If Then (36 page)

Acknowledgments

M
y agent Sarah Such
was positive about IF THEN from its initial conception. Her encouragement, patience and expertise was crucial throughout the writing of the novel and then she found it the right home at Angry Robot.

Thanks to everyone at Angry Robot, particularly my editor Phil Jourdan for his insightful notes and strong reaction to the novel, copy editor Paul Simpson, and most of all to publisher Marc Gascoigne.

I owe a debt of gratitude to my friends and the community of Lewes, who I miss dearly. We never really said goodbye. Particular thanks to John May and Gavin Clark for many evenings of good conversation in the Lewes Arms.

To my friends in the HC, you’ve all taught me so much. Particular thanks to Josh Glenn for creating that particular world.

IF THEN was planned and half-written in a rented flat in Lewes through winters of austerity. Lean years for me and my family. My dream of writing this book would have got nowhere without the hard work and support of my wife Cathy, who also advised on Ruth’s work as seamstress. Cyril Connolly famously observed that one of the enemies of promise was the pram in the hall. I’ve had three prams in my hall, but my children have been nothing but an inspiration to me. I hope that Alice, Alfred and Florence will one day read the novel that was written in and around their childhood.

About the Author

M
atthew De Abaitua’s
first novel
The Red Men
was shortlisted for the Arthur C Clarke Awards. Filmmakers Shynola adapted the first chapter into a short called
Dr Easy
, which can be watched for free at
created-to-help-you.com.
He is a lecturer in creative writing and science fiction at the University of Essex.

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NGRY ROBOT

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A
n Angry Robot
paperback original 2015

Copyright © Matthew De Abaitua 2015

Cover by Argh! Oxford

Set by Epub Services

D
istributed
in the United States by Random House, Inc., New York.

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Angry Robot and the Angry Robot icon are registered trademarks of Watkins Media Ltd.

T
his is a work of fiction
. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

U
K ISBN 978
0 85766 471 6

US ISBN 978 0 85766 466 2

Ebook ISBN 978 0 85766 467 9