This update is one that lets you peek behind the scenes at how the book is being written. For sure, I have several pages of anecdotes about Spanish import tax, the placement of cursors on the keyboard, and the joys of C90 cassette tapes, but I also have to deliver on providing a "choose your own adventure" style game book. How will that work?

Over the last couple of weeks I've been writing code which takes a directory full of markdown text files containing the book content, along with its associated metadata, and builds it into a single (large) markdown file. These metedate files indicate the direct links between each separate section, as well as descriptions of groups of articles which are all linked to one another. (If you remember webrings, you're on the right track.)

An example of some of the numbers featured, and the shortened section name.

There are currently 136 such folders, with many more to add. Perhaps the obvious content, that of the machines themselves, will be the final ones to be included. That is because I am waiting to see which are the most popular ones, according to the supporters of the book. I hope to have around 400 entries, to match the Fighting Fantasy books, but I'll let quality content take priority over whimsical desire.

With this code in place I was also able to incorporate a digraph library, to render the connections between each section. It currently looks like this:

Click the image to see the gory details

You will notice that it looks a mess (such is machine-generated content, at times!) but otherwise, it shows how many connections there are, and gives you an idea of the type of journey you will make when reading the book. Although this graph will grow and change as we edge closer to completion, I've still decided to hide the section names, to maintain the surprise.

There are also some sections which are disconnected. In most cases this is because I haven't yet written the prose which connects them. In (at least) one specific case it is intentional, as you won't be able to discover these section(s) unless you cheat and read the prose written between the other sections! (An easter egg, if you will)

There is also a 'Game over' section, with no ongoing links. This is for when your decisions have taken you to the entry which designates the death of retro computing. As to which number represents that, I'll leave you to ponder!

This is your call to action! For us to complete the book, and get it into your hands, we need more supporters. So if you're part of online social media, email group, or work forum then please post a link to the book. Even if you think there's no one there interested in retro computers you may be surprised at how many of us there are! Or how many people who would pledge for the book, as a present to others. Thank you!

 

https://unbound.com/books/20goto10/