Zebulon Vitruvius Pike. Gentleman adventurer, mercenary explorer, dime novel hero and veteran of the late unpleasantness. After serving in the US Aeroship Cavalry and as special agent to the President, Pike left government service to travel the world. When not saving civilization as we know it from science pirates, abominations of nature and invaders from the beyond, Professor Vitruvius occasionally lectures on topics of interest in history, science and technology. Meanwhile, in the unforeseeable future, Kevin Geiselman has been attending, running and presenting at science fiction conventions for several decades. And while he considers himself a writer of not insignificant skill, he has yet to be formally published.