Firstly, thank you for choosing to read The Four Baristas of the Apocalypse (which henceforth, for the sake of time-saving and the maintenance of sanity, will be referred to as 4BA).

Secondly, nothing in the preface has any bearing on the plot of the book itself, so if you like to skip the boring bits, go right ahead and start on chapter 1.

4BA is inspired by one of my favourite genres of writing—comedic science fiction. From The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Red Dwarf, through to Guardians of the Galaxy, I've always loved the combination of the high-tech and the humorous. So with those illustrious examples as my inspiration, I've decided to make my own small contribution to the genre.

In case you're wondering "Why baristas?" the only answer I can really give is "Why not?" I've had an irrational desire to write a book with the word 'barista' in the title for a long time, plus I love my coffee. A good cup of coffee can really save your day, so it seems logical that a barista should be able to save the world. Doesn't it?