<< Of the four Issaries Works in Progress which would be the most useful for
someone whose campaign is set in Sartar/Prax/The Holy Country and sometimes
Balazar in the mid-1620s. >>
None of them are particularly useful for such a campaign, but Missing Lands is probably the least irrelevant of the four.
<<Alternatively could someone summarise what each of these is about?
The Entekosiad>>
Is about ancient Pelandan mythology. Its the most abstruse of the books, and its difficult to think of any connection with your campaign (heck, it isn't especially useful for a Peloria-based campaign).
<< The Glorious Reascent of Yelm >>
Details the mythology of Dara Happa, with information on Gloranthan astronomy. Or at least, what those were like in the First Age. If you were running a campaign in Dara Happa it would be useful (especially for pre-Lunar Dara Happa), but its connection to Balazar and Dragon Pass is pretty minimal, save that the Lunars are present in both, and some of them will worship gods such as Yelm.
<< The Fortunate Succession>>
Details the history of the Dara Happan and Lunar Empires. Which at least has some relevance, as the Lunars are around in your campaign, but it depends how much you want to know about their history.
<< Missing Lands >>
Does for the other bits of the world what Genertela: CotHW did for the northern continent. Its by far the most game-accessible of the books, and while it may seem to have no bearing on the region you're gaming in, it does have some information on mermen, which form a part of the Holy Country. Even then, most of the book won't prove useful to you. Unless you intend to have your campaign move further afield, that is.
<< Or would it be better to invest in the fanzines (I only have the Book of
Drastic Resolution - Darkness and Prax)?>>
The fanzines have the advantage of being directly game relevant, so I'd definitely go for them. Many of them, such as the latest issues of TotRM and Enclosure, have information on the Orlanthi, much of which can be used in game without modification. Tradetalk recently did a couple of issues on the Holy Country (#4 and #5) which would be absolutely invaluable if you want to run a campaign there.
If you can only buy fanzines *or* works-in-progress, go for the fanzines every time.
Forward the glorious Red Army!
Trotsky
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