Sword and Laser

Dragon*Con plans unveiled - The S&L Podcast #040

Veronica — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:53:48 +0000

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.

QUICK BURNS

Unwritten 2: pulse-pounding graphic novel shows the grim and selfish ways that people use stories

China Miéville explains theology, magic, and why JJ Abrams hates you

Interview with zombie books author Max Brooks

Escaping the time machine in Charles Yu's "How To Live Safely In A Science Fictional Universe"

Heinlein memoir: LEARNING CURVE - the secret history of science fiction

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

BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

2005 Movie script for TMHM

What Else Are You Reading? August 2010 Edition

Mighty Tomes You Plan to Read... eventually


EMAIL:

Greetings Veronica and Tom,

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!

RSVP on the Goodreads event page!

Don't forget our Partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off thir awesomely geeky stickers!

Heinlein fans are a harsh mistress - The S&L Podcast #039

Veronica — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:20:15 +0000

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.

QUICK BURNS

The dystopian novel that's turning China upside down

Simon & Schuster Look To ‘Enhanced’ E-Books Beyond Apps

The 11 greatest, craziest sci-fi crossovers in television history

Summer science fiction explosion: The io9 guide to August


BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

Heinlein is a weak-minded, adolescent authoritarian

Turing Method - A defintion of self awareness

Do Audiobooks count as reading?

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.

Check out our Partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off stickers.

Handwritten for your enjoyment - The S&L Podcast #038

Veronica — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:20:18 +0000

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?!

QUICK BURNS - News

Veronica and Tom's ComiCon adventures!

Words to live by: advice from 34 science fiction/fantasy authors

H.G. Wells short story contest bans science fiction, and gets no entries

Best selling SciFi on Amazon right now - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Best selling fantasy on Amazon right now Sookie Stackhouse the 8-copy boxed set

Also preorders of Towers of Midnight (Wheel of Time) is number 4 overall best SciFi Fantasy (comes out November 2)


RELEASE THE KRAKEN! -- or some books

"The Terminal State (Avery Cates) [Mass Market Paperback] - Jeff Somers "    7/27/2010

Diane Duane - Omnitopia Dawn: Omnitopia #1 [Hardcover]    8/3/2010

Sheri S. Tepper - The Water's Rising    8/31/2010

Brandon Sanderson - The Way of Kings     8/31/2010

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"


BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

A model of self sufficiency

Missing Words

Quotations - add your favorites

Game Books


BOOK CHECK-IN

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein


EMAIL:

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

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (kickoff) – The S&L Podcast #037

Veronica — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 02:35:15 +0000

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.

QUICK BURNS

Earliest utopian novel by an American woman: 300 Years Hence, 1836

Reading E-Books Takes Longer Than Reading Paper Books

Gateways: Tribute to Fred Pohl with stories by Bear, Benford, Brin, Bova, Gaiman, Harrison, Haldeman and me!

RELEASE THE KRAKEN -- or some books

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

BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

SDCC -- Who's In?

TMHM: Action! Adventure! Exciting Debate!

Searching for Spy-fi

Book Kickoff

The Moon is Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein (wikipedia article)

Notes on the upcoming monster-sized authorized Heinlein biography

EMAILS

Hi Veronica and Tom!

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.

Anthropomorphic cat detective! – The S&L Podcast #036

Veronica — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:50:23 +0000

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.

QUICK BURNS

The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter currently top-selling scifi/fantasy on Amazon

Out this week: Kraken by China Mieville

Scientists recommend their favorite beach reading

Octavia Butler, Roger Zelazny, and Richard Matheson inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame

Blacksad: hardboiled detective fiction about anthropomorphic animals (no, really)    l

BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

Spoilery: The Moralities and (Necessary?) Evils of the Redeker Plan

Realpolitik and the Zombie Menace

Modern profanity breaks fantasy immersion??

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!

Give zombies a chance – The S&L Podcast #035

Veronica — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:36:42 +0000

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.

QUICK BURNS - unrelated news of the week

Haven promo gives us a glimpse of new Stephen King on TV

Interactive guide to Larry Niven's Ringworld is the next best thing to going there


BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

Game of Thrones Teaser

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss has a pub date!

Zombies They Are a Changin'

Book Kickoff

World War Z by Max Brooks

Emails:

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.

No Zombies before bedtime – The S&L Podcast #034

Veronica — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:15:04 +0000

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?

Neal Stephenson, Greg Bear and friends launch The Mongoliad: a shared universe that could only live on the Web

Neal Stephenson's "Diamond Age" turning into miniseries for SyFy

Effinger's WHEN GRAVITY FAILS: super-noir cyberpunk Middle East

Great moments in alternate history: the non-fall of the Roman empire

BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

What Else Are You Reading June 2010 Edition

What is your zombie apocalypse contingency plan?

Our next book will be: World War Z: An oral history of the zombie war by Max Brooks

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

***

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

***

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

Interview with Bitter Seeds author Ian Tregillis – The S&L Podcast #033

Veronica — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:36:17 +0000

This week, we wrap up Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis with our opinions, your opinions, and Ian Tregillis's opinions. (Yes, he's on the show for an interview). We also look at June SciFi/Fantasy events thanks to IO9. June is pretty danged busy!

BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

Bitter Seeds > *Spoilers* Final thoughts?

Bitter Seeds > Your superpower?

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.

Audible Recommendation:
Martian Time-Slip and The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick


Don't forget our partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at www.stickerfu.com.

Interview with Laurie R. King – The S&L Podcast #032

Veronica — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:13:34 +0000

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.

QUICK BURNS

5 Epic Science Fiction Book Series to Read This Summer.

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.

Our Audible pick: The Beekeeper's Apprentice, by Laurie R. King, narrated by Jenny Sterlin

Our partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at http://www.stickerfu.com/

The Windup Girl Wrapup – The S&L Podcast #031

Veronica — Tue, 18 May 2010 02:55:51 +0000

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)

News

Frank Frazetta, RIP

Nebula Award Winners (Includes Windup Girl)

Game of Thrones News

George R. R. Martin talks 'Game of Thrones' as the HBO show's 'Daenerys' departs

Winter is Coming - A blog about Game of Thrones series on HBO

Has 'A Dance with Dragons' been announced? Check here. Every day.

BOOK Wrap-up

Wind-up Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

NEW BOOK!

Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis

BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

Cannot finish. Will not finish

The Blade Itself - thoughts on this book?

Last man on earth / post apoc book

Emails:

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

*****

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.

Our Audible pick: His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik, narrated by Simon Vance

Our partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at http://www.stickerfu.com/