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 Tumblr and Twitter; these have been collated here.

Slate Deposits in the Intermountain West (usually referred to as Slate or SD) is a codebook for 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 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:

• Las Vegas drop: 2024 edition
• Ruston drop: 2024 edition with extra handwritten notes
• Nashville drop: 2024 edition with extra handwritten notes

A partial scan of the book is available here.