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300 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1985
I bought two copies of Bass' book upon seeing Martin Gardner's review: One for me, and one for my engineering mentor who, a few years earlier, had proposed the same thesis the protagonists knew: Once the croupier has released the ball, the outcome is deterministic.* The story is technically accurate: The purpose-built wearable computer, using the same brain as our Apple ][ computer version, plus a marvelously surreptitious interface, would make Maxwell Smart proud. As an early view into personal computer era homebrew development teams, it is also realistic. And though we never "fielded" our solution**, the vicarious experience of trial, re-trial, and in-theater operation through Bass' coverage was wonderful, compelling, and thrilling. And satisfyingly, ultimately redeemed those "wasted" hours.

* well, nearly
** of course I would say that.