Just a quick note to say I just read the comments and re-read the interview and...you're right. If I'm coming off in print like I was being defensive, that's definitely because I WAS being defensive. For the record, I understand why some folks take serious issue with some of the choices made for the book. I'd say they weren't my choices--and for the most part, that's true--but that would seem to imply that I didn't like or agree with where Fox wanted the book to go, and that wouldn't be honest. I was excited about the choices they made, the direction they wanted, and I enjoyed the hell out of writing it. It may not be the book you wanted. You may hate Newt's Tale and wish I hadn't included it. But hopefully you found something to enjoy in the novel. As a side note to HuDaFuk...a distress message would have been sent. Simpson etc....they'd have sent a message. But as for who they would have sent the message to and whether the recipients of the message would have passed all of the information along to Gorman, that's doubtful. It's obvious in ALIENS that Carter Burke knows way more from the outset than he's letting on. So I'd argue your point. But that's just me. Thanks for listening.