View source for Minecraft Beginners's Handbook: Updated Edition by Stephanie Milton

{{infobox1
|title=Minecraft Beginners's Handbook: Updated Edition
|author=Stephanie Milton
|reviewer=Louise Jones
|genre=Entertainment
|summary=A perfect starter guide to the world of Minecraft.
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=yes
|pages=96
|publisher=Egmont
|date=May 2015
|isbn=9781405276771
|website=https://minecraft.net
|video=MmB9b5njVbA
|cover=1405276770
|aznuk=1405276770
|aznus=1405276770
}}

If you haven't heard of ''Minecraft,'' where on earth have you been? This popular construction/survival game has captured the imagination of almost 30 million people worldwide and the craze shows no signs of abating. If, like me, you are curious as to what all the fuss is about and wonder why you can no longer get near the computer until after the kids have gone to bed, then this new series of books by Egmont are just what you need. In no time at all, you will be happily chatting about mobs, redstone, endermen and zombie pigmen as if you were an expert...

The ''Minecraft Beginner's Handbook'' is a perfect introduction to the basics of the game and covers all platforms, including the PC, console and mobile versions of the game. The book explains how to get started in the survival game mode and how to gather resources, build a shelter and craft basic tools to help you survive the night. The full-colour screen-shots beautifully compliment the text and enable the reader to see exactly what to expect from the game. The book also features guest segments from YouTube sensations CaptainSparklez and Paul Soares Jr, as well as interviews with the game creators, Notch and Jeb. By the end of the book, players will have a good basic understanding of game mechanics and be able to construct buildings, breed animals, farm resources and craft armour; all important in-game skills.

The creative side of Minecraft has been compared to building with LEGO and many players enjoy the game purely for the construction element. The 'creative-mode' enables players to work with an unlimited amount of resources without the complications of mining, crafting and survival. Master builders FyreUK are experts of their craft, creating stunning and complex structures that take a team of online builders several days to complete. In the {{amazonurl|isbn=1405276800|title=Minecraft Construction Handbook}}, the team explain some basic construction techniques and how these can be expanded to create breathtakingly beautiful buildings, gardens, cities and bridges using a variety of materials. Again, the screen-shots provide a step-by-step guide to building, with the focus on inspiring the player to use these basic blueprints as a springboard to something unique, special and personal.

Construction not your thing? Never fear. The {{amazonurl|isbn=1405276797|title=Minecraft Combat Handbook}}
is what you need. With a focus on survival and multi-player games, this book gives detailed descriptions of all of the enemies, or mobs, you are likely to encounter and how best to dispatch them. It also shows players how to craft armour and weapons and how to enchant these items for an extra boost. The book also has a section on battle strategy, as well as more advanced techniques such as creating forts, cannons and exploding traps. The mythical Ender Dragon also has his own dedicated section, with a handy guide on what to do if you should reach 'The End' and encounter him.

For the more advanced player, the {{amazonurl|isbn=1405276789|title=Minecraft Redstone Handbook}}
explains how to make simple circuits using Redstone powder as a wire. The book teaches basic techniques, like making pistons, torches and repeaters and then shows how these items can be incorporated into a variety of more complex machinery, creating piston doors, lighting systems, arrow launchers and automated traps. The list of creative possibilities is endless and the book highlights some contraptions created by the experts, like the amazing 14 Floor Elevator, the Super Stopwatch and the Zombie Siege arcade game. Basic electronics concepts become fun, as players see the possibilities that open up to them.

Having read all four books, I must admit that I'm keen to put my new-found knowledge to the test. Tonight, mum is hogging the PC and the kids will just have to wait their turn.

Construction fans may also enjoy [[Brick by Brick: How LEGO Rewrote the Rules of Innovation and Conquered the Global Toy Industry by David Robertson and Bill Breen]]. 

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