http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=947888

I know that Ovid has a beginning Perl book coming out soon with Wrox. Now I've just seen that a new Beginning Perl book (written by Brent Michalski and James Payne) is due out in August 2012. It's to be published by John Wiley and Sons (ISBN 1118013840; 696 pages). To confuse matters, Amazon is advertising the Michalski and Payne book with the cover for Ovid's book. Am I missing something?

This is the blurb for the M & P book:

Everything beginners need to start programming with Perl. Perl is the ever-popular, flexible, open source programming language that has been called the programmers' Swiss army knife. This book introduces Perl to both new programmers and experienced ones who are looking to learn a new language. In the tradition of the popular Wrox Beginning guides, it presents the newest features, real-world examples, and everything necessary for a Perl novice to start programming with confidence. Introduces Perl to both new programmers and experienced ones who want to learn a new language. Provides a host of real-world applications for today's environments so readers can get started immediately. Covers the new features of Perl but fully applicable to previous editions. Beginning Perl provides the information and instruction you need to confidently get started with Perl.

:There is more than one way to @verb a cat:

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Re: New Beginning Perl book due out in August
by eyepopslikeamosquito (Archbishop) on Jan 15, 2012 at 01:13 UTC

    I agree this is really confusing. This book has a long and slightly sordid history. Despite considerable googling, I'm still feeling bewildered.

    The first edition, written by Simon Cozens "with" Peter Wainwright, was originally published by Wrox Press on May 25 2000. This edition is now also available as a free download.

    Apparently, Wiley acquired Wrox Press in April 2003 and all Wrox books were then transferred to Apress (?).

    The second edition, published by Apress in 2004, was written by James Lee "with" Simon Cozens and Peter Wainwright. According to a slashdot comment:

    The second edition was written by James Lee. He was not involved with the first edition, so he had the choice of reusing the original material, or rewriting/augmenting where he felt that was more appropriate. In the end, James ended up rewriting far more often than not
    This Simon Cozens blog, however, claims that more than 25 percent of the original text was used in the second edition, which led to a dispute between Simon and Apress about royalty payments.

    The third edition was written by James Lee and published by Apress in 2010. No mention of Simon Cozens or Peter Wainwright this time. Though there were some complaints about the publisher blazoning "covers Perl 5.10" on the front cover (apparently without consulting the author) even though the book does not cover key Perl 5.10 features.

    Finally, last week, Perl Weekly reported that Ovid is writing a new Wrox book "Beginning Perl". So Wrox seems to be still in business. Is this the fourth edition of the same "Beginning Perl" book? Or a new one with same title? Will the author be Ovid "with" James Lee, Simon Cozens and Peter Wainwright? Who are Michalski and Payne? And will there be another skirmish over royalties? This book has a really complicated lineage. :)

Re: New Beginning Perl book due out in August
by mrdurtal (Scribe) on Jan 15, 2012 at 05:33 UTC
    From what I have been able to work out, you've covered the publishing history well--although I am still confused. Brent Michalski was a co-author, with Kevin Meltzer, of Writing CGI Applications With Perl (2001) for which Lincoln Stein provided a foreword. Dave Cross has highly recommended the book in the past. I know of James Payne from the Python side of programming. However, he seems to have also been involved in providing information about Perl programming through Developer Shed in the past.
    :There is more than one way to @verb a cat:
Re: New Beginning Perl book due out in August
by Jenda (Abbot) on May 18, 2012 at 14:17 UTC
    This book introduces Perl to both new programmers and experienced ones who are looking to learn a new language.

    I don't get it. I mean the two groups are so different than having a single book trying to work for both is just ... I don't know. Learning the first language and learning yet another is very different and by trying to please both groups you run a very high risk of both being too quick for the first group and boring the second to death.

    Jenda
    Enoch was right!
    Enjoy the last years of Rome.