What Are You Reading?

[Ironclad Alibi]

I am rereading "Ocean: A History of the Atlantic Before Columbus" by John Haywood.

A magisterial cultural history of the Atlantic Ocean before Columbus, ranging from the early shaping of the continents and the emergence of homo sapiens to the story of shipbuilding, navigation, maritime exploration, slavery, and nascent European imperialism.

[Nunavut Pants]

Currently partway through "The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet". It's OK so far but I haven't yet seen whatever it is that makes it such a classic.

[Ceir]

My FLGS maintains a shelf of weird and indie RPG stuff, and I'm certainly not above buying games just for reading material; if it's interesting enough, never actually playing it is a non-factor. I really enjoyed the Thief games back in the day, so one called Blades In The Dark caught my eye with a back-cover blurb about "...scoundrels seeking their fortunes on the haunted streets of an industrial fantasy city. There are heists, chases, occult mysteries, dangerous bargains, bloody skirmishes, and, above all, riches to be had".

[Jay 2K Winger]

My FLGS maintains a shelf of weird and indie RPG stuff, and I'm certainly not above buying games just for reading material; if it's interesting enough, never actually playing it is a non-factor. I really enjoyed the Thief games back in the day, so one called Blades In The Dark caught my eye with a back-cover blurb about "...scoundrels seeking their fortunes on the haunted streets of an industrial fantasy city. There are heists, chases, occult mysteries, dangerous bargains, bloody skirmishes, and, above all, riches to be had".

Blades in the Dark is among the collection of TTRPG sourcebooks that I have accumulated and have never actually gotten around to playing. I do like the concept and worldbuilding in it. (Which is one of the main reasons I get a lot of said TTRPG books in my collection.)

[Ceir]

Blades in the Dark is among the collection of TTRPG sourcebooks that I have accumulated and have never actually gotten around to playing. I do like the concept and worldbuilding in it. (Which is one of the main reasons I get a lot of said TTRPG books in my collection.)

Yup. I own so many RPG sourcebooks for things I've never played, just for the reading. Old editions of Legend of the 5 Rings, 7th Sea, Pendragon, the LOTR one that came out around the movies...

[Ironclad Alibi]

I just finished "Butter" by Asako Yuzuki. An excellent story.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Yup. I own so many RPG sourcebooks for things I've never played, just for the reading. Old editions of Legend of the 5 Rings, 7th Sea, Pendragon, the LOTR one that came out around the movies...

At present, I have:
D&D Related
5e core three books (PHB, DMG, MM)
5.5e core books (PHB, DMG)
Curse of Strahd
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Tales from the Yawning Portal
Spelljammer 5e books (Setting guide, monster manual, Light of Xaryxis)
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Explorer's Guide to Wildemount
Tal'Dorei Campaign Guide Reborn
(plus a bunch of other digital versions)

Scion 1e - Hero, Demigod, God, Companion, Ragnarok
Scion 2e - Origin, Hero, Demigod
Exalted 3e
Inevitable
Triangle Agency
Knight: An Avalon Tale
The Magnus Archives RPG
Cowboy Bebop RPG
Gods of Metal: Ragnarock

At one point, I had a number of (new) World of Darkness books (what is now called Chronicles of Darkness) as well.

[Nunavut Pants]

Wow. I only have 1e and 2e books. I also have some of the early half-size books (the three book boxed set and the four supplements), but I can't find them.

I've been reading "Spitfire: The History". Oh boy, is it a detailed account! So far, early in the book, it has been talking about the first Supermarine aircraft named "Spitfire". It was very little like the legendary fighter, and was not selected for production by the British Air Ministry. It was very much an "inter war" design, with fixed landing gear and an open cockpit. It even had gull wings, much like the later F4U Corsair did!

The Me. 109 (or Bf. 109) would have chewed it up and spit it out, though. Good thing it wasn't selected.

I'm just starting the section where Supermarine and Rolls Royce are talking about designing a more advanced plane as a private venture... I'm pretty sure that one turns into the plane most WWII buffs know and love.