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[vogonpoet]

This sounds awesome - the complete and utter newbie tutorial was how I got into the game, so thanks TP.
I will probably buy this just because its cool - a real book, and an updating ebook, about DF? That's just awesome.

/I like awesome

[smirk]

You're the one who wrote that tutorial, TinyPirate? Jump-started my DF obsession. You, sir, owe me several years of free time 0_o

Self-updating book; potentially excellent idea. Don't need a beginner's guide for myself, but I'll definitely get one to pass on to friends. Spread the infection!

[TinyPirate]

I love to spread infections! Beware my poisoness quill!

[Hatch Cover]

Oh, how cool! I would have been so happy to have a book like this when I was learning dwarf fortress. Heck, I still would love this book. I am constantly having to learn new things, and the wiki helps, but its information is often incomplete or lacks details that I want to know about. And I much prefer a book that I can hold in my hands and take where I want. 

I used your tutorial to learn the basics when I first started playing. Could not have done it without you.

I would really like to see a dwarf fortress guide with technical explanations and data tables. I would love a guide that covers the complete game, but if this guide does not do that, I am still glad that you are writing it.

[TinyPirate]

I should emphasize that this is a Getting Started With book, although I do try and brush on some advanced tips and tricks where I can. Still, even I (having written the damn thing!) find the appendix tables of ore types and which ores or bars combine to make what alloys quite handy - same for the farm products and some of the production chains.

[helf]

Are you planning on doing a more advance book in the future? I'd love to have a reference style book that's like an edited condensed wiki in book form... That would be really awesome still can't wait for this one.

[TinyPirate]

Your very words outline the problem! Any advanced book is invariably going to be such a replication of the wiki I am not sure I would feel comfortable writing it. What new info could one add? I would, however, love to see fan art and fan projects in book form. A couple of pages on dwarven reactors, a chapter on computing fundamentals, a section on megaprojects... It would be fun to have a book which looked at the fans and their creations in the same way that some Lego book do.

[Alamander]

I request nice pictures! Seriously, hire an artist, would give a nice touch maybe?

[TinyPirate]

Tim Denee of timdenee.com is doing some art

[Johuotar]

Oh man I cant wait to see what the book is like. Coolest book ever written.

[Nunzillor]

Still on target for an ~April release date?

[TinyPirate]

Not sure - I am proofing the book now but there is art to integrate and various publishing steps to get through. If not April, definitely May.

[Melagius]

This is awesome, I'd love to have a paper copy, not only to read but as decoration.

[Werdna]

Congratulations TinyPirate, I look forward to this sitting on my shelf alongside TCP/IP Illustrated and Linux Device Drivers.  How on Earth did you land O'Reilly's backing?  I thought that must be a joke when I saw the listing. 

I'm giggling at the thought of an O'Reilly book sitting on a store shelf alongside a bunch of glossy game guides; a stately ASCII dwarf peering out alongside endless trashy covers of scantily clad girls, weapons, and futuristic soldiers.  Cue time-lapse photography of the shelf, as the O'Reilly sits there imperturbable through the ages, and the glossy covers flip by too fast to see...

[TinyPirate]

Thanks! Actually, it was my editor at O'Reilly's idea. He asked around and approached me to write the book. All rather awesome really!