As reported back in December the new, third edition of Vernon Fitch's essential "Pink Floyd Encyclopedia" will be out shortly - it is due to be published in April 2005 by Collectors Guide Publishing Inc, the book is the guide to pretty much anything you need to know about the band. And we have a copy to give away in our latest competition - read on for more details...

We've been in contact with the publishers, who have given us the following run-down of what is new in this third edition:

    * Hundreds of new entries, detailing all the activity that has taken place since the previous edition of the encyclopaedia was published, have been added to the book. This includes entries for recent releases, such as Is There Anybody Out There - The Wall Live, Echoes - The Best of Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon SACD, Pink Floyd - Live at Pompeii DVD, Syd Barrett - Wouldn't You Miss Me, David Gilmour - In Concert DVD, Roger Waters - In the Flesh, and Roger Waters - Flickering Flame albums, as well as information about recent performances and tours, and session work that the band members have done

    * Biographical information on all the people listed in the book has been updated. This includes new entries, as well as revised existing entries. Much has changed in the five years since the book was last published, including the deaths of long-time Pink Floyd manager Steve O'Rourke, Pink Floyd collaborator Michael Kamen, and band friends Douglas Adams and John Peel, and all this information is covered in the latest edition of the book

    * Thousands of new additions, corrections, and clarifications have been made to the Pink Floyd Encyclopaedia. Although the second edition of the encyclopaedia was considered to be the most comprehensive reference work to date on the band, the third edition takes it one step further. The book contains hundreds of new entries and thousands of new facts about Pink Floyd, some of which have been provided by the band members themselves

    * The concert date and equipment appendices in the encyclopaedia have been updated. The concert date appendices have been revised to include the latest concert dates, and corrections have been made, when necessary, to the tour histories of the earlier editions. The equipment appendix has also been revised with new information about the equipment that has been used by the band over the years. Exclusive discussions with Pink Floyd's long-time equipment chief, Phil Taylor, has clarified much about Pink Floyd's equipment over the years, and has revealed previously unknown facts about their equipment, published for the first time in this book

    * A brand new Hawkwind song is included on the CD that accompanies the new book. This new Hawkwind track, which the band provided exclusively for release with this book, is titled "Saucerful of Secrets (reprise)," and is a tribute by Hawkwind to Pink Floyd. Additionally, the two Hawkwind songs that appeared on the CD that was issued with the prior editions of the encyclopedia are also included with the third edition as well. The third edition of The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia is a major revision to what is considered "the bible" of Pink Floyd facts and information. It is one of the most complete Pink Floyd reference works ever published.

Orders for this essential reference book are now being taken by Amazon - UK/Elsewhere, US/International, Canada, Germany, or France. However, if you are feeling lucky, why not try our latest competition? We have a copy of the book to give away to the person drawn out of the BD hat, who answers the following questions correctly. Send your answers together with your name and country you live in, by email with the subject line "PFE competition", to reach us by midnight GMT Thursday March 31st. Good luck, and remember to get your entry in before the closing date - the winner will be picked on Friday April 1st!

Q1. What other Pink Floyd book has Vernon Fitch written and had published by Collectors Guide Publishing?
Q2. What album is the subject of a forthcoming book by Vernon and Richard Mahon?
Q3. Why do you want to win a copy of this book?

Our thanks to Ric at the publishers for the info and competition prize on offer. And good luck to everyone who enters! [COMPETITION NOW CLOSED]