I appreciate reading JMI's response. I agree that much info is there for the taking on the net. A few good search engines and a couple of key words should be enough. Maybe if you really must, one could read the Google Hacks ebook. However just like a public library the net can offer too much info and one does not know how good the material really is as one does not know the credentials of the author.

I do know assembly and C and would like to read just a few core texts, without wading through scores of tutorials. I was particularly wondering where the famous ORC series fits in ? Is it advanced level or beginners level ?

I have not searched for material within the forum yet but intend to do so. I would be more willing to read material on this forum rather than randomly on the net.

Regarding the comment "Let's try to keep the unnecessary stroking at a minimum." What does this mean exactly ? I do not understand in what context you use the word "stroking".
Although I seem to recollect in my distant past a girlfriend using a somewhat similar phrase ...
Sorry, but is there some written or unwritten rule that I have not followed and should know about ?