This issue brings to a close the 12-part series of "Shattering Illusions." I must express my heartfelt gratitude to a number of people who helped make "Shattering Illusions" possible:

First and foremost, my thanks goes to Tabby Crabb, alias The Tabman, master craftsman of magic and the man who first proposed the idea of a series to both myself and to Dante Larsen. Thanks as well to Dante for his support and unrestrictive editorial policy. Also to Erika Larsen for her continuance in like fashion, along with her already clearly constructive impact on Genii - I wish her all possible success for the future of herself and the magazine.

I received truly invaluable editorial assistance from a team of generous and capable individuals. My thanks to Vic Sussman, a treasured friend, former student, and a senior editor at U.S. News and World Report, who provided the primary editorial guidance. He has made me a better writer, and I owe him much for his hard work, as well as for his kind words which appear in this issue. Thanks to Stephen Hobbs, a superb writer himself, who designed the look of the series (including this special issue), dealt with frantic deadlines on a constant basis, usually ended up running to Federal Express on my behalf, and provided much useful editorial assistance as well. My thanks to Carol Krol, love of my life, who also provided much helpful editorial advice, and whose final proofreading never failed to make fools of Vic, Stephen and myself (although I think I still managed to squeak through a few goofs despite her best efforts). Thanks to D.W. "Chip" Denman who, along with Grace Denman, have long been valued friends and co-conspirators on many of the most important efforts of my life; Chip was kind enough to fill in as designer during Stephen's unavoidable absence on one installment and designed the graphic elements for this special issue.

My thanks to Eugene Burger for his important contribution to this month's "Lessons & Learning" section. His counsel and friendship for more than a decade have immeasurably altered my life for the better. Thanks to friends and students, past and present, who contributed their valuable works to this special issue, and have in every case enriched my life by their presence and collaboration. I had more good material than I could possibly fit into this issue, so I am equally grateful to those whose work appeared as well as to those whose didn't, including Siri Glisson, Ken van Liew, Vic Sussman, Dimis Michaelides, Sean O'Neill, and Chip Denman. My thanks and love to my father, Evans C. Reitman-Swiss, for giving me the Color Vision Box, and for so much more. Finally my thanks to the many readers who were kind enough to offer supportive comments, notes and letters, and who received my efforts with far more acceptance than I could have ever anticipated.

The title "Shattering Illusions" and the entire content of this series, June 1993 through May 1994 inclusive, is © Copyright 1993/1994 by J. Ian Swiss. Reproduction in any form is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the author. All rights, other than those of first publication extended solely to Genii magazine, and including any and allreproduction and performance rights, are firmly and rigorously reserved by the author.

"Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something." – Last words of Pancho Villa