New Book on history of robot competitions - and FIRSt

[gearheads]

coompetition... coopertition. this is why i could never learn a foreign language. Thanks for pointing that out, i will get it fixed in the next printing of the book.

Jeff, in answer to your question, i would describe it as a tour through all forms and levels of the robot-building world. The book begins with the anarchist mechanical artists of the Bay Area's Survival Research labs, and then moves through the various versions of the sport, including FIRST and 2.70. But, yes, the main, driving narrative, woven throughought the book, is the story of one entrepreneur in particular, Marc Thorpe. As his original Robot Wars (not the one you see on TV) wins a community of likeminded gearheads and attracts the attention of TV producers, he falls into a dispute with his investor and is eventually ruined. My literary goal was to use the philosophy of the various competitions (i.e. "gracious professionalism") to reflect on Thorpe's very tragic but all too normal business story. Perhaps you can tell me if I succeeded in this goal!

FYI, I ran into Dean at a tech conference this week and gave him a signed copy of the book. He looked pleased - he generously helped me with the research. Thanks,
Brad