We check in on our progress in The Once and Future King and The Princess Bride as well as deliver some exciting news on new releases and books being made into movies. (psst. One is a P. K. Dick book, so Tom's excited).
Appols if you habe rec'd it a hundred times. If it doesn't come out in the US I will DVD it for you.
Chris
---------------- Where can I get a t-shirt featuring your AWESOME logo?
Thanks in advance for your reply!
Peace, John
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It's hot in the Bay Area so we have to keep this episode short before Veronica melts. And a good thing too or she might have kept adding books! We not only kick off T.H. White's The Once and Future King but Veronica adds a second book as well.
Love the podcast and the book discussions! After hearing one of you mention it on one of Leo Laporte's shows I have gotten back into reading and really enjoy the new kindle also. I've read a few of the previous books, World War Z and Bitter seeds, and they were really good. I'll suggest Boneshaker by Cherie Preist. The story is quite good. I don't have a suggestion for a more "sword" focused book so I await the options as there will likely be a few good suggestions. Keep up the great work!
ADDENDUMS
Partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at www.stickerfu.com.
Well folks it's wrap-up time for The Moon is Harsh Mistress and... sadly... Veronica hasn't finished. But we wrap up anyway and Tom makes a shocking revelation that lets Veronica off the hook. And he finished Moon, so it's not that.
Gibson dropped some hints about a little stealth tie-in to Zero History that's going to happen on Twitter soon. Let's just say that you should keep an eye on the Twitter accounts @gaydolphin1 and @gaydolphin2 - those of you who've read the novel know what those accounts are related to.
Veronica still has not finished, she's prepared for her flogging. Tom's thoughts?
NEW BOOK
We're taking suggestions from Classic Fantasy on Goodreads then we'll put it up to a vote.
EMAILS
Hi Veronica, Tom I will try and keep it pithy but I get "wordy" sometimes. :) I asked the question at dragon con if future podcasts could contain a 5 minute segment looking back at classic epic fantasy of the 70s and 80s when readers were starving for good reads. I was thinking of producing my own podcast on this subject but you guys have built a nice listener base so you can do more with this than I.
In October, Stephen R. Donaldson will be releasing his newest novel, "Against All Things Ending", the third book in a four book series that completes the tale of Thomas Covenant he began in 1977 with the book "Lord Foul's Bane". In the 70s & 80s Donaldson sold over 40 million copies and was second only to Tollkien at one time. These books are GOLD.
Another retro author with an impending release is Katherine Kurtz, who will soon release the third book of her "Chylde Morgan" trilogy. This is also a tale that began back in the 70s.
These two great authors have been overshadowed by Jordan and Martin but are easily their equals or better. Please put these on your reading list and introduce this generation's readers to some classic epic fantasy.
If I can be of any assistance in the production of this segment please don't hesitate to let me know.
Regards, Roman Thompson
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Veronica and Tom, A late addition, but just finished reading Accelerando by Charles Stross. The Earth and the inner planets are completely deconstructed and rebuilt into data storage and processing power for the digital needs of the human race. So, voluntary, resource savvy, non-Armageddon style Earth recycling.
Regards, Peter Hourigan
The following is an excerpt from the Wikipedia page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerando_(novel)
Plot concepts In Accelerando, the planets of the solar system are dismantled to form a Matrioshka brain, a vast computational device inhabited by minds inconceivably more complex than naturally evolved intelligences such as human beings. This proves to be a normal stage in the life cycle of an inhabited solar system; the galaxies are filled with Matrioshka brains, communicating via wormhole networks. Lesser intelligences may live unmolested around brown dwarf stars.
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I just listened to #40. I highly recommend Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell in the audio version. I got this at my library and it was very good. Don't give up on the somewhat boring beginning, it's a superb story.
Thanks for the great podcasts!
Peggy Poellot
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This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.
We suggested:
The City and The City, by China Mieville, read by John Lee
Zero History, by William Gibson Narrated by Robertson Dean
And by our Partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at www.stickerfu.com
Another year, another Dragon*Con come and gone! Thanks to everyone who came out to the live show at the Hilton in Atlanta, we had a total blast. A very special "thank you" goes out to our wonderful guest, author David Gerrold (who famously wrote The Trouble with Tribbles for the original Trek). So please enjoy this extra long episode, and stay tuned for the video version coming soon!
INTERVIEW Bio: David Gerrold - a winner of the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award - is the author of dozens of novels, including Jumping Off the Planet, Bouncing Off the Moon, The Man Who Folded Himself, When Harlie was One, and the The War Against the Chtorr series.
A prolific screenwriter as well as a novelist - he wrote the hugely popular The Trouble with Tribbles episode for the original Star Trek television series. Reccomendations:
So we announce the details on our LIVE Sword and Laser recording (yes live recording, I know) on Sunday September 5 at 4 PM, as well as our Sword and Laser meetup! (details below). We also bring news of time travel, murderous novel characters, and HUGE novels worth the tackling.
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword. Tom recommends The Dark Tower by Stephen King
Imagine my surprise during the most recent episode's discussion of great television and literary crossovers when you failed to mention what has to be the single greatest crossover event in literary history:
Planet X by Michael Jan Friedman, featuring the crew of Jean-Luc Picard's USS Enterprise and Professor Xavier's mighty mutants, the X-Men.
A case of fan fiction gone legit?
Thanks for the show. I enjoy it a great deal.
Cheers, Beth
DRAGON*CON!
Sword and Laser will record in front of a live studio audience at 4 PM Sunday, September 5 at the International North – Hyatt. Joining us will be special guest David Gerrold. The entire Dragon*Con podcasting track can be found here.
We'll also be tagging along for the TWiT meetup at 6 PM at the Sun Dial Restaurant and Bar Saturday September 4. T-shirts and pens galore!
We're halfway through The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but we have some non-spoilery insights to share from ourselves and the book club discussions on Goodreads. We also talk about some of our favorite SciFi crossovers and this whole crazy new world of eBooks, audio books and 'enhanced' eBooks.
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.
Check out our Partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off stickers.
Just an overview of some news and few discussions from the Goodreads forums this week, including the H.G. Wells story competition that banned science fiction and required everything to be handwritten. HUH?!
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.
Veronica's reading "Time Traveller's Wife By Audrey Niffenegger Narrated by William Hope and Laurel Lefkow"
Hello Veronica and Tom, A pleasure to listen to you! I follow both of you on your respective sites(a Twit fanatic and a Patrick Norton wannabe Winking smile emoticon), and just recently found Sword and Laser due to an off the cuff remark from Tom on TNT. I was an avid reader of books long before there were computers, so imagine my excitement when I heard you discussing old friends! I have never sent a fan mail/response to anyone before so forgive me if I ramble a bit.
Thanks for all the suggestions Glenn!
ADDENDUMS
Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at Sticker Fu
It's a catch-up episode with some cool news from the world of the past predicting the world of the future, as well as some data on why eBooks might take you longer to read. And we kick off the new book club pick, The Moon is Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein.
The Unit by Tery DeHart - July 14 Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour - B.L. O'Malley July 20 Star Wars: The Old Republic Fatal Alliance - Sean Williams - July 20 The Reluctant Mage - Karen Miller - July 28
I just wanted to add yet another to the growing group of people that Veronica has introduced to the Temeraire series. I just finished the first one and absolutely loved it. Can't wait to read the next one! As a note of interest, I downloaded the Kindle app for my iPhone just so that I could download His Majesty's Dragon from the Kindle store. I don't have an eReader (yet), and am not completely sold on the Kindle, but I really enjoyed reading this book on my phone.
Thanks so much for the great podcast!
Jennifer
ADDENDUMS
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.
Partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers.
This week we round up a lot of news and discussions ranging from the release of the Kraken book, to what Jane Goodall reads at the beach. Plus we begin the quest to pick our next book.
Book Kickoff soon. Look for the poll on the website. We'll be making the poll soon, so give us your ideas before we make up our minds and get set in our ways! Even if it's just an author or a type of novel.
Emails:
Hey Veronica and Tom,
First, let me say I'm liking the greater frequency of S&L. Hope to see more.
Add me to the tally of people Veronica has introduced to Temeraire. I recently finished Victory of Eagles; it's an amazing series and I look forward to more.
Game of Thrones on HBO. Here's the thing about the Ice and Fire books. They are incredible books, however I had to stop reading after the 3rd one because it literally depressed me. If the HBO series is near as good, I doubt I'll be able to watch it, which is too bad.
Also, I vote for a video version of S&L on TWiT.tv
Anyway, cheers and thanks for the great book-lovers podcast.
Simon
ADDENDUMS
Thanks to our partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers!
A brief episode this week just to gush about the new Game of Thrones trailer on HBO and get us all squared away on reading World War Z, plus a few alternates if you just don't think you like zombies. But come on, all we are saying is give zombies a chance.
I have just started listening to S&L (had to get a Tom fix after he left BOL). I am a bit late on this discussion but, on the topic of books where Earth is destroyed, in the Death Gate Cycle novels the Earth is ""sundered"" and used to make four new worlds (plus a small gateway world and a living prison world) each based on one of the four elements. That's about as destroyed as you can get.
I was also wondering whether either of you have read Neal Stephenson's first novel ""The Big U"" which has fantastical elements (although it would be more accurately described as satire than fantasy or scifi). This is actually my favorite of his novels because it does not take itself at all seriously. I do love your show.
-Leif from Oakland
Don't forget Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at www.stickerfu.com.
In this episode we learn that some people hate Zombies, some are well prepared for them, and some people get very distrubed if they read zombe stories before bedtime. Of course it's not all zombies. Sometimes it's para-narratives. And occasionally the Roman Empire. But isn't it always?
Emails: You asked about stories where the Earth was destroyed… Beastmaster by Andre Norton Not actually destroyed in the book but dealing with the aftermath. That’s close isn’t it? She was awesome!
Ross
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Somebody has probably mentioned this but in 'When Worlds Collide', by George Pal, the Earth is destroyed due to an impact with another planet. Happily, there is another planet that arrives at the same time, and some people move there. kent
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This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com, the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.
New partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at www.stickerfu.com
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.
This week we're very pleased to have a chance to talk to author Laurie R. King. Ms. King is the author of the Mary Russell series of historical mysteries, featuring Sherlock Holmes as her partner, and a series featuring police officer Kate Martinelli, as well as several standalone novels. King's first book, A Grave Talent (1993), received the 1994 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Her latest book is The God of the Hive.
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.
We've finally finished the Windup girl and we'r ready to wrap it up, but we also have news, some sad (RIP Frank Frazetta) and some glad (Game of Thrones!) Plus we have some excellent thought-provoking commentary from the Goodreads group. And best of all, we announce we'll have another episode next week! Find out who our special guest interview is. (raised eyebrow)
Stephen Baxter has a tendency to destroy the Earth in a number of his books. Notably:
Moonseed - Earth wiped out completely starting in the opening scene. Evolution - Human evolution from triumph of mammals to the end of humanity (Earth survives, people don't) Flood - All land gone. Some humans survive.
He's one of my favourite "Laser" authors and well worth reading. Regards,
Simon Williams UK
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This is a little old but in catching up on my rss feed of i09.com I came across this. Ridley Scott!
Thanks for the great group & podcast.
Peter Hansen
*****
ADDENDUMS
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.
This week we officially introduce The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi as our latest Sword and Laser book club pick. We also announce the move of our forums, and kick a little love/hate towards George R. R. Martin.
As a wrap-up of "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" we finally snag an interview with the author of the Sword and Laser book club selection. Cory Doctorow is always a fun person to chat with, and this episode is no exception. We do query him on some of the thoughts behind Down and Out, but also about writing and the publishing industry in general. We also let him pick our next book!
We had the distinct pleasure of chatting with Daniel Suarez, author of previous Sword and Laser pick Daemon, as well as the new sequel Freedom (TM) that just came out January 7th. Get some insight into how much of the world of the Darknet Daniel really thinks could happen, and why.
Heads up! We know Veronica said it was episode 27 (en español) but that’s because she was working with Tom’s bad episode number intel. We’re really on #26, and we’ve finally made it through Mists of Avalon and have a recap for you. Overall we liked it, and Tom gets into some of the Arthurian Legend underpinnings.
We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Brandon Sanderson, co-author of the next installment of the Wheel of Time Series; The Gathering Storm. Brandon told us how he got into writing, what books he likes to read and how he ended up with the honor of finishing the work of Robert Jordan.
Quick Burns JC Hutchins’s sf novel 7TH SON serialized here on Boing Boing, Part 1
We had a fantastic time at Dragon*Con! Thanks to everyone who showed up for the recording, and Timothy Zahn for being an outstanding guest. Special thanks to Swoopy and Derek for inviting us in and helping us out tremendously, Jon for running about the room with a mic so we could the excellent audience feedback, and to all the folks in the Dragon*Con podcasting track who helped us sound perfect. Plus a SUPER thanks to Kathryn for designing and obtaining the t-shirts and Kim for helping us drag them around and distribute them.
Mixing Media Alters My Brain – Posted by aldenoneil on September 2, 2009 at 12:22pm A phenomenon occurs occasionally, where I’ll be reading a book concurrently with playing through a videogame, and my reading of the novel is effected. This time around it’s Warcraft III and The Forever War. Reading through a description about a certain base under construction, all I could envision was little soldiers with low polygon counts and blocky grey buildings rising whole from the surface. I don’t believe that was the author’s intention.
Of course it occurs with movies – reading through The Lord of the Rings will never be the same for any of us, for example – but videogames present a more stylized vision, which really f*cks my sh*t up, for lack of a better phrase. It really points to how subjective an experience reading a novel is.
Does this happen to anyone else? Milder forms include casting actors or friends in roles, or envisioning natural settings as versions of places that you’ve actually been to. That’s why descriptions of nature scenes have always been difficult for me; I live in a bubble.
District 9 Posted by Chris M: Okay, maybe I’m jaded but I don’t get it. District 9 was a complete let down to me. I left the theater feeling like I’d seen that theme done a dozen times, usually more successfully . I don’t want to drop any spoilers, so I won’t go into detail, but for someone who is into sci-fi, District 9 presents well trod themes in a typical, unimaginative manner. The CGI was pretty interesting, but that’s about the only notable thing for me. I didn’t dislike the movie, but jeeze I’ve seen people raving about it like it’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I’d rather watch a rerun of Enemy Mine or Alien Nation.
Timothy Zahn – Our guest is SciFi author Timothy Zahn. He won the Hugo award in 1984 for his novella Cascade Point but is best known for the very popular Star Wars sequels known as the Thrawn Trilogy. They were authorised by Lucas and took place after Return of the Jedi. He has also written the Dragonback series and the Conquerors Trilogy, about a war between humans and aliens.
Listener Questions
What would the galaxy be like if Grand Admiral Thrawn had won? Would it be better or worse than how its turned out under the New Republic?
I’d like to know what he’s reading, and what he’s read this year. I know I bought the first Dresden Files book on Michael Stackpole’s recommendation after he read the galley.
ADDENDUMS
T-Shirts: We’re desciding the best way to distribute them on the Internets, but everybody who attened our panel at Dragon*Con got one.
Tagline: Different worlds, different discussion
Designer: Kathryn Parker
Next episode – Forever War recap and kickoff of the next book, which will be Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.
