====== Books ======

**Books** are real-life objects used to distribute messages, one-time pads and other data. They are usually placed as [[dead drops]] or ordered by postal mail.

The books often have humorous or nonsensical titles, covers inspired by mid-century modern design language, and contain various in-jokes or quips toward the counter-operation in their text. The covers and titles have appeared on the //Exciting Books// accounts on [[https://exciting-books.tumblr.com|Tumblr]] and [[https://twitter.com/excitingbooks|Twitter]]; these have been collated [[http://303.sashahart.net/book_covers/|here]].

===== Slate Deposits in the Intermountain West =====

{{::books:sd:slate_deposits_cover.jpeg?200|}}

**Slate Deposits in the Intermountain West** (usually referred to as **Slate** or **SD**) is a codebook for [[organizations#WORM]] agents, containing one-time pads for [[Slate messages]]. A new edition is distributed every year, containing new pads.

The 2024 edition of the book is structured as follows:

  * Page 4: Dedication to "AF" and the crew of MELTR3
  * Page 6: Nonsensical testimonials, including one from [[characters#Dr. J Marvin Blackweather]]
  * Pages 8–10: Nonsensical preamble
  * Page 12: Nonsensical book usage instructions
  * Pages 13–102: "Winston, NM" – 365 rows numbered from 2024001 to 2024365, each containing 32 numbers
  * Pages 103–193: "Finger of Fate, ID" – 365 rows numbered from 2024001 to 2024365, each containing 32 numbers
  * Pages 194–274: "Devils Twist, UT" – 365 rows numbered from 2024001 to 2024365, each containing 32 numbers
  * Page 275: Special message for the counter operation; that is, us
  * Page 276: "Field Notes" – a blank page for handwritten notes

We are in possession of the following copies of the book:

  * [[:dead_drops:Las Vegas drop]]: 2024 edition
  * [[:dead_drops:Ruston drop]]: 2024 edition with [[:dead_drops:Ruston drop#contents|extra handwritten notes]]
  * [[:dead_drops:Nashville drop]]: 2024 edition with [[:dead_drops:Nashville drop#contents|extra handwritten notes]]

A partial scan of the book is available [[https://otp22.org/files/books/OTP22-LV-Intermountain-Partial.pdf|here]].