I've picked up a couple books on Analysis Services including the 'MDX Solutions' book by George Spofford. While I'm happy with these books, I'm really looking for something different, but I'm not sure how to quantify it.
Back in '92, I wrote an “Analysis Services” style application that used dimension tables, a fact table, a cube abstraction and even query caching. Of course, back then the terms like “fact table“ and “dimension table“ didn't exist but the functionality was identical. The creation of these systems is methodical and interesting when you consider the types of data situations you can run into. Bottom line, it's a relational database problem and I've always felt that OLAP was a clever way of saying you're “denormalizing“ the database without digging up a religious war with the “n-th normal form zealots.“
The problem with todays set of books is that authors tend to get caught up in a methodical rundown of OLAP theory in presenting their how-to approach. OLAP theory is comprehensive and necessary - it's there for a reason. But I've got to think there is a book that cuts through the theory and develops a core understanding of using the tools to build a solution from a conventional dbms perspective and THEN role into the theory bits. For example don't ramble on talking about Star Schemas - show the reader an implementation, why it works, why it's necessary and then reveal that the user just learned the Star Schema bit. Expose some details to tie the lesson together and move on.
We used to refer to great books as being “content-dense”, where you can sit down and read a chapter and feel like the author has revealed great truths about a language/os/design/etc.. I just don't get that “I'm getting smarter by the minute feeling” with these books. The OLAP books I've seen tend to be content-sparse - one or two facts surrounded by a chapter of discussion. Yawn.
That said, I am happy with Spoffords book. His book focuses on MDX which is a very related but different problem set. I'll continue looking for a more general book and blog it if I find it...