By Harold Goldberg

If you’re a fan of EVE Online, you likely know at least some of the lore.

But wait. There’s more.

Like the “The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia,” “EVE: Source” by CCP Games and Dave Marshall features a vast compilation of almost everything EVE – short pieces on characters, long stories about the vast, mysterious worlds and detailed artwork that’s made for dreamers.

It’s bursting with information. For instance, the population of Minmatar (6.556 Trillion) is one that appreciates tattoos (but not as much as their ancestors, for that was prior to the Amarr banning such intricate inking). It’s fascinating minutiae for the fact collector.

Yet one issue I have with the tome is the lack of artwork for the sections on fairly notable characters; she may be a minor character to some, but what does the Guristas pirate Thon Eney look like? Even the tiniest of thumbnail art would have been welcome. Then again, there are over 7,500 star systems in the EVE universe – and technologies and histories. The editing period, the time of cutting and adding, must have been a process of both trying misery and unabashed glee.

I wouldn’t say the 200-page sourcebook is essential for, say, even the elite EVE Online players. But I would say that if lore and history is your thing, “EVE: Source” will help you understand, appreciate and admire the ever-expanding world that is this sprawling and popular MMO today.

Harold Goldberg, a contributor to The New York Times, is the author of “All Your Base Are Belong to Us: How 50 Years of Videogames Conquered Pop Culture)”.