Counterfeit Monkey — 62 of 292

Part 4 - Special Prop Types

Chapter 1 - Information Sources

Section 1 - Books

A book is a kind of thing. Understand "book" as a book. A book has a table-name called the contents.

Before printing the name of a proper-named book: say "[italic type]".

After printing the name of a book: say "[roman type]".

After consulting a book about a topic listed in the contents of the noun:

say "[reply entry][paragraph break]".

After consulting a book about:

say "[You] flip through [the noun], but find no reference to [the topic understood]." instead.

Understand "look up [text] in [a book]" as consulting it about (with nouns reversed). Understand "read about [text] in [a book]" as consulting it about (with nouns reversed).

Understand "look up [text]" as guidebook-consulting. Understand "read about [text]" as guidebook-consulting. Understand "look [text] up" as guidebook-consulting.

Understand "look [text] up in [a book]" as consulting it about (with nouns reversed). Understand "look [text] up in [something]" as consulting it about (with nouns reversed).

Check consulting a book about something (this is the take books to read them rule):

if the player does not carry the noun:

try taking the noun;

if the player does not carry the noun:

stop the action.

Guidebook-consulting is an action applying to one topic.

The guidebook-consulting action has an object called the implied textbook.

Setting action variables for guidebook-consulting:

change the implied textbook to the player;

if the player's command includes "[number]" and the filing cabinet is visible:

change the implied textbook to the filing cabinet;

otherwise if the player can see the guidebook:

change the implied textbook to the guidebook;

otherwise if the player carries a book:

change the implied textbook to a random book carried by the player;

otherwise if the player can see a book (called the target):

change the implied textbook to the target.

Check guidebook-consulting:

if the implied textbook is the player:

say "[You] don't have any suitable book in which to look that up." instead.

Carry out guidebook-consulting:

try consulting the implied textbook about the topic understood.