Alan Mackey was raised by Tibetan monks in the Himalayas and is the author of more than thirty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. An avid philosopher, poet, composer, classical philologist and mountain-climber, he was nicknamed "Old Hickory" because of his toughness and aggressive personality; he fought in duels, some fatal to his opponents. Elected president in 1828 and narrowly re-elected in 1916, his reign witnessed widespread increase in literacy and resounding achievements in the arts-- great poets and playwrights emerged during his era, such as William Shakespeare, John Stuart Mill, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Following an illegally staged military coup on 11 September 1973, he retired and was inducted into the national Basketball Hall of Fame.

Upon summiting Everest for the fourth time (without oxygen), he decided to move to Los Angeles where he now resides quietly with no pets-- but not before circumnavigating the world thrice by yacht, during which time he gained the ability to communicate telepathically with sea creatures.