diff --git a/dfhack/python/shell.py b/dfhack/python/shell.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..1967ba4c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dfhack/python/shell.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+import sys
+import pydfhack
+import pydfapi
+from smarthttp.lib.containers import SmartDict
+DF = pydfapi.API("Memory.xml")
+
+DF.Attach()
+
+pos = DF.position
+maps = DF.maps
+maps.Start()
+cursor = pos.cursor_coords
+msize = maps.size
+block = SmartDict()
+if cursor:
+    block.coords = (cursor[0]/16, cursor[1]/16, cursor[2])
+    block.tiles  = maps.Read_Tile_Types(block.coords[0], block.coords[1], block.coords[2])
+maps.Finish()
+DF.Resume()
+
+locs = dict(pydfhack=pydfhack, API=pydfhack._API, DF=DF, pos=pos, maps=maps, msize=msize, cursor=cursor, block=block)
+
+banner = """DFHack Shell\n\n"""\
+         """\tpydfhack = {pydfhack}\n"""\
+         """\tAPI      = {API}\n"""\
+         """\tDF       = {DF}\n"""\
+         """\tpos      = {pos}\n"""\
+         """\tmaps     = {maps}\n"""\
+         """\tmsize    = {msize}\n"""\
+         """\tcursor   = {cursor}\n"""\
+         """\tblock    = {block}\n""".format(**locs)
+
+from IPython.Shell import IPShellEmbed
+shell = IPShellEmbed()
+shell.set_banner(shell.IP.BANNER + '\n\n' + banner)
+shell(local_ns=locs, global_ns={})
+