Wow, that is a long title! Let’s take another look at that. Today we are going to talk about the book written by Richard Garriott and David Fisher titled “Explore/Create: My Life in Pursuit of New Frontiers, Hidden Worlds, and the Creative Spark.”
Explore/Create: My Life in Pursuit of New Frontiers, Hidden Worlds, and the Creative Spark on Amazon
Getting the necessaries out of the way. This article will contain some minor spoilers, but I will be hiding them in spoiler boxes.
This book has not been published yet and is being released 1/10/2017 on Amazon. My references are in regards to an Advanced Read Copy (ARC) I won in a random giveaway on Goodreads, and ready this week.
About the book from Amazon:
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The legendary entrepreneur and online gaming pioneer—creator of the Ultima series and the forthcoming Shroud of Avatar—and private space travel advocate examines the importance of adventure and curiosity in his life in this inspiring memoir, complete with interactive tie-ins, puzzles, tricks, and secret codes
An inventor, adventurer, entrepreneur, collector, and entertainer, and son of legendary scientist-astronaut Owen Garriott, Richard Garriott de Cayeux has been behind some of the most exciting undertakings of our time. A video game industry leader known by his handle “Lord British”—and a member of every gaming Hall of Fame—Richard pioneered the massively multiplayer, online role-playing game (MMORPG), and coined the term “Avatar” to describe an individual’s online character.
[pullquote]and coined the term “Avatar” to describe an individual’s online character.[/pullquote]
A lifelong adventurer and member of the Explorers Club, Richard has used his extensive gaming fortune to finance thrilling expeditions. He has plumbed the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to see the remains of the Titanic, hunted for meteorites in Antarctica, and in 2008 became one of the first private citizens to be launched into space. On the leading edge of the private space industry—the man who arranged a zero-G flight for Stephen Hawking—Richard has invested his time and energy into making space travel more accessible.
[pullquote]in 2008 became one of the first private citizens to be launched into space.[/pullquote]
Combining the two guiding tenets of his life, exploration and creation, Richard now invites us on the great adventure that is his life and introduces us to the wondrous and magical in the world around us, including our own backyards. Yet Explore/Create is no ordinary memoir; throughout, Richard engages readers with interactive activities and challenges them with “secret codes” for his games. An audacious genius with an insatiable curiosity and an irrepressible playfulness, Explore/Create is enlightening, thrilling, and fun.
Explore/Create: My Life in Pursuit of New Frontiers, Hidden Worlds, and the Creative Spark on Amazon
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I am going to talk about this book first from an overall perspective as a sort of quick review piece. Following that, I will do a quick chapter by chapter commentary which will be hidden by a spoiler box to make it easier on the eyes.
Some of my comments will be of a personal nature while others may be about the content. Anything goes!
Please understand that I am not an objective reader. I have had contact with Richard on numerous occasions in various formats, including in person. From that association and common interests I share with him, this has led into us sharing several common friends, a couple of which are even mentioned in his book!
Thereby my review, while I will try to make it object where it should be, may be colored by biases I do not even realize I have. You have been told!
Explore/Create: My Life in Pursuit of New Frontiers, Hidden Worlds, and the Creative Spark on Amazon
As someone who had already been patiently waiting for the release of this book, I was rather excited when I won it in a Goodreads giveaway. This was followed by a slight bit of disappointment at the 30-day timeline only to turn once again into excitement when the book arrived a few days later, which for me was two days ago.
Explore/Create: My Life in Pursuit of New Frontiers, Hidden Worlds, and the Creative Spark on Amazon
While I was very interested in receiving it, I also was worried that I would find it somewhat boring. Not due to lack of being well written or good content but rather as someone who has been following Richard Garriott at some level or another most of my life, I was worried it would all be old news to me.
Quite the contrary, there were only a couple sections of the book that feel this way to me. Areas that I had heard stories about from Richard or seen on Youtube had new insights and revelations. To my astonishment, I even learned about a few of Richard’s adventures in life I had not known of. I attribute this to the fact that as a public personality, time alone in private with him is rare. So topics tend to be the ones that the majority of the public pull from him.
This book allows for a format in which Richard gets to share adventures that may not be as popular, but I find none the less intriguing.
While he certainly offers some advice here and there, it is more narrative and story driven. Recounting major stories, turning points, and adventures in his life with some commentary. I personally, was then able to draw some corollary’s in my own life and learn from his experience.
Being done this way led to a fun story that at many times completely engaged me, drew me in, and made me feel like I was living it a bit. Not in the way a good Fiction Novel would, but well enough to help me feel the experiences he describes.
David Fisher did a fantastic job overall in capturing the nuances of Richards personality in person, in print. I have had the honor to engage with Richard face to face on occasion and many times as I read this book I could easily hear him telling me the story!
There can be a lot of reasons someone may be interested in this book. Hoping to gain some insight or wisdom from a creative individual perhaps. You may be a fan or follow of one area of his life such as video game or space travel and are looking for things specific to that. Maybe you just find him and his stories fun or exciting.
For me, it is a combination of all these things and many others, which put this book was on my wish list. Whichever reason you are considering purchasing it for, do yourself a favor and get on the preorder list. It’s not lengthy which for some will be positive. For myself, that was the only negative.
If you want to hear some of my fun commentaries about the book, the following is a chapter by chapter commentary that overall I keep short. Spoilers will exist but will be mostly minor. I will try to avoid sharing anything that might ruin reading it for yourself!
Explore/Create: My Life in Pursuit of New Frontiers, Hidden Worlds, and the Creative Spark on Amazon
Chapter 1 – Titanic Mistakes
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I knew about this adventure in Richard’s life and have always been jealous. I have heard Richard tell a bit about this journey, but he shared details in his book I had no clue about!
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Chapter 2
I Was a Teenage Dungeon Master
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This is one of those things that not only do I share a common interest in with Richard but a common past. I did similar at my home with my mom and friends.
Only, I did not stop doing it, instead, carrying into my adult life and over to my own home(s). Only stopping a few years ago and in some ways, Ill be taking it to whole new levels in the future.
Where would Richard have gone if he hadn’t taken that path from storytelling with D&D to Computer gaming?
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The Night Comet Shoemaker Levy 9 Crashed Into Jupiter
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I’ve heard this one told, my only comment would be. Could you imagine being in that situation? That and.. An UZI? Talk about home protection!
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Chapter 3
The Origin of Origin
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Thanks a lot, Richard! Not good. I have lighter fluid in the basement that now keeps crossing my mind.
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It All Begins To Computer
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I am jealous of Richard’s experience in school with computers. I signed up for a class in which it was clear I knew more than the teacher. That may have been ok, except the content was a joke as well. I learned more at home from other people on the local BBS.
My mom programmed in Fortran!
If you want to PLAY D&D1, Richard’s first game on tape, you can! Get yourself a Shroud of the Avatar account, Richard’s new game he is working on. Then make your way to Central Brittany and go to the docks, say hi to the Town Crier. Set your compass on “Oddjob” from the list the crier gives you and go inside! You will find a teletype that has D&D1 imported in the game that is fully playable!
Money Games
One of the reasons I have always enjoyed Richard Garriott is because he is a very humble human being. He is a joy to spend time with whether it is a quick conversation or if it’s dinner. He may pick up your tab on a social dinner occasion at a restaurant, but he never lords what he has over you. I have personally seen him put people with little in life at ease being around him and making them feel he was approachable to them.
What I never realized was how close he had come to becoming “that type” of a person at one point in his life. My sincere appreciation to his friends who stepped up and helped him not stray from his path. For a Richard that was a dick, would not be one that I would be proud to know or that would be creating the value to this world that he is creating for all of the human race in his many projects; from space exploration to back down here on earth with things such as Rapid Transport Systems (not in his book).
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Risky Business
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I would have said ‘yes” to the Delorean, and then ignored them afterward!
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Chapter 4 – The Wonders of Wondering
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Mind Blown. So much in this chapter that is all new to me.
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Chapter 5 – Minding My Own Business
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It’s a good chapter, but I have no comment.
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Chapter 6 – A Universal Language
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OMG! OMG! OMG! Joseph Toschlog got mentioned!
Did Someone say decorating rooms with Ultima Memorabilia?
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Chapter 7 – IV-Play, Or The New Rules of Engagement
Chapter 8 – Makeing Enemies
Chapter 9 – The Haunted Beginnings of Themed Interactive Events
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Some fantastic stories here. Some I have heard, Some I have not. Also some opportunity for reader interactivity!
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Chapter 10 – The Magic of Science
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Lot of fun stuff is going on here but I have no specific comments.
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Chapter 11 – The Discovery of the Pina Colada
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I never heard this story, absolutely awesome! I wonder how often treasure is found when doing that sort of the first dive on that sort of trip? I also wonder if the take was over the costs and by how much?
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Chapter 12 – The End of the Beginning of the World
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Long live Richard Garriott the Godfather of MMO’s!
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Chapter 13 – Nothing for Money
Chapter 14 – We Created a World and Never Got a Day of Rest
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I officiated several UO marriage ceremonies!
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Chapter 15 – Finder’s Leavers: A-Geocaching We Will Go
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I wanted to visit Richards Geocache when I was in Austin, but I was on limited time with a busy schedule. Richard doesn’t mention this in his book, but you can do his Geocache in about 30 minutes if you know the shortcut. I decided I didn’t want to rush it and am hoping to go back and spend a day of it sometime.
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Chapter 16 – Playing for Keeps
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I still can’t comprehend being terminated from a job like that. Either of them!
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Chapter 17 – He’s Got a Ticket to …
Chapter 18 – Packing (and smuggling) for Space: The Space Kielbasa
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I had once seen a Kickstarter for champagne glasses in space and had asked Richard how much of a market they had. He told me some of (not all) of these stories. Great stuff, love it.
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Chapter 19 – Taking Up Space
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Brushing my teeth will never be the same. *makes sucking noises*
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Chapter 20 – Don’t Kill Stephen Hawking!
Chapter 21 – Oh! The Places We’ll Go!
Explore/Create: My Life in Pursuit of New Frontiers, Hidden Worlds, and the Creative Spark on Amazon
I dedicate this article to Richard Garriott.
Richard Garriott has had at least some subtle, yet direct, effect on my life since I have been a child. Sometimes not so subtle. 🙂
It was enjoyable for me to get to read many of his great stories in detail and I look forward to the next volume!
But.. Richard,
J/K
Explore/Create: My Life in Pursuit of New Frontiers, Hidden Worlds, and the Creative Spark on Amazon
