I built this tool a year ago but I feel like Mastodon folks would like it
The "Weird Old Book Finder"
Type in a search query, and it'll find one randomly-chosen public-domain book that matches the query -- and present it for immediate reading: https://weird-old-book-finder.glitch.me
Why only one book? To prevent the paradox of choice! Just *start readin'*
Can't promise every book will be weird, but most are
A longer essay on how/why I developed it: https://debugger.medium.com/a-search-engine-that-finds-you-weird-old-books-3a74fbb5f3d4
This was a search for "mastodon"
If anyone finds something cool, screenshot it and share it (with alt-text describing what it is!)
@clive this is super awesome. i love RNG content.
@chespace Yessss
random is my favorite function in the standard library of literally every computer language
I once wrote an ode to it: https://debugger.medium.com/my-single-favorite-line-of-javascript-304b2e9632ea
@clive I have over 11,000 #retrogames on my handheld device. I love using the RNG function to randomly select a game. it's the discovery that appeals to me most.
@chespace aha, that's a great way to sample old games!!