Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet

by Katie Hafner

  The following people allowed us to interview them at length: Wes Clark, Vint Cerf, Bob Kahn, Severo Ornstein, Bob Taylor, Larry Roberts, Jon Postel, Frank Heart, Alex McKenzie, Dave Walden, Ben Barker, Donald Davies, Paul Baran, Len Kleinrock, Steve Lukasik, Steve Crocker, and Bob Metcalfe. Louise Licklider, Bill McGill, John Swets, and Karl Kryter shared their memories of J. C. R. Licklider with us, and Mitch Waldrop helped fill in some blanks. Phil Patton entrusted us with his copy of the Barber Associates study, for which we are grateful. Brian Reid, Gary Chapman, Kevin Buckley, Dave Farber, and Colonel Clair Shirey let us pick their brains on various relevant topics. Marsha Longshore of IEEE sent technical articles our way, and Earl Swartzlander lent us his copies of the IEEE computer history annals. Steve Wolff helped us understand the often labyrinthine events that took place in the 1980s, particularly concerning NSF’s role in the development of the Internet.

  The manuscript was read in whole or in part in various stages of completion by Vint Cerf, Lyman Chapin, Steve Crocker, Peter Denning, Frank Heart, Bob Kahn, John Kelley, Larry Landweber, Steven Levy, Hank Long, Paul McJones, Alex McKenzie, Peter Preuss, Larry Roberts, Einar Stefferud, Bob Taylor, John Vittal, Dave Walden, and Susan Zacharias. Everett Hafner, perfectionist and workhorse, kept us honest. The manuscript benefited tremendously from the keen mind and careful pen of Richard Lyon. Responsibility for errors, of course, rests with us.

  Jon Coifman, our ace research assistant, helped immensely with the final stages of the manuscript preparation, and Andrea Perry was a careful proofreader. Julian Darley helped type in changes. Denise Bugg transcribed many tapes. Pete Lewis saved the day with his Wacom Pen Tablet. Sigrid Cerf supplied us with colorful stories and much sage advice. Matt Pallakoff, who wrote Retrieve It!, helped shave hours off our work weeks. And thanks to John Aielli, who knows why.

  Zoë Mark Lyon, though busy with her own book, took time out of her schedule every single day to bolster our spirits and make us laugh. Denny Lyon, Amy Goodwin, Kelly McRee, Ellen Lyon, and Jeremy Lyon gamely took on extra child care. Sherry Turkle, Sarah Hafner, Teresa Carpenter, Terry Evers, Robert Wallich, Tony Bianco, and Carol Flake lent a sympathetic ear. Ladd Hanson and Mark McFarland helped with technical troubles. George Hackett and Bob Berdahl were long-suffering bosses, against their better judgment. Ann Walther, Lindsey Lane, and Tom Ferguson (keeper of the postage meter) came to the rescue more than once. Paulina Borsook offered her customary invaluable insights.

  During our travels, Chris Paine, Katherine Magraw, Holly Myers, Kirk Neely, Lisa Van Dusen, Candace Thille, Julie Graham, Debbie Yager, Katherine and Irving Gottsegen, Jane and Frank Heart, Barry Muhlfelder, Jane Anderson, and Eric Ponteri put a roof over our heads.

  As usual, literary agents John Brockman and Katinka Matson knew there was a book there. Bob Bender, our marvelous editor at Simon & Schuster, knew what that book should be. His wondrous assistant, Johanna Li, never let us down.

  —Katie Hafner

  katieh@ zilker.net

  —Matthew Lyon m_lyon@ utxvms.cc.utexas.edu