Expedition Log (2024) is a narrative art book illustrated by Paths Peculiar AKA Niklas Wistedt (with text by Wistedt and Andre Novoa). Paths Peculiar is one of the first accounts I followed after starting Vintage RPG on Instagram; he primarily draws isometric maps and architectural views in a highly detailed, slightly cartoony style that evoked Russ Nicholson’s work to some degree. One of the first pieces I saw was an isometric adaptation of the temple of Zuul from the climax of Ghostbusters. I still think about that one sometimes.

The book as a physical object is one of the most unusual I own. It’s coptic bound with raw boards tucked into a fabric wrap. The wrap is embroidered with the title and the open edge has been dipped in red ink, staining the cloth and the pages edges. Apparently, the original owner of the log (Wistedt, obviously) met a bad end on his quest to find the lost library. What follows is an illustrated travelogue.

Wistedt’s art is sort of casually mysterious. I want to know more about every single location. What I want most of all is to spin them around, like a little model. The natural emphasis on square blocks reminds me a lot of Landstalker and similar boxy, isometric videogames, particularly the subterranean ares that seem to hang in empty space. A fantastic little book. It’s a shame (the fictional) Wistedt dies at the end, I could do with a few more volumes.