Whilesomeofthecharactersearinthisbookarebasedonhistoricalfigures,andwhilemanyoftheareasdescribed—suchastheGilfKebiranditssurroundi—exist,andwereexplorediisimportanttostressthatthisstoryisafiandthattheportraitsofthecharactersearinitarefial,asaresomeoftheeventsandjourneys.

    IwouldliketothanktheRoyalGeographicalSociety,London,forallowioreadarchivalmaterialandtogleanfromtheirGeographicalJournalstheworldofexplorersandtheirjourneys—ofteifullyrecordedbytheirwriters.IhavequotedapassagefromHassaneinBey’sarticle“ThroughKufratoDarfur”(),describingsandstorms,andIhavedrawnfromhimandotherexplorerstoevokethedesertofthe

    IwouldliketoaowledgeinformationdrawnfromDr.

    RichardA.Hermann’s“HistoricalProblemsoftheLibya”()andR.A.Bagnold’sreviewofAlmasy’smonographonhisexplorationsinthedesert.

    ManybookswereimportanttomeinmyresearexplodedBombbyMajorA.B.Hartleyeciallyusefulinre-creatingthestruofbombsandindescribiishbombdisposalunitsatthestartofWorldWarII.Ihavequoteddirectlyfromhisbook(theitalicizedlihe“InSitu”se)andhavebasedsomeofKirpalSinghsmethodsofdefusingonactualteiquesthatHartleyrecords.Informationfoundiient’snotebookoureofcertainwindsisdrawnfromLyallWatson’swonderfulbookHeaveh,directquotesappearinginquotationmarks.Thesefromthedaules-GygesstoryinHerodotus’sHistoriesisfromthetranslationbyG.C.Mc-Cauley(Macmillan).OtherquotationsfromHerodotususetheDavidGreranslation(UyofChicagoPress).ThelialipageisbyChristopherSmart;thelinesinitalipagearefromJohnMiltonsParadiseLost;theline