Twisty Little Passages

Twisty Little Passages
Author: Nick Montfort
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2005-02-11
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780262633185

A critical approach to interactive fiction, as literature and game. Interactive fiction—the best-known form of which is the text game or text adventure—has not received as much critical attention as have such other forms of electronic literature as hypertext fiction and the conversational programs known as chatterbots. Twisty Little Passages (the title refers to a maze in Adventure, the first interactive fiction) is the first book-length consideration of this form, examining it from gaming and literary perspectives. Nick Montfort, an interactive fiction author himself, offers both aficionados and first-time users a way to approach interactive fiction that will lead to a more pleasurable and meaningful experience of it. Twisty Little Passages looks at interactive fiction beginning with its most important literary ancestor, the riddle. Montfort then discusses Adventure and its precursors (including the I Ching and Dungeons and Dragons), and follows this with an examination of mainframe text games developed in response, focusing on the most influential work of that era, Zork. He then considers the introduction of commercial interactive fiction for home computers, particularly that produced by Infocom. Commercial works inspired an independent reaction, and Montfort describes the emergence of independent creators and the development of an online interactive fiction community in the 1990s. Finally, he considers the influence of interactive fiction on other literary and gaming forms. With Twisty Little Passages, Nick Montfort places interactive fiction in its computational and literary contexts, opening up this still-developing form to new consideration.

Bulletin

Bulletin
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 344
Release: 1927
Genre: Archaeology
ISBN:

The Campaigns of US Marines in World War II

The Campaigns of US Marines in World War II
Author: Bernard C. Nalty
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 1305
Release: 2023-12-15
Genre: History
ISBN:

The Campaigns of US Marines in World War II' is a comprehensive anthology that encapsulates the valor, strategy, and indomitable spirit of the US Marines during the Second World War through a tapestry of meticulously researched narratives. Encompassing a wide range of literary styles, from analytical essays to detailed battle reports, this collection offers a profound look into the numerous facets of warfare and the diverse experiences of combat. The inclusion of standout pieces covering pivotal battles in the Pacific and the strategic intricacies behind them, showcases the significance and complexity of the Marines' role in WWII, outlining a broader understanding of military history and tactics. Crafted by a distinguished group of authors, including historians and veterans with direct ties to the Marine Corps Historical Center, the anthology benefits from an authentic and varied set of perspectives. Collectively, the contributors bring a wealth of knowledge, from firsthand experience to academic scholarship, aligning the collection with significant historical, cultural, and literary movements. This diverse background enriches the reader's understanding, offering insights into the ethos of the Marine Corps, its tactical innovations, and its unparalleled commitment during the conflict. 'The Campaigns of US Marines in World War II' offers readers a unique and invaluable opportunity to explore the history of one of the most challenging periods of the 20th century through a multi-faceted lens. It urges scholars, military enthusiasts, and general readers alike to delve into its pages for an educational journey marked by heroism, sacrifice, and the strategic executions that influenced the outcome of World War II. The anthology succeeds in fostering a deepened appreciation and understanding of the Marine Corps' role in shaping the global narrative of warfare, making it a must-read for those committed to comprehensively exploring military history and its enduring legacies.

Veins of the Earth

Veins of the Earth
Author: Lamentations of the Flame Princess
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2017-07
Genre:
ISBN: 9789525904871

They've knocked it out of the park. Hit it for six. Got it in an arm bar in the first round. Pick your sport, pick your metaphor, doesnt matter: the point is clear so soon after _Fire on the Velvet Horizon_, Patrick Stuart and Scrap Princess prove once again that something as unlikely as an RPG supplement can be art, of the most impressive kind. An amazing work. - China Miville

The Death of Bunny Munro

The Death of Bunny Munro
Author: Nick Cave
Publisher: Random House India
Total Pages: 215
Release: 2011-12-02
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 8184002661

‘I am damned,’ thinks Bunny Munro in a sudden moment of self-awareness reserved for those who are soon to die. He feels that somewhere down the line he has made a grave mistake, but this realisation passes in a dreadful heartbeat and is gone—leaving him in a room at the Grenville Hotel, in his underwear, with nothing but himself and his appetites. Bunny Munro drinks too much, smokes too much and thinks of sex all the time. Following his wife’s suicide, he takes his nine-years-old son on a trip to recover from the tragedy. But he is about to discover that his days are numbered. Dark, funny and raunchy, The Death of Bunny Munro is the story of a man full of emotional atyachar. Written in the high octane, charged prose that has made Nick Cave one of the world’s most acclaimed lyricists, it is an unforgettable book.

Fern Cave

Fern Cave
Author: Jennifer Ellen Pinkley
Publisher:
Total Pages: 371
Release: 2014-07-11
Genre: Caving
ISBN: 9780990354703

Fern Cave is one of the most significant (and magnificent) caves in the southeastern US, and even the country. It's over 15 miles long, is three separate caves connected into one cave system, has fantastically beautiful formations, incredibly complicated passages, important deposits of ancient animal bones, one section of the cave is the winter home for over a million endangered gray bats, and the cave used to be one of the favorite destinations for experienced cave explorers (most of the cave is now closed to any caving--that story is included in the book). The story of how cavers discovered and explored this cave is incredible, especially since when cavers discovered Surprise Pit, modern vertical caving gear did not exist. This book also explains how the US Fish and Wildlife Service bought 4 entrances to the cave in 1981 and teamed up with cavers to responsibly manage the cave to protect both the massive cave itself and the bat colony. The story continues by explaining how that partnership has almost disappeared in the era of white-nose syndrome cave closures. This book is a tale of discovery, exploration, adventure, wonder, politics, nature, biology, science, and beauty.

The Cave Painters

The Cave Painters
Author: Gregory Curtis
Publisher: Anchor
Total Pages: 298
Release: 2008-12-10
Genre: Art
ISBN: 0307482707

The Cave Painters is a vivid introduction to the spectacular cave paintings of France and Spain—the individuals who rediscovered them, theories about their origins, their splendor and mystery. Gregory Curtis makes us see the astonishing sophistication and power of the paintings and tells us what is known about their creators, the Cro-Magnon people of some 40,000 years ago. He takes us through various theories—that the art was part of fertility or hunting rituals, or used for religious purposes, or was clan mythology—examining the ways interpretations have changed over time. Rich in detail, personalities, and history, The Cave Painters is above all permeated with awe for those distant humans who developed—perhaps for the first time—both the ability for abstract thought and a profound and beautiful way to express it.

Words for Country

Words for Country
Author: Tim Bonyhady
Publisher: UNSW Press
Total Pages: 268
Release: 2002
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 9780868406282

Stories and phrases can powerfully shape the ways we experience and manage our environment. What languages have been used to characterise Australian landscapes and how have they influenced the way we see and treat our environment? How do stories take root in particular places? How do we find the right words for those parts of the country that matter to us? "Words for Country" answers these questions while exploring the inter-relationship between Australia's landscape and language. Tim Bonyhady and Tom Griffiths have brought together a collection of essays whose subjects range from the Ord River in the far north-west to Antarctica in the south, from the centre to the coast, the prehistoric to the present. Their terrain is environmental and cultural, political and poetic. Words for Country reveals not just how language grows out of the landscape but how words and stories shape the places in which we live.