The Closest Thing in Real Life to Myst’s Wormhole Book

In the 1993 video game Myst, players come across artifacts known as “linking books.” Myst was an expansive adventure and puzzle-based game that saw players explore a mysterious island. These tomes spoke to the player, providing vital information and, says Gizmag, were used to “transport people to other worlds known… as Ages.”

Example of a linking book:

But now, says Gizmag, Australia-based Mike Ando, who goes by the name RIUM+, has designed and built a linking book that doesn’t just talk back but actually allows you to play Myst through a touchscreen and computer built right into a book. The replica linking book, says Ando, is “made out of a copy of the same book Cyan originally scanned as a texture reference.”

The sequel to Myst, known as Riven, was well known at its launch for the mere fact that the game sprawled across a whopping five CDs. Ando’s construction manages to house not only Myst and Riven, but every other game in the Myst series.

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Colin Schultz | | READ MORE

Colin Schultz is a freelance science writer and editor based in Toronto, Canada. He blogs for Smart News and contributes to the American Geophysical Union. He has a B.Sc. in physical science and philosophy, and a M.A. in journalism.