I just wanted to say I'm halfway through volume one of Clean Room and wasn't even able to finish before writing you to tell you what a riveting, startling, viscerally wonderful read this is. And the moment when I put the book down and just writhed with joy

Heh, thank you. When I first read of the history of the Library, my heart went cold to imagine it, and to this day, I get a sense of dread just thinking about what was lost. 

I hope you enjoy the book, more historical connections are on the way!