I'm proud to announce that “Invincible: The Games of Shusaku” by John Power (published by Kiseido) is now available in SmartGo Books. This book has been widely acclaimed as a masterpiece on one of the greatest Go players who ever lived. The SmartGo Books edition of Invincible includes the complete text, games, and diagrams of the print edition, painstakingly converted to digital format. And it takes full advantage of the digital medium to offer a number of advantages, allowing you to get more out of this great book:
- Replay moves in figures and diagrams; play out your own variations.
- Fewer moves per figure, with the appropriate text for each figure.
- Inline diagrams for move sequences embedded in the text.
- Tappable links to referenced games, chapters, and diagrams.
- Adjustable font and layout.
- Always with you: read anytime on your iPad (recommended) or iPhone (not ideal, but it works).
The introductory price is $19.99.

Thanks to John Mifsud (imabuddha) for his loving conversion of this book, and Kirk McElhearn and especially Terri Schurter for their help in reviewing the digital edition.

SmartGo Books is a free app for the iPad and iPhone available on the App Store. Check out free chapters of over 30 Go books; purchase books you like using in-app purchase. More info on this and other newly added books at: http://smartgo.com/booklist.htm

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Anders Kierulf
@smartgo

Although I already have it in print, I will still get me some invincible to Go

Yeah, great. Thanks ALOT Anders.

You do realize that some of us suffer from a bit of a compulsion. This book was amazing when it came out - and expensive - and because of certain personal issues I of course bought 2.

I cannot tell you how proud I was of myself when I only bought one of the softback edition.

Of course, the second hardback edition had a slightly different cover, but again I demonstrated significant personal growth and only purchased one.

And now...serously....again?

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My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle

Will it ever be available on non iOS platforms?

I wish for Android support also.

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Human beings cannot stop doing what they really desire to do. ; Amamiya-sensei
Updated revised and continued Blog with Pro games commented and info about studying abroad: http://beginningpath.blogspot.com/

http://smartgo.com/booklist.htm currently claims that Invincible has 1418 pages.
It is undoubtedly a great book but...

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"The connection between the language in which we program and the problems and solutions we can imagine is very close" -- Bjarne Stoustrup

I hope to be able to do a non-iOS version at some point, but no guarantees. There are a number of factors outside of my control. Either way, it won't be soon.

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Anders Kierulf
@smartgo

That's a shame. Hopefully someone will make something similar for the Android platform.

Thanks to all involved!

The actual number of pages varies with the device you're using, your choice of font & size, and even the orientation of the device, so that number is just a guide for comparison with other SmartGo Books.

The bottom line is that Invincible is the largest book available via SmartGo Books thus far, and an great value. I think The Games of Fujisawa Shuko is the next largest, and also a good value IMO.

The printed book is 420 pages. The page count of 1418 on the iPad is in portrait mode with default font settings; in landscape it's 2185 pages. The page count on the iPad is so much higher due the size of a page compared to the size of the iPad, bigger figures and diagrams than in the book, more figures, and no attempt to squeeze as much as possible onto each page. On the iPhone, it's 5216 pages.

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Anders Kierulf
@smartgo

Thanks, this explains it.

I did actually compare with with Fundamental Principles of Go which had about the same page count that I remembered.
But in hindsight that book has a lot less on each page in its printed edition.

If I ever get an iPad I will certainly purchase a copy.
(Slightly unlikely due to my views on Apple but you never know. )

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"The connection between the language in which we program and the problems and solutions we can imagine is very close" -- Bjarne Stoustrup

wow that is really good i love how the selection is growing

Hi,

Having recently bought an iPad this will be one of my first purchases, although I already own the hardcover version! Great idea, I am looking for more books in the future!

Cheers,

Michael

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Go is easy: don't play bad moves.

Thanks, I know you'll enjoy this version!

There are over 30 SmartGo Books available now and more to come, including some classics.

This is slightly tangential but...

@smartgo: Please add an RSS feed to the newest books page. I know I'll subscribe to it.

Good point, would be helpful. Involves some work due to the way I'm generating the web site.

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Anders Kierulf
@smartgo

Bit late, but I wanted to express my appreciation for the SmartGo Books version of Invincible! I already had the hardcover edition, but it's one of those books that I am almost too afraid to *really* study, because of how "precious" it is and I never want to expose it to coffee, cat paws and other such things that books love to attract. I had planned to get a soft cover edition for studying, but it's awesome that I could now get it for the iPad instead.

The SmartGo Books library has really grown to be a major asset. Thanks for all the work that has gone, and will go, into it. It has made the iPad so very worthwhile.

You want this book in SmartGo Books format, and I will explain why.

I've long been a beta tester of SmartGo products beginning with SmartGo for Windows. I was pleased to be asked to review Invincible in digital format before it went to publication. While all of the SmartGo Books are great, if you were to own only one of them, I'd say to buy this one even if you have the paper version.

I purchased Invincible in softcover in 1997, and I struggled through a few sections from time to time with a go board in front of me and yunzi stones so I could turn them over during variations and have a fighting chance of reconstructing the game position to move on with the rest of the game. The paper book is great, but the diagrams are densely packed by necessity in order to fit so much content into just one book. While reading it with a board is possible, the moves aren't always easy to find, and the interruption of looking for a move that you don't find immediately destroys the flow. That isn't the case with the SmartGo Books format.

I know you have an iPad. The program is free and there are samples for every book. Don't take my word for it.

1. Download the app
2. Read the sample
3. Be amazed.

It's that simple.

Terri

Some days ago i bought an Ipad 3. Invincible was my first buy.

I want to thank John Mifsud for his wonderful work. So many diagrams (much more than in the original book), i appreciate your endurance.