Author's Note
There is no doubt some confusion on the part of the reader regarding the titling of my first book in relation to the trilogy I had planned.
The title of this, my first book is not mine. It belongs to the publisher. I do not agree with it. I do not believe it is the greatest mystery in the world. But it may be tallest crest on that last and vast horizon from which we can set sail onto that final journey to discover the answer to the greatest mystery.
My title was "The Bermuda Triangle: an odyssey of unexplained disappearances at sea." And that is what I still believe this book is. The mysteries of this area, both in its mysteriously missing vessels, its unique geography, and its enigmatic ruins below the sea, launch one onto an odyssey– a "long,eventful journey," as the dictionary defines it- to find an answer, an answer that may explain more than one would bargain for. The Bermuda Triangle and its mysteries are a doorway to discovery. And so the Bermuda Triangle and its enigmas becomes that odyssey to so much more.
You wont have to travel anywhere, and you wont have to read about how I did. I never mention myself within the entire text, and never speak in the first person. I recount the facts as a recorder of events. I relate the incidents and the theories as a Greek traveler of old distilled all his experiences and placed them before his audience. I have already begun on my odyssey. There is no interest on my part in retracing steps, but in providing what has been discovered already.
The reader must now delve into this evidence. Hundreds of peculiar mysteries, many never before documented, shall take you from the depths of the sea, to far out in space, from the greatest machines of mankind, to the smallest particles of existence, from the great winds high up to the very zero point of existence. Sudden death and mystery will make us confront "quantum longevity" and hard facts. The words of survivors to the words of those who didn't survive shall take us to concepts we would rather not confront. But in shouting into the microphone before they vanished, they have left guideposts for those who may one day follow on this odyssey of discovery.There shall be memories of the future from strange ruins of the past.
You may ask what kind of authority can an author possibly have if he cannot even prevent the retitling of his own book? I shall lay before you then this fact. This book came about in the old fashioned way. I wrote it over a period of 2 years,after having done 10 years of research. When I was satisfied with it, I paged through a listing of publishers, and selected one. I was surprised when the book was accepted about 2 weeks afterward.
The book was not rewritten. Sections of it were not removed, nor were any added. The publisher has, to the best of their ability, maintained it as I wrote it. Due to the rush, there were editorial mistakes, and this I have been assured are to be corrected by the second printing. (See errata on this web site). It is from its contents alone that this book can be judged. The old maxim shall always ring true: "You cannot judge a book by its cover."
A Chinese philosopher once said, "When you come to the last page, close the book." When you do, if this book makes you to stop and think, even for just a moment, of that vast and final horizon that we have too long ignored, then I have done part of my job. Stop, and consider.
Twirl that household globe of yours before you read this book. Twirl it with the pride of satisfaction at all that we as a species have learned and conquered. When you are done, go twirl that globe again . . .this time with wonder and awe at what lay ahead.
