Explore/Create - by Richard Garriott & David Fisher (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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 legendary pioneer of the online gaming industry--and a member of every gaming Hall of Fame--Garriott invented the multi-player online game, and coined the term "Avatar" to describe an individual's online character.

A lifelong adventurer and member of the Explorers Club, Garriott has used the fortune he amassed from the gaming business to embark on a number of 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. Richard has been one of the foremost pioneers of the private space industry, investing his time and energy into making space travel more accessible.

In this fascinating memoir, Garriott invites readers on the great adventure that is his life. Yet his is no ordinary autobiography; throughout, Garriott 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, Garriott takes readers on an unforgettable intellectual experience that is enlightening, adventurous, and fun.

From the Back Cover

Richard Garriott's story begins with an Apple II and a dream. At eighteen, he spent his entire life savings--two hundred dollars--to produce Akalabeth, his first video game. The first week he sold maybe a dozen copies, but soon after, the California Pacific Computer Company came calling, asking to publish the game.

Never could Richard have foreseen that this would become a multibillion-dollar industry. He would go on to launch Ultima, a seminal series of role-playing games. Ultima Online was the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game, and was named one of Time's 100 greatest video games ever. Throughout, Richard has aspired to build the most lifelike gaming worlds possible, allowing players to interact with every object on the screen, experience consequences for moral transgressions, and fully personalize their gaming journey.

Away from the screen, Richard has also pushed the limits of human experience. A lifelong adventurer, he has plumbed the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to see the remains of the Titanic and hunted for meteorites in Antarctica, and in 2008 he became one of the first private citizens to travel into space. He was named by Maxim as one of the "Six Most Interesting Men You Can Actually Meet," and was the real-life inspiration for James Halliday in Ernest Cline's classic Ready Player One, soon to be a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg. Here, in his own words, is his extraordinary life story.

Review Quotes

"Richard Garriott has inspired me to explore and create since I was a teenager. I never would've written Ready Player One if I hadn't grown up playing the games he created as Lord British. This is the book I've been waiting to read for a long, long time." -- Ernest Cline, New York Times bestselling author of Ready Player One

"Fascinating.... Demystifies an industry and a man so instrumental in it.... A rich compendium of stories from an extraordinary life." -- Eurogamer.net

"Lively and entertaining.... [Garriott] embeds puzzles and games in the book for those who want to take it beyond the simple experience of reading.... Those looking for glimpses into an adventurous life should be pleased." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Explore/Create is a chronicle of wonder, and the many wondrous things the future may hold. Richard and I have long shared a passion for space. Perhaps one day our kids will create and play games on a new world!" -- Elon Musk, CEO, SpaceX and Tesla Motors

"Richard and his partners at Zero-G took me on my first flight into weightlessness. ... I applaud his spirit and have enjoyed the fruits of his labor." -- Stephen Hawking

"I was so taken by Richard Garriott's game Ultima that I was nearly speechless when I met him at a pizza joint in Chicago. Now finally, Richard has shared his compelling story with the rest of us in Explore/Create." -- Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple

"Richard and I are both among the first private astronauts, and we have used our unbound power of imagination to take us to new heights. This book will take you on an insider's journey into Richards fascinating mind from creating virtual worlds and characters to exploring the cosmos. Buckle up!" -- Anousheh Ansari, 1st Muslim woman to go into space

"Garriott's enthusiasm for his passions is evident and... even inspirational." -- Booklist Online

"Telling. ... Learn [Garriott's] secret to staying creative and gain valuable insight into his crazy-interesting history." -- Brit + Co

"An entertaining book that describes Garriott's twin passions to explore (not just space but also the deep sea and Antarctica, among other places) and create." -- The Space Review