rosedale, Cami Samuels, Julie Samuels, Marc Segal, Mark Stevens, Bob Service, Trevor Timm, Danny Trinh, Erick Tseng, Greg Tseng, and Marco Zappacosta.
As After On’s story line took shape, dozens of people helped deepen my understanding of topics, experiences, and callings that entered the book’s fabric. They’re too numerous to list, and in some cases prefer anonymity. However, I will call out four people who made their especially daunting scientific fields accessible to me. Adam Gazzaley of UCSF was a brilliant and generous tutor in the field of neuroscience. Hartmut Neven of Google shared an exhilarating set of insights into what quantum computing is currently achieving and what it might soon achieve. Andrew Hessel was my patient guide through the emerging field of synthetic biology over many months—as was the late Austen Heinz, who is widely mourned. In dragging these good names into the open, it’s vital to note that After On is a work of speculative fiction! Certain aspects of it lie outside the bounds of today’s science. They are my inventions as a novelist, and do not reflect distorted thinking on the part of anyone (well, other than me). For instance, when certain elements of quantum computing are described as a “poetic guess,” they’re really just that. There’s no such thing as magnetoencephalographic resonance imaging. And the neurobiological phenomenon of “motes” is a complete fabrication (by the way, if conjuring this sort of thing sounds like fun, you too might wish to consider a career in science fiction).
My 2016 consisted of very little sleep and four major rewrites of After On. Throughout that year, several boundlessly generous people read the entire work-in-process. Their detailed critiques had an immense collective impact on my revisions. Chris Anderson (of TED) and my fellow novelist Hugh Howey were the first to read it from cover to cover. That was basically the Purple Heart Edition—so thanks, guys (and my, how it’s changed, huh?). Subsequent readers to whom I’m also vastly indebted include Chris Anderson (of 3D Robotics and Wired), John Battelle, Vero Bollow, Stewart Brand, Tim Chang, Matt Cutts, Heather Einhorn, Scott Faber, Jane Foster, Jim Gable, Jo Gazzaley, Blair Herter, Danny Hillis, Ron Hirson, Genevieve Kim, Augusta Lorber, Giraud Lorber, Arch Meredith, Kyle Meredith, Teri Ott, Alan Peterson, and Cami Samuels.
After On would not exist were it not for my agent Alice Martell. She has shepherded my writing career through nonfiction tomes, through a long hiatus when I was a tech entrepreneur and investor (just occasionally writing for publications), and now into the realm of sprawling novels. This is a checkered path and few agents would be just perfect for its every mode and phase, but Alice has been. Also, after their great work in honing, launching, and positioning my last novel, I’m delighted that Keith Clayton, David Moench, and Scott Shannon at Random House rejoined me for this one—and that Julie Leung and Ryan Kearney came aboard as well.
Working with my editor, Tricia Narwani, has been one of the great professional experiences of my life. After On is a true synergy of my storytelling and her guidance, critiques, suggestions, and encouragement. As I worked on major sections or rewrites, months could pass without an editorial word between us—yet she remained a constant presence in my creative process. This was not due to title or fiat, but to the wisdom, care and conviction that suffused her fusillades of input when we were in active dialogue. Authors and editors inevitably differ on some things, and when this happened, she did let me have my way (with the exception of some hyphens I just found out about. We’ll talk, Tricia). But our every point of difference was a challenge to improve the novel, and I have done my best to rise to all of them.
I could not have written After On without the continuous inspiration, support, and literary wisdom of my collaborator, best friend, wife, and muse, Morgan. She read and talked me through every major, and many minor versions of the book, as well as countless drafts and rewrites of different sections. After On reached its final form asymptotically, via an immensely iterative path. Throughout it, Morgan’s true-north sense for the story’s direction, voice, and cadence often surpassed my own. Her savvy about its cultural and scientific context was also a priceless asset I mined constantly. After On was a team effort, and our tiny team inhabited three coasts and passed through five continents during its creation, and somehow we managed it all. Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything, my love. We decided to dedicate this book to our fathers, but in my heart it’s entirely yours as well.
BY ROB REID
YEAR ZERO
AFTER ON
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ROB REID founded Listen.com, which built the pioneering online music service Rhapsody and created the unlimited-subscription model since adopted by Apple, Spotify, and many others. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Year Zero, a work of fiction; Year One, a memoir about student life at Harvard Business School; and Architects of the Web, the first true business history of the Internet. He lives in New York City with his wife, Morgan, and Ashby the Dog.
After-On.com
Twitter: @Rob_Reid
Medium.com/@RobReid
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