This year has been a year of darkness and light - impenetrable darkness and dazzling light. 

 And I only made it from on end of the tunnel to the other thanks to certain beloved, invaluable, irreplaceable people. 

 And you, dear Reader - honnête lecteur, mon semblable, mon frère! - you were one of these people, to whom I owe eternal gratitude. 

 So bless your book-loving heart; my books belong to you more than you'll ever know.