Image: xkcd.com
Everyone’s favorite webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math and language is coming out for the ever-reliable dead-tree platform tomorrow. In other words, we’re finally getting our xkcd book.
The book releases tomorrow, but not in bookstores; it’s only sold online. If you want to score a copy in person, you can bid in the xkcd book tour Dutch auction for events in California and New York. Catch a reading by creator Randall Munroe, get a chance to win a signed copy of the book and share some cocktails with other xkcd fans. Better yet, all proceeds go to the Room to Read non-profit. Their goal is to build a school in Laos named after xkcd. This means that certain lucky Laotians will get to say they went to “the xkcd school,” and that’s just about the coolest thing ever.
I had a chance to read an advance copy and I can guarantee that fans of the comic won’t be disappointed. Munroe’s introduction to the book addresses the conflict in selling a printed version of something already available for free online, but the fun bonus material included in the marginalia (including historical notes about certain comics and some mysterious red text at the bottom of the pages) ensure that the book can stand on its own.
Buy the book at the xkcd store tomorrow and if you’re in New York this Saturday or in the Silicon Valley next Tuesday, check out the uber-geeky reverse auction and bid today!
