It is here that authors often submit massive disclaimers in an effort to cover their rears and, hopefully, avoid liability. There is always the temptation to simply create a fictional¹ place or entity² rather than research the real ones, and I confess I would rather do almost anything than verify details. Fiction is a marvelous shield. It's very easy to hide behind. But when it ventures near the truth, it needs to be accurate. Otherwise, the author needs a few lines in this space.

The Public Defender³ Service in Washington, D.C., is a proud and vibrant⁴ organization that has zealously⁵ protected the indigent⁶ for many years. Its lawyers are bright, committed, and very tight-lipped. Downright secretive. Its inner workings remain a mystery, so I simply created my own Office of the Public Defender. Any resemblance between the two is purely⁷ coincidental.

Mark Twain said he often moved cities, counties, and even entire states when necessary to help a story along. Nothing gets in my way either. If I can't find a building, then I'll construct one on the spot. If a street does not fit on my map, then I won't hesitate to either move it or draw a new map. I would guess that about half the places in this book are described somewhat correctly. The other half either don't exist or have been modified or relocated to such an extent that no one would recognize them. Anyone looking for accuracy is wasting time.

That's not to say I don't try. My idea of research is frantically⁸ working the telephone as the deadline draws near. I leaned on the following people for advice, and it's here that I thank them: Fritz Chockley, Bruce Brown, Gaines Talbott, Bobby Moak, Penny Pynkala, and Jerome Davis.

Renee read the rough draft and didn't fling it at me— always a good sign. David Gernert picked it to pieces, then helped me put it together again. Will Denton and Pamela Creel Jenner read it and offered salient advice. When I had written it for the fourth time and everything was correct, Estelle Laurence read it and found a thousand mistakes.

点击收听单词发音  

1 fictional
adj.小说的，虚构的
参考例句：
The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。 The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

2 entity
n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物
参考例句：
The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。 As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

3 defender
n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人
参考例句：
He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。 The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

4 vibrant
adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的
参考例句：
He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。 She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

5 zealously
adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地
参考例句：
Of course the more unpleasant a duty was, the more zealously Miss Glover performed it. 格洛弗小姐越是对她的职责不满意，她越是去积极执行它。 来自辞典例句 A lawyer should represent a client zealously within the bounds of the law. 律师应在法律范围内热忱为当事人代理。 来自口语例句

6 indigent
adj.贫穷的，贫困的
参考例句：
The town government is responsible for assistance to indigent people.镇政府负责给穷人提供帮助。 A judge normally appoints the attorney for an indigent defendant at the defendant's first court appearence.法官通常会在贫穷被告人第一次出庭时，为其指派一名辩护律师。

7 purely
adv.纯粹地，完全地
参考例句：
I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。 This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

8 frantically
ad.发狂地, 发疯地
参考例句：
He dashed frantically across the road. 他疯狂地跑过马路。 She bid frantically for the old chair. 她发狂地喊出高价要买那把古老的椅子。