A review by 1_and_owenly
Tak Companion Book by James Ernest, Patrick Rothfuss

5.0

A history of the game of Tak, both fantastic & real, as featured in the novel, The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. I am impressed by how much thought and creativity went into this. The illustrations are quite lovely, and I could almost believe that the sections written about the fictional history of Tak, its strategies, terminology, variations & antecedents could have been written by a scholar on the subject. The section on Tak hustlers gave me particular joy. And the fact that the book is sprinkled with references to Rothfuss's fantasy world actually makes his story richer. Most of all, the Ballad of Teni Meren by Molly Lewis was an unexpected treat.

But more than just a history in the world. It is also a history of how this came to exist in *our* world. Rothfuss delighted me with his self admitted curmudgeonly nature at the suggestion that this game should be created. And though I had heard him speak before of how it came to pass, reading it once more lessened my enjoyment of the story not one iota.

And beyond all of this, the book is an instruction manual. It lays out the rules of Tak and gives puzzles and strategies to help the beginner. The game seems straightforward enough, and the puzzles revealed depths to the game beyond my initial impressions.

Now, I just need to find someone to play with.