The Title Page is preceded in the electronic version with a Note. The authors provide an explicit note to the i-Book American version indicating that the experience while it approximates that of holding a book in the hands cannot completely replicate that feel. It is worth noting that there is no Kindle edition in the United  States, although one is available in Australia. The i–Book version does have one advantage over the printed version. One is able to toggle on and off the marginal comments and thereby able to read the text solely as a novel.

The single title page has printed SHIP of THESEUS. The page is covered with handwritten notes that we will learn belong to Eric and Jen, who have in fact been introduced on the back of the black box.

Eric’s remarks are printed, some in light pencil and others in black ink.

Jen’s are in blue handwritten script.

We will try to capture that spirit in our commentary, but there are no exact fonts corresponding to either’s handwriting. Dorst has noted that the remarks were actually scripted by two employees of the publishing house.

There are four exchanges on the page.

Eric’s starred pencil comment asks the finder to return the book to workroom 219 of the Main Library of Pollard State University.

This both initiates the correspondence and introduces the fictional university. The number 19 is not random. “S” is the nineteenth letter in the English alphabet and the number will itself become a leitmotiv. Eric appears upset and somewhat “Arrogant” in his response to Jen and almost dismisses her at first. He is more intrigued by the mention of the F.X. Caldeira, quickly dismissing one apparent theory that the translator still to be introduced to the reader might have actually been the author. This mention has invited some to link the story and legends surrounding B. Traven to the work.

Jen identifies herself in her first note and reveals herself as an undergraduate lit[erary studies] major. Noting that she has already read the novel in its entirety almost as an escape, presumably from required texts for courses she attracts Eric’s attention by her comments on F.X. Caldeira.