In the Shadow of the Sword, Tom Holland, on the origins of Islam out of the failing empires of the era.

The Prince Lestat. Because how could I not, the brat prince is back after so long.

Love Tom Holland's history books. Rubicon and Persian Fire are great reads.

Amusingly, to tie in with your second pick, Holland also has his own vampire fiction novels...

I just finished Ready Player One by Earnest Cline. It is pretty good. Best book I think I have read in a few years.

It has a little bit of everything.

Excerpt from back of book below.

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.

But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape

Anyone else read it? Any other opinions on it.

Fellow LootCrate-er?

I want to read that, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Funnily enough, my wife borrowed that book just a couple of months before it showed up on our doorstep in the February LootCrate.

I just finished Ready Player One by Earnest Cline. It is pretty good. Best book I think I have read in a few years.

It has a little bit of everything.

Excerpt from back of book below.

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.

But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape

Anyone else read it? Any other opinions on it.

Fellow LootCrate-er?

I want to read that, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Funnily enough, my wife borrowed that book just a couple of months before it showed up on our doorstep in the February LootCrate.

Not yet, but a co-worker is and he got a copy in his and he let me borrow it.

Rupsje nooit genoeg.

Pretty soon you should upgrade to Paul Biegel and then Tonke Dragt. Hang in there

LOL. "Tonke Dragt", I haven't heard that name in a long while. "Torenhoog en mijlenbreed" was a good read.

I had not heard that name for a long time either!

Nostalgie!

Umm....... The X-wing series, and a giant amount of Star Wars books (including some NJO, Crucible, Crosscurrent and Riptide etc.)

I'm a nerd.

I'm a nerd.

You say that like it's a bad thing?

No, but in the worlds eyes, if I like half the stuff on my bookshelf, I'm a horrible person that isn't a true SW fan.

I think we are all nerds here YwingAce,

I think we are all nerds here YwingAce,

Point taken xD

Well except maybe that guy who keeps trying to sell real fake passports, but I'm pretty sure thats just a bot so "he" don't count.

Actually he used to run a fake passport shop down the street from me. A really nice guy we had dinner a few times. Us our wives and assorted federal agents. You should have seen his Star Wars collection though

Way too much to list. I have a bookcase fully loaded in my room, another in my closet, and three more in the back room. On top of that I've got two stacks of books on top of one of the bookcases, five stacks on my entertainment center, ten on my desk, two on my end table, and four on the desk in the back room with most stacked so high they are basically leaning towers of books. And then I have a couple of drawers drawers full of books in my dresser. Plus eight or nine large plastic tubs full of books in the shed or garage.

I mostly read Scifi, historical fiction, military history or alternate history fiction. I finished Cyroburn by Lois McMaster Bujold. I've had a massive soft spot for the Vorkosigan Saga since I was a little kid. I picked up Star Wars A New Dawn this afternoon and will start it either later tonight or just read it tomorrow.

Currently on book 2 of Fleet of Worlds series and The Long Earth series. Enjoying both.

Turns out Puppeteers are just about the most evil you can get, right?

Umbridge is the most evil you can get.

I have too many books for a shelf! They litter my floor as stalagmites of fiction and knowledge.

I have hit a low spot in reading lately. Since Player One, I have hit a string of mediocrity.

Going to read Galapagos by Vonnegut next. It is the last book of his I have yet to read.

Galapagos was mostly a bust.

I just finished Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck, it was a rambling mess of a book, unlike anything else of his that I have read, but it was a lot of fun and I loved it. I think I am only short Cannery Row and The Pearl, to complete his works.

After completing Steinbeck, I think I will tackle Hemingway next.