Driven primarily by a fear of being thought mad or accused of falsifying fantastic occurrences,I have long delayed in making the enclosed narrative public. At one time I held onto the notion of publishing it as work of speculation on the future,in the tradition of writers such as Wells. Holmes,however, objected to this. Out of respect for my dear friend I agreed to his proposal that it would be best if this curious matter were never spoken of again. I write this with no intention of it being published in my lifetime,but shall preserve it, that it might be read in later ages where what occurred will be more readily accepted. The work of Doctor Cooper and his friends may be key in bringing this world about. It gives me some comfort as I near the end of my life that,through memoirs such as this one, the legacy of my dearest friend,Sherlock Holmes, will not fade.
-First page of a leather notebook,found among the property of the late Doctor John Watson.