We welcome our new Grand Master, who has always been a grand master really. We give you some insight on the best Science Fiction and Fantasy this year and next, and we explain why Gandalf is not a nice man. But he's a great wizard.
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.
Friends of Sword and Laser are doing VERY well. We're not saying that being a guest on Sword and Laser will guarantee you riches... but it seems like it might. Just saying. Also we have verification on the humanity of the Bibliomat. Also WARNING: there's cursing. But it's worth it. All that and Moria, on this episode.
I went to the Monkey's Paw this weekend when I was in Toronto. I took a video (albeit crappy) of it. I was thinking I could send you guys the book for your set, as the random book I received ended up being...."The Dictionary of Mysticism".
What do you think?
Thanks,
Caitlin from Canada
Tom Merritt
Awesome!
So..... person inside??
Caitlin O'Brien
to Tom, Veronica
....sort of. I put my money in, and it made some noises, but nothing came out. A guy at the front of the store yelled ""just a minute!"" and came back to load it for me. Once he was done, he gave me back my toonie and told me keeping it stocked is a full time second job. So, there was human involvment - just no human inside. Plus, when I was googling the address, I came across this video: http://jezebel.com/5965769/magical-used-book-store-dispenses-random-literary-treasures and it shows how it works.
I was pretty excited that something so relevant to the Sword and Laser came out.
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Hey Tom & Veronica, just wanted to leave some feedback on the audio podcasts. I really like the new overall show balance you guys have got going these days with the news in the audio podcast, and also the more relaxed feel that you seem to have. The audio show is the perfect thing to listen to late at night with a glass of wine when you need to unwind. (I'm drinking a nice locally-made Ontario riesling, for the record.)
I love the idea of the audience being on the audio show, the ""plead your case"" scenario, especially in cases like Nick's. Have you heard back from him yet? Is he going to be on the show?
As always, I love all the show formats, audio and video. Have a great day!
Gordon S. McLeod
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"Tom and Veronica,
I just wanted to say that I think you do a wonderful job with The Sword and Laser podcast and YouTube show.
I started listening to the podcast in 2009. Since then, you have introduced me to so many great books. I don't often read along with your picks, but I usually add them to my ""to-read"" list and have read many of them later on.
I've also really enjoyed the author interviews over the years. The author spotlights on the YouTube show are especially nice.
Oh, and I have to send a big thanks for convincing me to sign up for Audible. My commutes to work are sooooo much better now.
Thanks for everything and keep up the great work!
Happy holidays,
Mike"
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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.
On this episode we breakdown the Tolkien estate case against Warner Brothers, debate the origins of the Ghallu, and even figure out the January book pick! Also Tom has a Snow Day. But it's not what you think. It's BETTER!
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.
It's a fun show this time. No, seriously, you should try to listen. We talk with Dave Gross, Lead Writer at Overhaul Games, and James L. Suttera co-creator of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Fiction Editor for Paizo Publishing. They share some great insights on the relationship of role-playing games to fantasy novels as well as just about the craft of writing itself. Also Veronica peer pressures Tom into drinking.
CALENDAR INTERVIEW Dave Gross, Lead Writer at Overhaul Games, developers of Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition. and James L. Suttera co-creator of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Fiction Editor for Paizo Publishing. 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.
Hey guys, I love your show. Can't wait for the Robin Hobb interview. Will that be on the youtube webcast and the audio podcast? I read Liveship, Tawny Man, Farseer, and the new Rain Wilds series. I had to Lem the Soldier Son....it was way too slow and a little boring....I didn't like the protagonist at all.
Anyway, I am really writing today about the email below. You guys are going to be in the money for all of the books you have bought from Amazon. I have had a Kindle for around 3 years and I am always disappointed about the pricing. The electronic version of a book should ALWAYS be less then the hardback/paperback but that is not always so.
It looks like some publishers are finally trying to put an end of the extreme pricing. What do you think?
Is the Youtube podcast ever going to go to Itunes as a videocast? I am not always in front of my computer / smart TV so it would be great if my IPod could play the video cast. You guys look great on a 55"" HD TV by the way.
My author interview wishlist: Scott Lynch, Gentlemen Bastards...Brent Weeks, Lightbringer.....Peter V. Brett, Demon War.... Thanks, Craig from PA
Dear Kindle Customer, We have good news. You are entitled to a credit for some of your past e-book purchases as a result of legal settlements between several major e-book publishers and the Attorneys General of most U.S. states and territories, including yours. You do not need to do anything to receive this credit. We will contact you when the credit is applied to your Amazon.com account if the Court approves the settlements in February 2013. Hachette, Harper Collins, and Simon & Schuster have settled an antitrust lawsuit about e-book prices. Under the proposed settlements, the publishers will provide funds for a credit that will be applied directly to your Amazon.com account. If the Court approves the settlements, the account credit will appear automatically and can be used to purchase Kindle books or print books. While we will not know the amount of your credit until the Court approves the settlements, the Attorneys General estimate that it will range from $0.30 to $1.32 for every eligible Kindle book that you purchased between April 2010 and May 2012. Alternatively, you may request a check in the amount of your credit by following the instructions included in the formal notice of the settlements, set forth below. You can learn more about the settlements here: www.amazon.com/help/agencyebooksettlements In addition to the account credit, the settlements impose limitations on the publishers’ ability to set e-book prices. We think these settlements are a big win for customers and look forward to lowering prices on more Kindle books in the future. Thank you for being a Kindle customer. The Amazon Kindle Team
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.
Today we show you just why the audio podcast is different and more REAL than anything else you listen to. Then we calm down, sober up, time travel, and have a fascinating interview with G. Willow Wilson. Turns out, she is awesome. Find out why!
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.
Is science fiction exhauasted? It has a had a hard century's work. We'll examine that, invite you to read some banned books, and smell Veronica's feet. Don't let that last one put you off. We also kick off Cloud Atlas.
I have always been an avid reader but not a fantasy/sci-fi reader until I started to listen to your audio podcast, I came by the way of Buzz Out Loud. Listening to ya'll talk about the Game of Thrones so much made me decide I had to give a shot, well I started reading them in July and am over half way through the 5th book now we are also watching the HBO series. I wanted to thank you for introducing me to such a great series that I otherwise would have missed and to send you some pictures that I think of every time the talk about the old gods in the weirwood trees. http://www.flickr.com/photos/82006512@N00/8037943720/in/photostream/ These pictures are from Orr Park in Montevallo, Alabama were a local artist by the name of Tingle has been carving in the deadwood trees since at least 1993. Just had to share these pics with ya'll.
Love the show,
Laura Boggs
Montevallo, Alabama
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.
It's a virtual bachelorette party of SciFi and Fantasy discussion today, with a chat about how SciFi can be interesting if it follows the laws of physics, and an interview with author Anton Strout.
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING? Tom: Kona Big Wave Golden Ale Veronica: Fruity vodka drink with Passion Fruit and stuff
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 a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.
It's that time of year again... DragonCon! If you weren't able to join us for our live show, never fear! We recorded it for you. Joining us on this episode is the wonderful R.A. Salvatore, who answered your questions and gave us some great advice for new writers.
Also, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter! We'll keep you up-to-date on all the upcoming live shows and appearances, and make sure you don't miss a video show or audio podcast!
We're going to DragonCon! Sword and Laser Podcast – LIVE We’ll do a live version of our audio podcast with a special guest author and take your questions. So get to reading! Time: Sat 02:30 pm Location: Crystal Ballroom – Hilton (Length: 1 Hour) Parsec Awards The Parsec Awards are the yearly awards for speculative fiction podcasts. I’ll be presenting, and Veronica Belmont will be hosting! Time: Sun 04:30 pm Location: International North Room – Hyatt
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.
In this episode, we learn how to control Veronica using the power of her "true name": Nathan! Like the hot dogs! We also talk about the fine art of seducing writers.
First of all, I love the show and I'm excited to be a part of your book club. I'd just like to thank you for this month's pick. I must admit I had my reservations about the novel (I'm not a huge fan of first person narration.) But I was quite surprised by how quickly the pages were turning. I was at the Half-Price bookstore and on page 13 when my brother showed me what he'd intended to buy. The Playstation version of Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. Then it occurred to me I should try to read the book using Simon Templeman's voice as an older Fitz relating his childhood. The book went from pretty interesting to nothing short of awesome. The voice of Kain going through your head and narrating a tale of a boy's travails as he learns the trade of killing people? What's not to love? Anyway, I thought you'd get a kick out of that. Once again, thank you so much for the pick. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Take care guys.
Yours truly,
Dwayne.
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.
Veronica's on a beach in Hawaii but found a TARDIS or something, so we have an incredibly confusing discussion about ethics, and then an incredibly awesome discussion with author Michael Stackpole. Join us, won't you?
You are Spot On - It's impossible to carry enough fuel (in the fusion reactor, this fuel is in the form of fuseable pellets) to power a generation ship for hundreds of years at full thrust.
The Nauvoo's mid section is actually an enormous drum that creates spin gravity after the initial acceleration. This becomes an important plot point in book 3.
Best known for his Star Wars and Battletech books.
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.
We kick off Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey, debate Terry Goodkind's response to book pirates, and discuss what makes for good and kind book discussion. See what I did there? Goodkind. Good... Kind... just listen.
Tom: Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons and The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham 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.
We do the show in front of a live audience at Nerdtacular 2012 in Salt Lake City! Live singing of the Reading Rainbow theme, a house motto contest and questions from the audience ensue.
I just posted this in the ""What Else Are You Reading?"" forum and wanted to make sure you saw it since I know you like supporting cool Kickstarter projects. This one is a ""techno epic/spiritual fiction"" graphic novel created by Wired magazine co-founder Kevin Kelly with several talented writers and artists and they've already completed the free-to-read book one and are looking for funding for book two.
Here's the post in GoodReads: The Silver Cord - free graphic novel
Here's the Kickstarter page: The Silver Cord -- A Techno-Epic Graphic Novel
I love the show and would love hearing about this in a future episode!
Thanks,
Dan
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.
Ha! Didn't think you were getting an audio podcast this week did you? Well, we had a chance to interview Seanan McGuire, who also writes as Mira Grant, and we jumped at the opportunity to talk about zombies, SFSqueecast and Low Men in Yellow Coats. We think you'll like hearing about it too.
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.
It's a roller-coaster ride of emotions this week, as we say goodbye to one of science fiction's greatest writers, revel in swordfighting, and declare Veronica all-powerful. But there's also voting for the July book pick. Don't let all that democracy go to your head though.
In your last episode you mentioned that you noticed that fantasy seems to be more popular in later years than scifi, after which veronica immediately dissmissed the notion and attributed it to the popularity of game of thrones. It is not true, although game of thrones is extremely popular it's popularity is a simptom and not a cause.
It is a well known fact that scifi had been slowing down as a ganre for 30 years, and in the same time the fantasy ganre had been on the rise, and it seems that during the last decade these trends had became more prominent.
Love your show,
Shaul from Israel.
Keeping a candle in the window for scifi.
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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.
We set out to interview author Todd McCaffrey at BayCon 2012, but it ended up turning into a wonderful conversation about dragons, bacteria, space travel, and big ideas. Veronica also gets very flustered when asked to describe an "Anne McCaffrey dragon."
It's our 100th episode and we're having a party. But some of you are not having a party with our book pick. Well, you can just Farcast out of here! Kidding! It's OK if you Lem it. Borges tells you why.
I just found out about you guys, and Geek & Sundry, in general. I'm super stoked: to hear Gaimen and Dick being thrown out there brings warm fuzzies to my book-lovin' heart. I enjoy what (be it your personality and literary smarts) and who (the authors!) your bring to the table. Can't wait for the next installment.
As for a dragon name, how about "Gelf"?
A gelf can be a elven creature (sword); a genetically enhanced life form (laser); or can be anything you want it to be (in our line of business, imagination is everything). See Urban Dictionary for more details. A-a-a-nd, for bonus points, it was a Gelfling that merged the Skexis and urRu into one awesome whole- just like you guys have have brought the sword and laser communities together and the yet-to-be-named dragon seems to be half traditional dragon and half... MechaGodzilla. =)
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.
It's an epic struggle... With The Magicians finally given our last words, and Hyperion by Dan Simmons kicked off, attention turns to the June "sword" pick. But while Veronica struggles with her penchant for democracy and her desire for supreme power, she comes up against one sobering fact: In the game of sword picks, you win or you read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
It's what is called a Frame Story - A frame story (also frame tale, frame narrative, etc.) is a literary technique that sometimes serves as a companion piece to a story within a story, whereby an introductory or main narrative is presented, at least in part, for the purpose of setting the stage either for a more emphasized second narrative or for a set of shorter stories. The frame story leads readers from a first story into another, smaller one (or several ones) within it.Mimics the canterbury Tales in many ways. Stories are told on a pilgrimage.
Hyperion is in development for a 2013 release (definitely subject to change since it hasn't started production yet). According to a 2008 io9 report the writer Trevor Sands will simplify Hyperion and mash it up with the sequel Fall of Hyperion http://io9.com/375998/dan-simmons-hyperion-books-will-be-smooshed-together-into-one-movie
First, I love the show. I'm a fellow podcaster over at Guys Can Read. We do book reviews and interviews with authors like R. A. Salvatore and Daniel H. Wilson.
Also, I thought your listeners would be interested in my book launch into space! Here is the video. If you need any other media information just let me know.
Hope you guys enjoy!
Kevin
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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.
If you thought the audio podcast would get shorter because of our video show, you were not right. We have almost a full hour of discussion about why we like dark fantasy, what makes C.S. Lewis so cool, and the ups, downs, ins, and outs of Quentin Coldwater and The Magicians. Also Veronica keeps saying "lady cave" because she thinks it's funny. It's funny.
i've just watched the first video version of Sword & Laser on Youtube, and i totally loved it!
I have a small question you guys can hopefully help me out with.
I've recently sold my tablet (the poor thing was collection dust on the shelf), but now i'm finding myself getting back into e-books.
I could read them on my smartphone, but the small screen makes me want to turn it off after a few minutes.
Reading them on the computer works sometimes, but my concentration levels aren't as high as i hoped, i usually find myself surfing the web withint 10-15 minutes.
Audiobooks may be a solution, and i am currently listening to one, narrated by your first guest Scott Sigler. However, i was hoping to somehow combine this with reading e-books.
Any tips on how to make it easier to read e)books for an hour at a time without reinvesting in a tablet or any other devices would be appreciated!
Love the show, your dragon definitely needs some patting :)
Sincerely,
JP
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.
