The Greater Book of Transmutation is mainly based on a free association database that I found here. It’s about making things, using materials that are commonly associated with them – e.g., a cat might be made from “being feline”, “claws”, “meows” and “being graceful” and “tail”. Throw in a system of tools with actions that use/transform materials, a bit of word classification, a markov chain latin words generator, a lot of silliness and bit LaTeX, and you get:

You can find the resulting PDF here.

The source code (MIT license) written in Python is also available.

An example:

How to make a book in 12 easy steps:

Materials:

• 10 hymns
• 178 readings
• 10 clear concepts of poem
• 4 clear concepts of guide

Tools:

• bucket with water
• vessel
• pet unicorn
• ballpoint pen

Instructions:

1. Let vessel cool down.
2. Heat vessel.
3. Dip 10 clear concepts of poem into the bucket with water.
4. Feed 10 clear concepts of wet poem to your pet unicorn.
5. Let your pet unicorn lick 10 hymns.
6. Pet your pet unicorn.
7. Wait for a long time.
8. Wait until your pet unicorn poops. Receive 124.89 ounces of a very dirty pile of “wet poem”
9. Draw a magic circle on the floor using the ballpoint pen.
10. Draw a cross into the circle and place 10 licked hymns, 178 readings, 4 clear concepts of guide and 124.89 ounces of a very dirty pile of “wet poem” on each corner.
11. Whisper the following spell: “Alchemia implacabilis! Meio clystermitto clodigo condocefaciencia, millibi! Verca bisellatrocinium! Creditor circumbrans!”
12. Reluctantly, a book will appear inside the circle.

That might also help those that are struggling to make a book. And if you are missing one of the materials or tools, maybe another entry in The Greater Book of Transmutation could help you make it!

Used data sources:

• Nelson, D. L., McEvoy, C. L., & Schreiber, T. A. (1998). The University of South Florida word association, rhyme, and word fragment norms
• English Club: Uncountable Nouns List
• LATIN-ENGLISH DICTIONARY WORDLIST Version 1.97FC by William Whitaker