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        Arimaa >> General Discussion >> It finally arrived
        
(Message started by: cvic on Nov 2^nd, 2011, 4:58am)

Title: It finally arrived
Post by cvic on Nov 2^nd, 2011, 4:58am

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1440/arimaa.png

I've read the first three chapters and it's a fantastic book.

I still don't have an Arimaa board yet, but that small magnetic chess set will do the job for now. For the times I'll be away from the computer, sitting in bed with the book and trying to understand the tactics, the tips and the tricks.

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by Fritzlein on Nov 2^nd, 2011, 7:22am

I'm glad you like it!

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by chessandgo on Nov 2^nd, 2011, 8:17pm

enjoy :)

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by cvic on Nov 3^rd, 2011, 5:08am

Thank you.

And one more observation: I feel that this book won't become useless after I reach a certain stage at Arimaa. I'll read it and re-read it and everytime learn something new... That's a rare quality.

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by akensond on Nov 4^th, 2011, 1:41am

I also think it is an excellent book.

The organisation of the chapters is the only slightly odd thing about it: Capture Race followed by Technology Race and Elephant Smother followed by Go Smother and so on, with the words race and smother being the links.

Leaving that aside, the book is full of tips and general observations rather than a guide to openings, end games and so forth. In that way it follows the genius of the game itself which generally defies memorised formulas.

I think my favourite chapter is Efficiency, Balance and Tension which would read well alongside J Mark Thompson's four categories that define the abstract.

Perhaps Fritz and Mark could collaborate on a book?

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by Fritzlein on Nov 4^th, 2011, 7:32am

on 11/04/11 at 01:41:47, akensond wrote:

The organisation of the chapters is the only slightly odd thing about it: Capture Race followed by Technology Race and Elephant Smother followed by Go Smother and so on, with the words race and smother being the links.

Yes, I ordered the "A" chapters logically and the "B" chapters randomly based on strained puns. I hope it wasn't too distracting, and I'm glad you found something to enjoy in the content regardless.

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by megajester on Nov 4^th, 2011, 8:18am

on 11/04/11 at 07:32:43, Fritzlein wrote:

I actually liked that bit, I found it very artistic. I felt like I was watching one of those documentaries where they switch back and forth between narration and dramatic re-enactments. I'd have trouble writing a book like that.

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by Fritzlein on Nov 4^th, 2011, 7:47pm

Thanks, megajester. I'm glad that some folks like the running gag of the chapter titles. To be honest, I didn't know how it was going to work out when I started writing. Things just sort of turned out the way they did. The one exception was akensond's favorite chapter "Efficiency, Balance and Tension", which my wife made me rewrite several times until I got it right. I will let her know that her editorial efforts paid dividends.

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by megajester on Nov 5^th, 2011, 7:04am

As they say, behind every great man there's a great woman ;)

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by chessandgo on Nov 6^th, 2011, 5:15am

on 11/04/11 at 08:18:32, megajester wrote:

I actually liked that bit

Same here!

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by Hippo on Nov 6^th, 2011, 10:24am

on 11/06/11 at 05:15:38, chessandgo wrote:

Same here!

Me too :)

Title: Re: It finally arrived
Post by leo on Dec 10^th, 2011, 6:52am

Metoo! :D
And I agree also that the book won't turn old ever, because it is fresh - in the fuzzy sense the word is used on art forums when commenting a painting (I don't know how it sounds in the common language).
It's not just that the book makes the reader discover and ponder, it's that the writer is sharing his sense of wonder.