Like I mentioned some recently, I've been listening to a lot of RPG podcasts over the last month or two, and in addition to firing up my desire to get back into some role-playing, I've also been inspired to do some reading.  Now, I usually read a lot, but over the last year or two, I've mostly been reading rules to boardgames and indie RPG's.  But two relatively new games that I've heard a lot about have their origins in some popular fiction, and because of my interest in those games and their designers, I've gone out and picked up the original source material.

The first series Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.  Yeah, I know.  A lot of you are probably wondering which rock I've been living under for the last 9 years, but for some reason this great series has just slipped past my attention until now.  Anyway, Fred Hicks and the rest of the guys over at Evil Hat Productions are working on the Dresden Files RPG, which uses a modified version of the Fate system found in his hit game, Spirit of the Century.  It's due out soon, and in the meantime I'm going to do my best to get caught up on Harry Dresden and his adventures.  I've heard so many great things about Spirit of the Century and now the Dresden Files, so this game will probably find its way into my collection before too long.

The other one is David Petersen's Mouse Guard, a series of graphic novels about a world in which mice are the one sentient race, struggling in an environment filled with natural predators.  I've already read the first book, which is absolutely beautiful and evocative, but is a little light on dialogue and story.  In this case, I'm actually more excited about the Mouse Guard RPG, which is designed by indie-RPG hero, Luke Crane.  It uses a system that is a focused version of his Burning Wheel RPG, which I've heard is a bit simplified and easier to use than the original.  I already own Burning Wheel, and have actually had the chance to play a game of Burning Empires (another adapted Burning Wheel game based on the Iron Empires graphic novels) with Luke Crane himself at MACE.  Especially with the limited time I had to game, simple is good, and I'll probably pick this up sometime soon as well.

So here you go, I've given you two recommendations (three if you count Iron Empires) for fine gaming-related reading.  Anybody else out there have any experience with these series, or have some other recommendations of your own?