S&L Podcast - #206 - How Tyrion Could Die

We have a whole Wheel of Time pilot mystery to solve and then on top of it George RR Martin says any character in the Game of Thrones series could be killed even if they’re safe in the book. WHAT?! Hands off the Imp! Also we explore the mystery of why Tom didn’t like Annihilation more, even though he wanted to.

Download direct link here!

WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?    
Tom: Longboard Lager    
Veronica: Old Potrero Whisky    
    
QUICK BURNS
    
Wheel of Time Pilot weirdness    
    
Game of Thrones TV show will start killing chracters independently from the book    
    
Sean: Here's something related to GoT/ASoIaF that's not depressing and/or annoying - Martin's original outline/proposal for the series.
    
AndrewP: Milla Jovovich will star in an adaption of GRR Martins 'The Lost lands' stories.

Terpkristin: Obviously, everybody is upset that the next book in the Song of Ice and Fire series (The Winds of Winter) is not coming in 2015. However, there is some good news as GRRM announced that his Dunk & Egg stories are finally coming to a stand-alone collection on October 6. This edition will be illustrated "on virtually every page" by Gary Gianni. GRRM's announcement can be read at his LJ site.     
    
David: They've announced that the first in Butcher's new Cinder Spires series, The Aeronaut's Windlass, is out in September    

Kevin: Tor.com announces its first line up of novellas to be published later this year from it's new imprint    
    
Ben: the Locus Recommended Reading List itself is a worthy quick burn. Each year it comes out in February highlighting what Locus Reviewers collectively regard as the best genre work to come out in a given year. It covers everything from YA to grimdark and from literary SFnal works to action heavy space opera. Its much longer than an award's short list and many people use the list to give them ideas what great works they might have missed from the previous year.    
    
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION    
    
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer     
    
Sean: The problem of motivation    
    
Daniel: This book is not normal narrative    
    
John (Taloni): What genre is it actually (expect spoilers)    
    
From Annihilation to Acceptance: A Writer’s Surreal Journey    
    
Next Month: The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison    
    
ADDENDUMS    
    
Our show is currently entirely funded by our patrons at patreon.com/swordandlaser Thank you to all the folks who back our show,
    
You can also support the show by buying books through our links! Find links to the books we talk about and some of our favorites at swordandlaser.com/picks    
    

The Goblin Emperor

$8.99

By Katherine Addison

Buy on Amazon

S&L Podcast - #137 - A rasher of Abercrombie

The Iron Throne, by Marc Simonetti.

It's a day filled with George Martin's real iron throne and Joe Abercrombie's new empires.  Plus Veronica reveals the August book pick!

WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?

Tom: Slurm

Veronica: Romulan Ale

QUICK BURNS

Amazon launches graphic novel imprint, with George R.R. Martin among first authors

George R.R. Martin: This is what the Iron Throne REALLY looks like

George R.R. Martin smashes up a guitar; Neil Gaiman approves

Trailer for debut novel TERRA features some famous faces

Book Trailer: MADDADDAM by Margaret Atwood

A glimpse of a FIRST LAW world map

Joe Abercrombie sells new fantasy series to HarperCollins Voyager

J.K. Rowling quietly published a crime novel—all the way back in April

Your Semi-Obligatory Reminder Regarding Hugo Voting

CALENDAR

Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicles books are getting a TV show!

BOOK CHECK-IN

Ringworld by Larry Niven

This so much fun

"What the Tanj?!" 

Redshirts by John Scalzi

Redshirts and Among Others

Wrap up Ringworld and Redshirts August 6.

August book pick!

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

BARE YOUR SWORD

Great First Lines

How much should an author consider race?

ADDENDUMS

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 100,000 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 episode is brought to you by Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio.  For a free trial and 10% off, go to squarespace.com and use offer code SWORD7.

Direct download link for this episode!

S&L Podcast - #124 - Whur my dragons at?

Tom's in a singing mood and Veronica's on the bandwagon and Tom has to pronounce all the German. We also kick off the April book pick, Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey.​

WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Bulleit Bourbon
Veronica: Water

QUICK BURNS
FINALISTS: 2013 Hugo Awards
Nominated for the Kurd Laßwitz Preis
RIP: James Herbert, OBE: 1943-2013
New George R.R. Martin website
You Got Grit in my Fantasy Story
Cover & Synopsis: “Self-Reference ENGINE” by Toh EnJoe - The description on this is hilarious.

CALENDAR

TV, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES
Doctor Who: Summer Falls – New Ebook With Link To “The Bells Of Saint John”
Harry Potter actor Richard Griffiths dies
How Fans Recreated Game of Thrones in a Minecraft Map the Size of LA
Game of Thrones T-shirt on Etsy from Listener Derek
GoT producers will not wait for GRRM to finish the books
GRRM on pitching new projects to HBO
Robert J. Sawyer to Adapt His Novel Triggers for the Big Screen

BOOK CHECK-IN
Dragonriders of Pern: (just Dragonflight if you don't have time for all three)
Wikipedia article

BARE YOUR SWORD
Books for people who miss Firefly

Chris wanted to give his book as a gift to the Sword and Laser audience so all day tomorrow, April 3, Death of Dreams will be free! Thanks Chris.

ADDENDUMS
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 100,000 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.   

And also check out http://www.audible.com/sweeps to enter the sweepstake! Quick to enter, simply put in your email address!

Direct link to download the show!

S&L Video - George R.R. Martin - Bonus interview!

We felt a little bad keeping him from writing the final books, but we had more questions! Check out the full interviews here.

Video link: http://youtu.be/VEegFASVTLs

S&L Video - #06 - George R. R. Martin Game of Thrones Special!

Our Game of Thrones spectaular is here! We interview author George R.R. Martin and ask many of your questions, and we also talk philosophy with Henry Jacoby (Game of Thrones and Philosophy: Logic Cuts Deeper Than Swords). We drink blue wine while wrapping up Tigana, and much more!

Show Notes:

Three Hidden Keys Open Three Secret Gates

Audiobooks Times Three

THE OFFICIAL YEAR ZERO TRAILER

S&L Podcast - #72 - Interview with Kristian Nairn (Hodor!)

No book pick this week, but we do have a special interview with the man who plays Hodor in the HBO series Game of Thrones.  We'll find out what he had to do to get the role and how he thinks Hodor thinks. Plus a look at the Hugos and a new book recommendation engine.

QUICK BURNS

Joe Abercrombie's next book gets a title

Can 32,000 Data Points Yield The Perfect Book Recommendation?

New China Mieville book gets a title 

Hugo winners, 2011

CALENDAR

8/23/2011 - The Measure of the Magic: Legends of Shannara By Terry Brooks
8/23/2011 - The Power of Six (I Am Number Four) By Pittacus Lore
9/6/2011 - Legacy of Kings by C. S. Friedman
9/6/2011 - Tears of the Sun: A novel of change by S. M. Stirling

TV and Movies

For Croatian ASoIaF and GoT fans

3 new actors for GAME OF THRONES, plus Hellboy wants a part

INTERVIEW

Kristian Nairn plays Hodor on the HBO series Game of Thrones. He's also a DJ and WoW player!

Did he ever just wish his character was mute so he could stop saying "Hodor!"? Also, did he answer a casting call? If so what was the character description? -- Nick

Since this is his first major role, I'd like to know a bit about the casting process. How did he land role? What was the audition like? (a lot of Hodoring one would expect) --  Tero

I'd like to know how much say he had in his dialogue. No, seriously. There was a distinct lack of Hodoring in the show and I'd really like to know if he was involved in any discussions on how much Hodor is too much Hodor. I'm wondering whether they were toning it down to not grate on people, or if they just didn't have time to explain his backstory and didn't want people wondering about it until they'd had a chance to. -- Been

As a fellow big guy (6'7"" and about 280) did he have problems walking around the castles? I almost knocked myself out walking through a castle in Wales wearing a baseball cap. I walked strait into a stone door frame I could not see b/c the hat bill blocked it. Can only imagine how tough that would be with someone riding piggy back. -- Alden

Do you think that Hodor has intense internal thought but is unable to communicate it effectively? He can clearly understand what other people expect of him and can look after himself in other ways. -- Michael

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.

S&L Podcast - #72 - Interview with Kristian Nairn (Hodor!)

S&L Podcast - #71 - Dance with Dragons wrap-up

Yes this week we wrap-up our thoughts on "A Dance with Dragons" and there is quite a bit to talk about. Meantimes there's other stuff in the worlds of Swords and Lasers, including a couple top 100 book lists to debate. And debate them we do!

QUICK BURNS

NPR: Your Picks: Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books

S&L Top-100 Science Fiction, Fantasy Titles

Write an adventure novel in three days, the Michael Moorcock way

CALENDAR

io9 complete guide

8/16/2011 The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind

8/16/2011 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

8/17/2011 The Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley

8/18/2011 By Light Alone - by Adam Roberts

8/23/2011 The Measure of the Magic: Legends of Shannara By Terry Brooks

8/23/2011 The Power of Six (I Am Number Four) By Pittacus Lore

BARE YOUR SWORD

Cooking Ice and Fire

TV and Movies

Eureka Cancelled

Six more for THRONES

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Spoilers Imminent)

EMAILS

Veronica,

I would like to urge you to listen to Little Fuzzy with an open mind. The story is neither misogynistic, nor racist and I think that you may just find it delightful. Piper's work, like that of Asimov and Heinlein, is a product of the 60's. The characters smoke and drink martinis. True, there aren't many female leading characters. The lead female character is named Ruth and she is no secretary. She is a powerful lawyer and central to the plot. For the early 1960s I'd say this was fairly progressive.

The cast of human characters is also fairly diverse racially and culturally. Piper envisioned a universe that was not America-centric and numerous characters have Muslim or Hindi names or were the products of interracial marriage. By the standards of the day, this would be considered very progressive.

What might throw you is the fact that the story is indeed dated. The good guys and bad guys are pretty well defined and protagonist Jack Halloway is not flawed in the way that people expect a good character to be. He's something like an old cowboy, I suppose. Some of the technology is humorously dated -- he has to run his movie film through a portable processing lab, for example.

The story addresses some very deep social issues, mainly what constitutes humanity. How do we decide when to confer human rights to non-humans?

This book was the first sci-fi novel I read as a kid. The gateway drug, one could say. I've been hooked ever since.

Side note: You'll remember that during the live interview with David Gerrold at DragonCon last year, he mentioned that he had originally called his creatures Fuzzies but had to change the name to Tribbles because of the H.Beam Piper novel. Also, much of Piper's work is available for free as it has slipped into the public domain.

Anyway, I had to speak up for one of my very favorite authors. Thanks for your awesome podcast. I hope to see you guys again at DragonCon this year.

-Rick Parker

NEW MEMBER HELLOS

Colleen, Josh, Nathanael, Dave, AJ, Steve, Mark, Rasputin, Ryan, Keith, Emma, Doug, Otto, Lou, T.K. Kenyon, Sam, Jonathan, Su-min, Hector, Laurie, Kevin, Robert and Elinor.

BOOK CHECK-IN

A Dance with Dragons

About Jon Snow

The Maesters speculation

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.

S&L Podcast - #71 - A Dance with Dragons Wrap-up

S&L Podcast - #70 - A Dance with 50-70 Percent of the Dragons

We're not done with the old George R.R. Martin book just yet, but we actually got a chance to see the guy in person, and met some of you folks too!  And ate Mexican Food! We have no complaints about life now. Except for the series Alphas. 

QUICK BURNS

Stannis and Melisandre cast for GAME OF THRONES

Davos joins THRONES

Tad Williams talks to George R.R. Martin

Pottermore launches competition to select beta users

Alastair Reynolds to pen DOCTOR WHO novel

Attack the Block makes fighting aliens cool again

World Science Fiction Travel Fund

CALENDAR

8/2/2011 The Diviner by Melanie Rawn

8/2/2011 Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

8/9/2011 The Magician King: A Novel by Lev Grossman

BARE YOUR SWORD

A Dance with Dragons > Loss of Focus (I just don't care anymore)

Finished Series (read last two or three posts

TV and Movies

Alphas, more like Al-Blahs

Falling Skies is on (Spielberg produced)

Harry Potter 7 Part 2 (spoilers?)

BOOK CHECK-IN

A Dance with 50%-70% of the Dragons

EMAILS

I don't know if you talked about this before, but it always irks me that you're using percentages when talking about how far along you are in an ebook. Perhaps you should solicit suggestions for a word that defines an ebook page in your forum. Here's my suggestion:

Fage |fāj|
noun
a page in an ebook reader or ebook application of arbitrary size. I'm currently on fage 364 of 1,663 in The Wise Man's Fear iBook. ORIGIN early 21st century: from English fake page.

Cheers,
uv.

---------------

Hi Tom and Veronica!

I was wondering if you were planning to have another Sword and Laser meet up in Atlanta during DragonCon?

From Jenny C.

NEW MEMBER HELLOS

Gary, Andy, Fattius, Clifford, Jay, Michelle, Gabriel, Mike, Tom, Chaines72, Jeremy, Dustin, Austin, Roger, Karen, William, Skip, Chris, Paul, Nathaniel, Andrew, Max, Antti, Ewan, Michael, Alyssa, Trike!

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.

S&L Podcast - #70 - A Dance with 50-70 Percent of the Dragons

S&L Podcast - #69 - 100% Dinklage

We're stoked about more than just A Dance with Dragons this week.  The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction is going online for free next year! Comic-Con is coming, which means awesome YouTube videos! And we sing a welcome to the newbies in our GoodReads forum.  But you should listen anyway.

QUICK BURNS

George R.R. Martin confirms 'Dunk and Egg Vol I'

Encyclopedia of Science Fiction online and free

All the Coolest Events You Can’t Miss at Comic-Con 2011

CALENDAR

7/19/2011 - Star Wars: Choices of One By Timothy Zahn
7/26/2011 Ghost Story (Dresden Files, No. 13) by Jim Butcher
7/31/2011 Troika by Alistair Reynolds
8/2/2011 The Diviner by Melanie Rawn
8/2/2011 Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

BARE YOUR SWORD

A Long Time & a Bad Memory

Tyrion: Chapter 1

From Singularity into La-La Land?

BOOK CHECK-IN

Veronica is at 36%. Tom is significantly behind her.

EMAILS

Starting at about 11:00 in the S&L podcast number 68, Tom said something like, "Those are three book trilogies, there's lots of examples of those. Addams is at least a five book trilogy." All with a straight face. Have fun, Rob

NEW MEMBER HELLOS

Don, Don, James, Sarah, Melissa, Jenny, LordofSquirrels, Maranas, Tom, Ricardo, Mike, Dave, Grant, Scott, Nix, Costa, Mario, Peter, Gheric, Robert, Mojo, Ian, Jim, Slowfox, Zach.

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.

S&L Podcast - #69 - 100% Dinklage

S&L Podcast - #68 - Ad-libbing in Dothraki

We start dancing about dragons, face an uprising from the listeners, and talk with David Peterson. As the creator of the Dothraki language, he advises us to tell the audience "Anha ochomok yeraan kijinosi."

BARE YOUR SWORD

eReader Nook v Kindle?

Only Reading Finished Series

Alternate Selection

The thread from episode 67, AKA "Let's blame Tom"

INTERVIEW - Starts at 22:01

David Peterson - LCS President (Language Creation Society), creator of the Dothraki language.

David was nice enough to translate the passage on the show and pointed us to this link for an example of some diagramming of Dothraki:

"I will not have your body burned. I will not give you that honor. The beetles will feed on your eyes. The worms will crawl through your lungs. The rain will fall on your rotting skin... until nothing is left of you but bones."

Ánha vazhók khadoés yeroón virsalát. Ánha ochomók yeraán kíjinosi. Ínte vádakhie tíhoa ma khéwo áfilki vi gadimaán. Eyél várthasoe she ilekaán ríkhoya arrekaán vékha vósi yeroón vósma tolórro.

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.

S&L Podcast - #68 - Ad-libbing in Dothraki

S&L Podcast - #67 - Previously, on A Song of Ice and Fire...

We kick off A Dance with Dragons a week early with a quick summary of the important stuff that happened in the last book, A Feast for Crows.  Don't worry if you don't want to be spoiled, we save it all to the very end and give lots of warnings.  But you have to tune in for some great Goodreads discussions, quick news, and of course the Calendar.

QUICK BURNS

Steven "Jumper" Gould's new novel 7TH SIGMA: genre-busting science fiction/western kicks ass

Neil Gaiman Reveals the Future of American Gods 

Machine of Death deadline approaches 

CALENDAR

7/12/2011 A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin

7/19/2011 Star Wars: Choices of One By Timothy Zahn

7/26/2011 Ghost Story (Dresden Files, No. 13) by Jim Butcher

7/31/2011 Troika by Alistair Reynolds

BARE YOUR SWORD

Dance with Dragons accidentally ships early

The most complex lore?

Gateway Books for Future Scifi/Fantasy Lovers

BOOK PREVIEW

A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin

Speculative World Map for A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE

The Song of Ice and Fire So Far: Part 1 - Ancient History 

The Song of Ice and Fire So Far: Part 2 - The Dragon Kings

A Song of Ice and Fire So Far Part 3: Thrones and Kings

A Song of Ice and Fire So Far Part 4: Swords and Crows

EMAILS

I have to say that I'm very curious about the sound effects others are offering for the calendar & book check-in.  I'm not very creative & don't expect to win.  However I did come across some effects that I'd like to share from www.audiomicro.com.   For the calendar the only thing I can think of is 'page flip by Soundjay'.   For the new member 'reaction cheer by Blastwavefx'.  For the book check-in 'foley book grab by Blastwavefx'.  All of these are wav format & very brief.  Because it's someone else's work, I don't know the legal issues for me to grab their work & send it to you for possible use.    What got me curious the most is the sound effects people are choosing for calendar & book check-in.  That curiosity is what lead me to see what sound effects are out there.

Robert M.

NEW MEMBER HELLOS

Austin, Brian, David, PanamaJack, ViolinKnitter, Johanna, BravePixels, Frank, Leavey, Lynn, Dinre, Lorenzo, Ian, Ashley, Tero, Alex, Raul, Edvardas, Colin, Gumberkules, John, new Michaels 1, 2, and 3, aaaaand Jason. 

John -- Long time listener, first time caller. First let me say I love the 'cast. I especially love the pace and format Veronica and Tom have adopted. (Note: As I listen, I like to picture them as the VeroniTom, a two-headed book-hoarding winged creature. Try it yourself, it gives the podcast that added extra flair.)

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.

S&L Podcast - #67 - Previously, on A Song of Ice and Fire...

S&L Podcast - #61 - Literary blue balls

We get excited about the reality of George R. R. Martin's A Dance with Dragons and the scariness of a movie based on Ender's Game. We discuss how much vampires distracted from the concepts of Blindsight.  And Veronica expresses her frustration at books without clear, satisfying endings.

QUICK BURNS

ENDER’S GAME WILL BECOME A LIVE-ACTION FILM

George R. R. Martin has delivered A Dance with Dragons to the publisher

...and another less vague post

Pre-order A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin

Bantam confirms that ADWD will NOT be split

How to remember and discover Joanna Russ

CALENDAR

5/3/2011 The Inheritance by Robin Hobb
5/5/2011 The Deserter by Peadar Ó Guilín
5/10/2011 Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi
5/10/2011 The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi (Tor)
5/17/2011 Embassytown by China Mieville
5/19/2011 The Order of the Scales by Stephen Deas

BARE YOUR SWORD

Is Mark Zuckerberg a vampire?

BOOK WRAP-UP

Blindsight by Peter Watts

Two Word Reviews of Blindsight

NEW BOOK PICK!

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

Discussion of the new book on GoodReads.

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.

S&L Podcast - #61 - Literary blue balls

S&L Podcast - #59 - Throne Games

We're still agog over the premiere of HBO's "A Game of Thrones" television adaptation, but we also both got suckered into being spoiled and we're intrigued by the sexual landscape of "Blindsight'.

QUICK BURNS

Game of Thrones recap

When Joe Met George

HBO option Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS

Win a speaking role in the American Gods audiobook

CALENDAR 

4/19/2011 "The River of Shadows by Robert V.S. Redick

4/21/2011 "The Dragon’s Path by Daniel Abraham

4/26/2011 "Will Super Villains Be On the Final? Naomi Novik (Del Rey)

4/28/2011 "Titus Awakes by Mervyn Peake and Maeve Gilmore

5/3/2011 "The Inheritance by Robin Hobb

BARE YOUR SWORD

Blindsight > Post-Sex Society

Did you ever read a book that you really hated?

BOOK CHECK-IN

Blindsight by Peter Watts

ADDENDUMS

Our iTunes app is live! Thanks to Nicole Spagnuolo!!

S&L Podcast - #59 - Throne Games

Veronica gets spoiled - The S&L Podcast #42

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.

QUICK BURNS        
        
New ‘Game of Thrones’ teaser (video)   
        
Why a universe-hopping entrepreneur may be your next big hero       
        
William Gibson reveals a "secret experiment" in his Bridge Trilogy, and ponders A.I.      

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.
       
BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience        
        
Why did he die? (SPOILERS)
        
Human Judgment vs. Machines
        
The City & The City is a missed opportunity (SPOILERS)   
        
BOOK WRAP-UP      
        
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

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 

************

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.
 

************ 

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

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

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     

Veronica gets spoiled - The S&L Podcast #42