The Armchair Universe: An Exploration of Computer Worlds

One of my favorite resources for exploring cellular automata is The Armchair Universe: An Exploration of Computer Worlds by A.K. Dewdney. The chapter "Three-Dimensional Life" is worth the price of the book (which you can get used for less then $2 on Amazon). It gives several examples of stable and cyclic forms that can emerge in a 3D version of the Game of Life. I also used the info to create an interesting Glider Gun display.

Instead of sections, the book is broken up into "worlds" to explore. The worlds are:

• Infinite Graphics - exploring Mandelbrots (fractals), Wallpaper for the Mind.
• Mathemagadgets
• Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Insanity - with a great introduction to game theory and the minimax algorithm using a game of checkers.
• Life in Automata - from One-Dimensional Computers to Three-Dimensional Life
• Puzzles and Worldplay
• Stimulation through Simulation
• Core Wars

While visiting Amazon, you may also want to pick up a copy of his other book: The Tinkertoy Computer and other Machinations: Computer Recreations from the pages of Scientific American and Algorithm. In that book you'll find more interesting chapters playing with fractals, automata, etc.