Ian's debut novel Bitter Seeds is on shelves now, and it's getting some great reviews.  From the plot to the writing to the cover art, there's nothing not to love.  For the run-up to the launch Ian and I came up with a game called Chronicle of Sorrows, a clue-based puzzle game that incorporates all of the interactive pieces on his website.  We designed this game to be fiendishly difficult.  We assumed that somebody somewhere would play the part of Bletchley Park and solve it before the launch, but so far nobody's cracked the code.  So I'm going to offer a little advice to those of you who clicked on the little zebra hoping for a clue.

First, ask the homunculus about Chronicle of Sorrows.  That will get you three journal entries, the start of a whole series of pages ripped from the 404 page journal that you are trying to piece together.  The journal tells a story set in the Bitter Seeds world, just before the events in the book and filled with ominous foreshadowing of actual characters and events.  

Each of the journal pages you find suggests a clue and possibly a method of finding the answer to the clue.  This will involve playing with the website interactive pieces, including the postcard generator (where you can send a postcard to von Westarp, if you like).  

The goal of the game is to find the three login pieces for the file folder on Stephenson's Desk.  Contained within the folder are the DVD extras for the book, an unpublished appendix of sorts.  Also, you'll have the chance to claim your prize by providing your email address so we can contact you about where to send your signed ARC.  

That is all.  Good luck.

OK, it's not a complete walkthrough.  But at least I opened the door.