The Book of Zelda...

I just sat here reading my little black OOT-guide book. Not because I need help with the game, but since I love reading about Zelda things.

Then I wondered, why isn't there a thick book where everything regarding Zelda stands? The game is filled of places, races, history, symbols, legends, secrets, treasures and everything.
I would love having a book in which I could read about the history of the Sheika, the foundation of Kakariko village, the creation of the sages, hyrulian symbolism.

Besides the in game history, it would be interesting to have some information about things such as items and enemies... From what are they inspired and how have they developed throughout the series. And also made up facts from the creators like "The Dekushrub thrives in swampy places and gloomy caverns. The species is rather defensive and doesn't trust no one but their own kind." etc.

I want made up histories about a lot of things in Hyrule and also information about real facts from the games themselves. With other words, a massive Zelda bible. And how come such thing haven't been created (as far as I'm concerned)? Not even a fan made edition. Is there a stupid copyright thing that doesn't allow that?

that would be awesome
you should write one
i could help

Originally Posted by LupusX

Besides the in game history, it would be interesting to have some information about things such as items and enemies... From what are they inspired and how have they developed throughout the series. And also made up facts from the creators like "The Dekushrub thrives in swampy places and gloomy caverns. The species is rather defensive and doesn't trust no one but their own kind." etc.

that sounds like a very good idea, if you were to write one, i would gladyhelp, i'd love to see a book/bible aswell

Originally Posted by LupusX

And how come such thing haven't been created (as far as I'm concerned)? Not even a fan made edition. Is there a stupid copyright thing that doesn't allow that?

I'd say that the fans doesn't have the courage to do this. It wouldn't be complete, thus it'd get a lot of critics, and nobody loves to work a lot, if he/she only gets critics back.
And probably you need to do something with the rights, yeah.

I would really enjoy something like that. Although it probably won't ever be made.

I guess you could consider zeldawiki a fanmade attempt at this?

I'd love something like this, to be honest.

I guess The Legend of Zelda and Philosophy had something going, but it doesn't have everything in it.

I love the Zelda wiki, it is a step in the right direction. However, I want that book to be official, meaning that everything that stands there should be established and generally accepted in the Zelda community.

The Zelda wiki mostly have facts (and theories at some ratio). What isn't there is the real feeling of authority since things can't be made up and then expected to be implemented into the game. The wiki will never contain any made up historical events or interesting information about Terminian architecture.

^ I'm not sure what you mean about "made up historical events". A Zelda Book explaining everything, would indeed be awesome, but very, very heavy. It would probably just end up the same if you printed of all the pages of Zelda Wiki anyway.

It's a really nice idea, but I think Nintendo should hold off on something like this until they've made the timeline at least a little bit clearer, else the book might become riddled with inconsistensies.

Aren't there many guides to find here on the net?

He means an enjoyable book with stories of races and stuff, not just simple facts, what guides tell you.
I think.

Star Wars has an encyclopedia, but one big obstacle to a Zelda encyclopedia is that
many of the symbols develop connections no one dreamed possible

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but...

A. Zelda Lore is a mess. It's full of contradictions and incertainties.
B. If it were handled by anyone other than the staff of the games themselves, it couldn't be taken as canon.
C. Nintendo hasn't done anything like this and they prefer to pretend their fanbase will always be 6 year old boys. They'd never put forth the time and money to create such a thing.
D. Unlike MOTHER with its (excellent) fan handbook, Zelda is a property Nintendo actually cares about. It's unlikely one of us could publish this book without Nintendo suing our asses off.
E. No-one here has the time or funds to create and publish a book, and if they did, it'd be the subject of constant debate of what is and isn't canon, and there'd inevitably be plenty of errors. It's unlikely any of us have the willpower to do it, either.
F. Star Wars, as mentioned earlier, has an encyclopedia. That's because there's a metric ****ton of Star Wars lore, and it's all well-planned out. Zelda media is pretty much made to create an appealing experience and really isn't that expansive of a world, compared to a lot of other series like Warcraft or Final Fantasy, and those don't have Encyclopedias.

It SOUNDS good in theory, but even if it somehow WERE accomplished, it'd be lacking in content and form.

I'd love to be proven wrong, but I'm pretty confident I won't be any time soon.

Omg! Everyone here at ZU could help write a book called Zelda Universe which has everything you said in the starting post

Toon Magician Girl: You are right. And with an extra emphasis on "enjoyable book". Because there is a special feeling you get from a book which can't be replaced by some text on the computer.

And the point of Nintendo them selves creating the book, is that everything must be presumed canonical. That is necessary. Consequently it is not the same as printing out all pages on Zelda-wiki or creating our own on this community.

Peri SC: Unfortunately I believe you are 100% right. Moreover, if they did make such book, they need to reveal information they probably want to have in an exciting game plot. Therefore a Zeldabible can't be released until all future games are complete.

However, if no one brings up the subject, it isn't very likely it will happen either. The best chances would be if Nintendo heard all fans screaming of a zeldabible. Then they would at least consider the idea.

So how many pages would this book be? 800?

Originally Posted by LupusX

However, if no one brings up the subject, it isn't very likely it will happen either. The best chances would be if Nintendo heard all fans screaming of a zeldabible. Then they would at least consider the idea.

Because it worked so well the first time, right?

Keep in mind that nearly the entire Earthbound American community has at least HEARD of Starmen, and they're a real go-getting, hard-working, enthusiastic bunch. If the entirety of Starmen couldn't convince Nintendo, I doubt the handful of people who have read this topic will convince them. Besides, when's the last time Nintendo released ANY merchandise other than the occasional T-shirt or cheap-ass toy?

I know nothing about the Earthbound community, however I don't doubt they will ignore such thing too. Still it could be interesting to hear other peoples thoughts of a Zelda book, what they do expect and what they especially would be interesting in reading. Would anyone even spend any money on something like that?

I just noticed that the A Link to the Past-guide has a lot of facts like:
"The traditional hyrulian outfit was simple and functional. The men had their belts on the height of the waist around their leather vests and the women had straight dresses of ankle-length."

"Craftsmen created elegant earrings, bracelets and necklaces in gold, decorated with pictures from hyrulian legends."

Such facts appear everywhere in the book, in contrast to the later ocarina of time guide.