diff --git a/bin/cindex.lisp b/bin/cindex.lisp
index c99ab9d..37fea0f 100644
--- a/bin/cindex.lisp
+++ b/bin/cindex.lisp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
 
 (defmacro cqry (co &rest rest) (proc-cqry co rest))
 
-(defun allsym (o) (uniq (flatall* o 2)) )
+(defun allsym (o) (uniq (flatall* o 2)))
 (defun prt (o &optional s)
   (lqn::with-struct (code- i grp) o
     (format s "<@code (frags: ~a~%  ~a)>" i grp)))
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@
       (let ((sysi (reg co sys)))
         (loop with fi = (-reg-file sysi)
               with pkgi = (fnd co :/ext/pkg/none)
-              for o across (lqn::read-file-as-data-vector fn)
+              for o across (lqn:dat-read-file fn)
               if (and (consp o) (ssym? (car o))
                       (eq :in-package (lqn::kw (car o))))
               do (setf pkgi (attach co (fnd co :/ext/pkg) (second o) '(:/ext/pkg)))
diff --git a/bin/lqn-sh.lisp b/bin/lqn-sh.lisp
index 35515da..2c2a965 100755
--- a/bin/lqn-sh.lisp
+++ b/bin/lqn-sh.lisp
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@
 
 
 (defun lqn/read-from-file (f) (declare #.*opt*)
-  (handler-case (read-file-as-data-vector f)
+  (handler-case (dat-read-file f)
     (error (e) (sh/exit-msg 55 "LDN: failed to READ file: ~a~%~%~a~&" f e))))
 (defun lqn/read-from-pipe () (declare #.*opt*)
-  (handler-case (read-stream-as-data-vector *standard-input*)
+  (handler-case (dat-read-stream *standard-input*)
     (error (e) (sh/exit-msg 55 "LDN: failed to READ from pipe:~%~%~a~&" e))))
 
 (defun lqn/run-files (opts fx files)
diff --git a/bin/redacted.lisp b/bin/redacted.lisp
index afd914f..d192323 100755
--- a/bin/redacted.lisp
+++ b/bin/redacted.lisp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   (let ((chars (lst!? "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz")))
     (qry (ls "../src/*.lisp") str!
          #((progn (out "~%~3,'0d: ** ~a **~%~%" (cnt) (seq* _ 8)) _)
-           read-file-as-vector
+           txt-read-file
            #((repl _ "defun" "DEFUN")
              (repl _ "defmacro" "DEFMACRO")
              #((if (member _ chars) #\― _))
diff --git a/bin/tqn-sh.lisp b/bin/tqn-sh.lisp
index 852feb7..8393ef7 100755
--- a/bin/tqn-sh.lisp
+++ b/bin/tqn-sh.lisp
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@
 (in-package :lqn)
 
 (defun tqn/read-from-file (f) (declare #.*opt*)
-  (handler-case (read-file-as-vector f)
+  (handler-case (txt-read-file f)
     (error (e) (sh/exit-msg 55 "TXT: failed to READ file: ~a~%~%~a" f e))))
 (defun tqn/read-from-pipe () (declare #.*opt*)
-  (handler-case (read-stream-lines-as-vector)
+  (handler-case (txt-read-stream)
     (error (e) (sh/exit-msg 55 "TXT: failed to READ from pipe:~%~%~a" e))))
 
 (defun tqn/run-files (opts fx files)
diff --git a/docs/lqn.md b/docs/lqn.md
index f3801e4..4eb909c 100644
--- a/docs/lqn.md
+++ b/docs/lqn.md
@@ -223,6 +223,48 @@
  ;   Source file: /data/x/lqn/src/basic-utils.lisp
 ```
 
+#### LQN:DAT-READ-FILE
+
+```
+ ; LQN:DAT-READ-FILE
+ ;   [symbol]
+ ; 
+ ; DAT-READ-FILE names a compiled function:
+ ;   Lambda-list: (FN &AUX (RES (MAV)))
+ ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T) (VALUES T &OPTIONAL))
+ ;   Documentation:
+ ;     read lisp data from file into vector.
+ ;   Source file: /data/x/lqn/src/io.lisp
+```
+
+#### LQN:DAT-READ-FILES
+
+```
+ ; LQN:DAT-READ-FILES
+ ;   [symbol]
+ ; 
+ ; DAT-READ-FILES names a compiled function:
+ ;   Lambda-list: (PATH-OR-SEQ)
+ ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION ((OR LIST VECTOR)) (VALUES T &OPTIONAL))
+ ;   Documentation:
+ ;     read lisp code from these paths (via lqn:ls) or read this list of files as one large vector.
+ ;   Source file: /data/x/lqn/src/qry-extra.lisp
+```
+
+#### LQN:DAT-READ-STREAM
+
+```
+ ; LQN:DAT-READ-STREAM
+ ;   [symbol]
+ ; 
+ ; DAT-READ-STREAM names a compiled function:
+ ;   Lambda-list: (S &AUX (RES (MAV)))
+ ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T) (VALUES T &OPTIONAL))
+ ;   Documentation:
+ ;     read lisp data from stream into vector.
+ ;   Source file: /data/x/lqn/src/io.lisp
+```
+
 #### LQN:DIR?
 
 ```
@@ -606,6 +648,20 @@
  ;   Source file: /data/x/lqn/src/basic-utils.lisp
 ```
 
+#### LQN:LDNLOAD
+
+```
+ ; LQN:LDNLOAD
+ ;   [symbol]
+ ; 
+ ; LDNLOAD names a compiled function:
+ ;   Lambda-list: (O)
+ ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T) (VALUES T &OPTIONAL))
+ ;   Documentation:
+ ;     reverse of ldnout.
+ ;   Source file: /data/x/lqn/src/io.lisp
+```
+
 #### LQN:LDNOUT
 
 ```
@@ -616,7 +672,7 @@
  ;   Lambda-list: (O)
  ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T) (VALUES T &OPTIONAL))
  ;   Documentation:
- ;     serialize internal representation to readable lisp data.
+ ;     serialize internal representation to readable lisp data. see ldnload.
  ;   Source file: /data/x/lqn/src/io.lisp
 ```
 
@@ -1362,6 +1418,35 @@
  ;   Source file: /data/x/lqn/src/qry-utils.lisp
 ```
 
+#### LQN:TXT-READ-FILE
+
+```
+ ; LQN:TXT-READ-FILE
+ ;   [symbol]
+ ; 
+ ; TXT-READ-FILE names a compiled function:
+ ;   Lambda-list: (FN &AUX (RES (MAKE-ADJUSTABLE-VECTOR)))
+ ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (T) (VALUES T &OPTIONAL))
+ ;   Documentation:
+ ;     read lines of text from file into vector.
+ ;   Source file: /data/x/lqn/src/io.lisp
+```
+
+#### LQN:TXT-READ-STREAM
+
+```
+ ; LQN:TXT-READ-STREAM
+ ;   [symbol]
+ ; 
+ ; TXT-READ-STREAM names a compiled function:
+ ;   Lambda-list: (&OPTIONAL (S *STANDARD-INPUT*) &AUX
+ ;                 (RES (MAKE-ADJUSTABLE-VECTOR)))
+ ;   Derived type: (FUNCTION (&OPTIONAL T) (VALUES T &OPTIONAL))
+ ;   Documentation:
+ ;     read lines of text from stream into vector.
+ ;   Source file: /data/x/lqn/src/io.lisp
+```
+
 #### LQN:UNIQ
 
 ```
diff --git a/lqn.asd b/lqn.asd
index 29536ea..b6a8784 100644
--- a/lqn.asd
+++ b/lqn.asd
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 (asdf:defsystem #:lqn
   :description "Lisp Query Notation"
-  :version "1.11.0"
+  :version "1.12.0"
   :author "anders hoff / @inconvergent / inconvergent@gmail.com"
   :in-order-to ((asdf:test-op (asdf:test-op #:lqn/tests)))
   :licence "MIT" :pathname "src/" :serial nil
@@ -13,11 +13,13 @@
                (:file "io" :depends-on ("docs"))
                (:file "pre-qry" :depends-on ("io" "qry-utils" "docs"))
                (:file "qry" :depends-on ("pre-qry"))
-               (:file "sh" :depends-on ("qry"))))
+               (:file "sh" :depends-on ("qry"))
+               (:file "qry-extra" :depends-on ("qry"))
+               ))
 
 (asdf:defsystem #:lqn/tests
   :depends-on (#:lqn #:prove #:uiop #:asdf)
-  :version "1.11.0"
+  :version "1.12.0"
   :perform (asdf:test-op (o s) (uiop:symbol-call ':lqn-tests '#:run-tests))
   :pathname "test/" :serial t
   :components ((:file "run")))
diff --git a/src/basic-utils.lisp b/src/basic-utils.lisp
index 246cf62..ff9f7fc 100644
--- a/src/basic-utils.lisp
+++ b/src/basic-utils.lisp
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@
                  :msym? :is? :kv? kw? :sym? :ssym? :sym! :trim
                  :num!? :num? :flt!? :flt? :int!? :int?
                  :lst? :lst! :lst!? :seq? :seq!? :str! :str? :str!? :vec! :vec? :vec!?
-                 :path? :subdir :subfiles :ls :dir? :file? :cwd :now :cmd :some? :all? :none? :cd))
+                 :path? :subdir :subfiles :ls :dir? :file? :cwd :now :cmd :some? :all? :none? :cd
+                 ))
 (defun cmd-args ()
   (or #+SBCL sb-ext:*posix-argv* #+LISPWORKS system:*line-arguments-list*
       #+CMU extensions:*command-line-words* nil))
@@ -99,18 +100,17 @@
        (> (length (symbol-name d)) (length m))))
 
 ; IS TYPE?
-(defun flt?  (f &optional d) "f if float; or d"            (if (floatp f) f d))
-(defun int?  (i &optional d) "i if int; or d"              (if (integerp i) i d))
-(defun kv?   (k &optional d) "k if kv; or d"               (if (hash-table-p k) k d))
-(defun kw?   (k &optional d) "k if kw; or d"               (if (keywordp k) k d))
-(defun sym?  (s &optional d) "s if sym; or d"              (if (symbolp s) s d))
-(defun ssym? (s &optional d) "s if sym, not kw; or d"      (if (and (sym? s)
-                                                                    (not (kw? s))) s d))
-(defun num?  (n &optional d) "n if number; or d"           (if (numberp n) n d))
-(defun str?  (s &optional d) "s if string; or d"           (if (stringp s) s d))
-(defun vec?  (v &optional d) "v if vector; or d"           (if (vectorp v) v d))
-(defun lst?  (v &optional d) "v if list; or d"             (if (listp v) d d))
-(defun seq?  (s &optional d) "s if sequence; or d"         (or (lst? s) (str? s) (vec? s) d))
+(defun flt?  (f &optional d) "f if float; or d"       (if (floatp f) f d))
+(defun int?  (i &optional d) "i if int; or d"         (if (integerp i) i d))
+(defun kv?   (k &optional d) "k if kv; or d"          (if (hash-table-p k) k d))
+(defun kw?   (k &optional d) "k if kw; or d"          (if (keywordp k) k d))
+(defun sym?  (s &optional d) "s if sym; or d"         (if (symbolp s) s d))
+(defun ssym? (s &optional d) "s if sym, not kw; or d" (if (and (sym? s) (not (kw? s))) s d))
+(defun num?  (n &optional d) "n if number; or d"      (if (numberp n) n d))
+(defun str?  (s &optional d) "s if string; or d"      (if (stringp s) s d))
+(defun vec?  (v &optional d) "v if vector; or d"      (if (vectorp v) v d))
+(defun lst?  (v &optional d) "v if list; or d"        (if (listp v) d d))
+(defun seq?  (s &optional d) "s if sequence; or d"    (or (lst? s) (str? s) (vec? s) d))
 
 ; PARSE AS TYPE OR DEFAULT
 (defun int!? (i &optional d) "i as int if it can be parsed; or d"
diff --git a/src/io.lisp b/src/io.lisp
index 2be8919..b63dfd0 100644
--- a/src/io.lisp
+++ b/src/io.lisp
@@ -1,34 +1,33 @@
 (in-package #:lqn)
 ; YASON DOCS https://phmarek.github.io/yason/
+; (setf (readtable-case *readtable*) :preserve)
 
 (defun read-all-str (s &aux (pos 0))
   (declare #.*opt*)
   (loop for (l new-pos) = (mvl (read-from-string s nil 'lqn::eof :start pos))
         while (not (eq l 'lqn::eof)) do (setf pos new-pos) collect l))
 
-(defun read-stream-lines-as-vector (&optional (s *standard-input*)
-                                    &aux (res (make-adjustable-vector)))
-  (declare #.*opt*)
+(defun txt-read-stream (&optional (s *standard-input*) &aux (res (make-adjustable-vector)))
+  (declare #.*opt*) "read lines of text from stream into vector."
   (loop for l = (read-line s nil nil) while l do (vex res l))
   res)
-(defun read-file-as-vector (fn &aux (res (make-adjustable-vector)))
-  (declare #.*opt*)
+(defun txt-read-file (fn &aux (res (make-adjustable-vector)))
+  (declare #.*opt*) "read lines of text from file into vector."
   (with-open-file (in fn)
     (loop for l = (read-line in nil nil) while l do (vex res l)))
   res)
-; (setf (readtable-case *readtable*) :preserve)
-(defun read-file-as-data-vector (fn &aux (res (make-adjustable-vector)))
-  (declare #.*opt*)
+(defun dat-read-file (fn &aux (res (mav)))
+  (declare #.*opt*) "read lisp data from file into vector."
   (with-open-file (in fn)
     (loop for l = (read in nil nil) while l do (vex res l)))
   res)
-(defun read-stream-as-data-vector (s &aux (res (make-adjustable-vector)))
-  (declare #.*opt*)
+(defun dat-read-stream (s &aux (res (mav)))
+  (declare #.*opt*) "read lisp data from stream into vector."
   (loop for l = (read s nil nil) while l do (vex res l))
   res)
 
 (defun jsnloads (&optional (s *standard-input*) all)
-  (declare #.*opt* ) "parse json from stream; or *standard-input*"
+  (declare #.*opt*) "parse json from stream; or *standard-input*"
   (let ((yason:*parse-json-arrays-as-vectors* t))
     (if all (let ((res (mav)))
               (handler-case
@@ -56,8 +55,7 @@
   (jsnout o :s s :indent indent)
   (get-output-stream-string s))
 
-(defun ldnout (o)
-  "serialize internal representation to readable lisp data."
+(defun ldnout (o) "serialize internal representation to readable lisp data. see ldnload."
   (typecase o (string o)
      (cons (cons (ldnout (car o)) (ldnout (cdr o))))
      (hash-table (loop for k being the hash-keys of o using (hash-value v)
@@ -66,6 +64,13 @@
                    for v across o do (vex res (ldnout v))
                    finally (return res)))
      (otherwise o)))
+(defun ldnload (o) "reverse of ldnout."
+  (typecase o (vector (map 'vector #'ldnload o))
+              (list (loop with res = (make-hash-table :test #'equal)
+                          for (k . v) in o
+                          do (setf (gethash (str! k) res) (ldnload v))
+                          finally (return res)))
+              (otherwise o)))
 
 (defmacro out (s &rest rest) "print to standard out"
   (awg (s*) (if rest `(format *standard-output* ,s ,@rest)
diff --git a/src/packages.lisp b/src/packages.lisp
index e348f9d..aac4aca 100644
--- a/src/packages.lisp
+++ b/src/packages.lisp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   (:nicknames #:cl-lqn)
   (:export #:d? #:v?
     #:qry #:qryd #:jsnqryf #:qryl #:proc-qry
-    #:jsnloads #:jsnloadf #:jsnout #:ldnout #:fmt #:out #:jsnstr #:@* #:@@ #:??
+    #:jsnloads #:jsnloadf #:jsnout #:ldnout #:ldnload #:fmt #:out #:jsnstr #:@* #:@@ #:??
     #:some? #:none? #:all? #:empty? #:size? #:is?
     #:path? #:subdir #:subfiles #:ls #:dir? #:file? #:cwd #:now #:cmd
     #:some? #:all? #:none? #:cd
@@ -17,5 +17,6 @@
     #:sup #:sdwn #:strcat #:repl #:splt #:symb #:join
     #:pref? #:suf? #:sub? #:subx? #:ipref? #:isuf? #:isub? #:isubx?
     #:srt #:lpad #:rpad #:nstr #:ascii #:bar #:clmp
+    #:dat-read-file #:dat-read-files #:dat-read-stream #:txt-read-file #:txt-read-stream
     ))
 
diff --git a/src/qry-extra.lisp b/src/qry-extra.lisp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f7dc4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/qry-extra.lisp
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+(in-package :lqn)
+
+(defun dat-read-files (path-or-seq)
+  (declare ((or string list vector) path-or-seq))
+  "read lisp code from these paths (via lqn:ls) or read this list of files as one large vector."
+  (etypecase path-or-seq
+    (string (qry (ls path-or-seq) #((dat-read-file _)) (flatn* _)))
+    (sequence (qry path-or-seq #((dat-read-file _)) (flatn* _)))))