What We Are Reading Today: The Invention of International Order

What We Are Reading Today: The Invention of International Order
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Updated 30 January 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: The Invention of International Order

What We Are Reading Today: The Invention of International Order

Author: Glenda Sluga

In 1814, after decades of continental conflict, an alliance of European empires captured Paris and exiled Napoleon Bonaparte, defeating French military expansionism and establishing the Concert of Europe. 

This new coalition planted the seeds for today’s international order, wedding the idea of a durable peace to multilateralism, diplomacy, philanthropy, and rights, and making Europe its center.


REVIEW: ‘Starbound’ makes long-awaited console debut on Xbox

REVIEW: ‘Starbound’ makes long-awaited console debut on Xbox
Updated 24 February 2025
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REVIEW: ‘Starbound’ makes long-awaited console debut on Xbox

REVIEW: ‘Starbound’ makes long-awaited console debut on Xbox

LONDON: After years of being a PC favorite, “Starbound” finally launched on Xbox in October 2024, bringing its expansive sandbox adventure to a new audience.

With a follow-up quality-of-life update in December and a further boost by joining Xbox Game Pass in January, “Starbound” has the potential to reach more players than ever before. So, does this indie classic translate well to console gaming, or is it still best experienced on PC?

At its core, “Starbound” is a sandbox exploration game that lets players carve out their own journey among the stars. You begin by selecting a species (purely cosmetic in nature), escape from a doomed planet, and set off on an intergalactic adventure where you build, craft, explore and fight for survival. Unlike many crafting-based games, “Starbound” is not a grind-heavy experience; instead, it encourages creativity and discovery, providing an incredibly deep crafting system without forcing players into repetitive mechanics.

The game’s world is procedurally generated, meaning you will never run out of planets to visit. Each world has its own biomes, wildlife, and secrets to uncover. Some planets feel hospitable and lush, while others are barren and harsh, requiring players to adapt and prepare before diving into the unknown.

While “Starbound” features a central story involving the mysterious gate unlocked with Core Fragments, it does not force a linear progression — players are free to explore, build, and conquer at their own pace.

Despite its simple, pixel-art aesthetic, “Starbound” hides a surprising amount of complexity beneath the surface. Its crafting system is one of the deepest in the genre, allowing players to build everything from cozy homes to high-tech colonies. However, new players might find the initial learning curve steep. Navigation, especially on a controller, takes some getting used to, and the depth of options can feel overwhelming at first. That said, starting on Casual mode is highly recommended for beginners, because it removes some of the harsher survival elements and allows players to focus on exploration.

Combat in “Starbound” is an interesting mix of melee and ranged attacks, combined with energy management. Different weapons and abilities change the flow of combat, making it varied and engaging, although the game is not primarily focused on combat mechanics. Instead, survival and creativity take center stage.

Despite its simple, pixel-art aesthetic, “Starbound” hides a surprising amount of complexity beneath the surface. (Supplied)

While “Starbound” has made a mostly smooth transition to Xbox, it is clear that the game still feels as if it was designed primarily for PC. The user interface and navigation are not as intuitive with a controller as they are with a mouse and keyboard, making some menu-heavy interactions feel cumbersome. However, once you get used to the controls, the experience is still rewarding.

“Starbound” on Xbox is a welcome addition to the console’s indie lineup, offering a massive sandbox experience with nearly endless replayability. While the game’s PC origins are evident, patient players will find a rewarding and immersive world to explore.

If you enjoy sandbox crafting games and do not mind a bit of a learning curve, “Starbound” is well worth a try — especially now that it is on Game Pass.


What We Are Reading Today: Nationalism: A World History by Eric Storm

What We Are Reading Today: Nationalism: A World History by Eric Storm
Updated 23 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: Nationalism: A World History by Eric Storm

What We Are Reading Today: Nationalism: A World History by Eric Storm

The current rise of nationalism across the globe is a reminder that we are not, after all, living in a borderless world of virtual connectivity.

In “Nationalism,” historian Eric Storm sheds light on contemporary nationalist movements by exploring the global evolution of nationalism, beginning with the rise of the nation-state in the 18th century through the revival of nationalist ideas in the present day.


What We Are Reading Today: Buried Treasures

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Updated 22 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: Buried Treasures

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  • In “Buried Treasures,” Zipes describes his special passion for uncovering political fairy tales of the 19th and 20th centuries

Author: JACK ZIPES

Jack Zipes has spent decades as a “scholarly scavenger,” discovering forgotten fairy tales in libraries, flea markets, used bookstores, and internet searches, and he has introduced countless readers to these remarkable works and their authors.

In “Buried Treasures,” Zipes describes his special passion for uncovering political fairy tales of the 19th and 20th centuries, offers fascinating profiles of more than a dozen of their writers and illustrators, and shows why they deserve greater attention and appreciation.

 

 


What We Are Reading Today: Republics of Knowledge

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Updated 21 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: Republics of Knowledge

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  • Miller identifies how public exchange of ideas affected policymaking, the emergence of a collective identity, and more

Author: Nicola Miller

The rise of nation-states is a hallmark of the modern age, yet we are still untangling how the phenomenon unfolded across the globe.

Here, Nicola Miller offers new insights into the process of nation-making through an account of 19th-century Latin America, where, she argues, the identity of nascent republics was molded through previously underappreciated means: the creation and sharing of knowledge.

Drawing evidence from Argentina, Chile, and Peru, Republics of Knowledge traces the histories of these countries from the early 1800s, as they gained independence, to their centennial celebrations in the 20th century. Miller identifies how public exchange of ideas affected policymaking, the emergence of a collective identity, and more.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Climate Dynamics’ by Kerry H. Cook

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Climate Dynamics’ by Kerry H. Cook
Updated 20 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Climate Dynamics’ by Kerry H. Cook

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Climate Dynamics’ by Kerry H. Cook

“Climate Dynamics” provides an essential foundation in the physical understanding of Earth’s climate system.

Assuming no previous introduction to the climate system, the book is designed for all science, math, and engineering students at the advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate levels.

This second edition includes updated and expanded information on hydrology, the cryosphere, observed contemporary climate change, and climate prediction.

 In addition, the illustrations are expanded and now in full color.