The books are real-life objects used to distribute messages, one-time pads and other data. They are usually placed as dead drops or ordered and sent 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 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

A partial scan of the book is available here.