Books in Fallout 3

As is well known, books in F3 enhance the skills of the Chosen One. After reading, the book disappears from the inventory, and the corresponding skill increases by 1 (if you have taken the "Understanding" perk available from level 4, the skill will increase by 2).

Considering that each book is scattered throughout the F3 world in a quantity of 23-25 copies, "Understanding" becomes one of the key perks at the beginning stage of character development (example - without this perk, collecting all books of "Repairing Electronics" will give the character a skill increase in Repair by 25, and with the "Understanding" perk - already by 50; quite a difference!).

List of books and useful information.

1. Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor

Skill Increased: Barter

Number of books in the game: 23

Junktown is a town in Fallout 1, where Brahmins were bred, but there was no slaughterhouse or butcher shop to process and sell Brahmin meat. In Junktown was Doc Morbid's office, who sold human meat disguised as iguana meat in Hub (a reference to the movie Soylent Green (1973), where the overpopulated Earth residents very originally solve the food crisis and hunger problem by eating the remains of dead people).

2. U.S. Army: 30 Handy Flamethrower Recipes

Skill Increased: Heavy Weapons

Number of books in the game: 25 (infinite number)

A raider with a flamethrower on the top floor of the Bethesda Offices - East (who has a copy of the book in his inventory) respawns every 73 in-game hours, so every 73 hours you can take a copy of the book from his body, allowing for essentially unlimited copies of "30 Handy Flamethrower Recipes".

3. Nikola Tesla and You

Skill Increased: Energy Weapons

Number of books in the game: 25

If you plan to collect all 25 copies of the book, you will need to defuse the bomb in Megaton, as after defusing it, you will be gifted a house, with a scientific style of decor where you can get a copy of the book "Nikola Tesla and You".

The cover of the book is likely a parody of Nikola Tesla himself (the person on the cover is holding a glowing lamp). Nikola Tesla claimed that he invented a wireless power source that allowed him to hold a lamp and power it through his body without any wires.

4. Duck and Cover!

Skill Increased: Explosives

Number of books in the game: 25

This book may be based on a short instructional film from the Cold War of the same name. The main character of the film is a turtle named Bert, who hides in his shell at the slightest sign of danger. This film was shown to schoolchildren during classes to explain how to behave in the event of a nuclear attack on the USA.

When NPCs in F3 try to run, they mimic the movements recommended in the film exactly.

The "Galaxy News" radio station plays a series about Herbert Dashwood and his faithful ghoul servant Argyle. In one of the "episodes", Herbert, Argyle, and an undercover slaver end up captured by Super Mutants, and the undercover complains to Herbert that, in that situation, the ghoul still manages to rummage through the pockets of the Super Mutants. To this, Herbert replies: "It's not what he's taking from the pockets, but what he puts in there! Duck and cover!" - the Super Mutant dies from a grenade explosion placed in his inventory using the "reverse pickpocketing" method.

5. Tumblers Today

Skill Increased: Lockpick

Number of books in the game: 25

A somewhat incorrect translation of the book title into English - the term "tumbler" refers to any movable part of a locking mechanism that needs to be brought into a specific position (with a key or a lockpick) in order to open the lock.

The most inaccessible copy of the book is in Vault 108, in a small storage room opposite the non-working generator. There is a ladder behind several boxes, at the top of which is a can of Nuka-Cola.

The book is under the ladder, but it can't be taken easily; you will need to throw a grenade and hope the book flies to a more accessible spot.

6. D.C. Journal of Internal Medicine

Skill Increased: Medicine

Number of books in the game: 25

Judging by the cover, the book costs $45.

7. Grognak the Barbarian

Skill Increased: Melee Weapons

Number of books in the game: 25

"Grognak the Barbarian" is the title of a series of comics published by "Hubris Comics" in the mid-21st century about the adventures of the main character - a barbarian in prehistoric times. At least 14 issues of the comic were published. The first issue was titled "In the Lair of the Virgin Eaters". Each issue cost $0.25. During the Great War, many copies were severely damaged or lost forever, making the surviving copies of "Grognak the Barbarian" very rare and desirable for collectors.

On July 13, 2268, the Chosen One's friend Amata finds an undamaged copy of the comic in her father's old belongings, the Overseer of Vault 101. She gifts this copy to the Chosen One on his 10th birthday (this is how we get the first copy of the book that increases skill in the game).

The title of the comic is an Easter egg referencing the film "Conan the Barbarian" featuring an unforgettable Arnie in the lead role.

Moreover, the title of the issue ("In the Lair of the Virgin Eaters") is an Easter egg to a specific scene from this movie, in which Conan kills a snake that was eating young girls offered to him as a sacrifice.

The image of the Barbarian on the cover of the comic is exactly the same as the image of the Barbarian class in TES4: Oblivion, only stylized as a comic.

The inscription "The Barbarian" on the cover of the comic is displayed on the illustration of a long iron sword, again from TES4: Oblivion.

8. Dean’s Electronics

Skill Increased: Repair

Number of books in the game: 25

"Dean's Electronics" is a book for self-taught craftsmen, written in the 21st century. Electronics in the Vaults were repaired using this book. The cover and title of the book is a loose Easter egg referencing "Practical Electronics for Inventors" by Paul Scherz.

On July 13, 2268, in the cafeteria of Vault 101, you can see a note from Stanley Armstrong, the mechanic of the Vault, requesting the residents to return a copy of the book "Dean’s Electronics" that he has lost.

9. Big Book of Science

Skill Increased: Science

Number of books in the game: 25 (infinite number)

You can obtain an infinite number of copies of the book "Big Book of Science", as an ant researcher in the location "Sheffield Tunnels", in whose inventory one of the copies is located, respawns every 73 in-game hours.

If you want to collect all 25 copies of the book, you need to buy a scientific layout for the apartment in Tenpenny Tower (the book is included with the interior). If you have a house in Megaton, you will not be able to collect all the copies.

The book has about 1000 pages, as when the Chosen One takes the "GOAT" test in Vault 101, you can see the inscription "open page 976 of the Big Book of Science" on the board. You can also see the note "Need to study page 997" on the same board.

10. Guns and Bullets

Skill Increased: Small Guns

Number of books in the game: 25

The title of the book is a reference to the magazine "Guns and Ammo", which publishes articles, news, and information about "guns and bullets".

The cover depicts a revolver Ruger GP 100, a 1985 model, a six-shot revolver with a double-action trigger mechanism, chambered in .357 Magnum or .38 special.

11. Chinese Army: Special Ops Training Manual

Skill Increased: Sneak

Number of books in the game: 25

The characters on the cover of the book translate literally as "Training Manual of the Chinese Army".

Surprisingly, the Chosen One apparently can read Chinese; otherwise, it wouldn’t explain how he understands what is written in this book. One option is that the book could have been translated for numerous Chinese spies-citizens of the USA. Another possibility is that the Pip-Boy 3000 might have a translation feature from Chinese to English.

12. Pugilism Illustrated

Skill Increased: Unarmed

Number of books in the game: 25

13. Lying, Congressional Style

Skill Increased: Speech

Number of books in the game: 24

In reality, the number of copies of the book that can be obtained in one playthrough is 23, as one copy is located in the house in Megaton and another in Tenpenny Tower, and one cannot simultaneously own apartments in two locations. However, we can obtain another copy if we have an apartment in Tenpenny Tower and let ghouls in. In this case, the book will reappear in Alistair Tenpenny’s room (provided you’ve already taken it before).

The title of the book is definitely a reference to an old joke that all politicians are liars. This is further confirmed by the fact that one of the copies of the book lies on the podium in the Capitol Conference Hall, and another - in the Pulowski shelter next to the Capitol exit.

14. Paradise Lost

Skill Increased: Speech

Number of books in the game: 1

The only copy can be obtained by the Chosen One in the Ghoul Dungeon after speaking with Tulip. She gives one copy for free, saying that "there are enough copies lying around." If "Paradise Lost" is discarded from the inventory, it turns into "Lying, Congressional Style".

"Paradise Lost" is a poem by the Englishman John Milton about the fall of man, the temptation of Adam and Eve by Satan, and their expulsion from Paradise. Interestingly, Tulip speaks of the Dungeon as a former exhibition of a museum dedicated to the afterlife based on "Paradise Lost." However, this is a clear mistake, as the composition should be based on Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy".

15. Motivational Secrets Of the Stars

Skill Increased: Speech

Number of books in the game: the book was cut from the released version of the game

It looks exactly like a pre-war book, provides a bonus to the Speech skill, and for unspecified reasons was cut from the final version of the game.

Thanks to Fallout.wikia.com for interesting facts!