The editors would like to thank the following people for their help and support:
Susan Casper, Jeanne Van Buren Dann, Patrick Delahunt, Edward Ferman, Virginia Kidd, Trina King, Shawna McCarthy, Brian Perry and Tawna Lewis of Fat Cat Books (263 Main St., Johnson City, New York 13790), Stuart Schiff, Bernie Sheredy, the staff of the Vestal Public Library, Michael Swanwick, Bob Walters, Tom Whitehead of the Special Collections Department of the Paley Library at Temple University (and his staff, especially John Betencourt and Connie King), and special thanks to our editors, Susan Allison and Ginjer Buchanan.
For Lucius Shepard
But woudst thou bid the demons fly Like mist before the dawning sky.
—Sir Walter Scott
DEMON
1. In ancient Greek mythology: A supernatural being of a nature intermediate between that of gods and men; an inferior divinity, spirit, genius (including the souls or ghosts of deceased persons, esp. deified heroes).
b. Sometimes, particularly, an attendant, ministering, or indwelling spirit; a genius.
2. An evil spirit.
a. Applied to the idols or gods of the heathen, and to the "evil" or "unclean spirits" by which demoniacs were possessed or actuated.
b. In general current use: An evil spirit; a malignant being of superhuman nature; a devil.
c. Applied to a person (animal or agency personified), of malignant, cruel, terrible, or destructive nature, or of hideous appearance. (Cf. devil)
d. An evil passion or agency personified.
—Excerpted from The Oxford English Dictionary