S&L Podcast - #211 - Why Peter V. Brett Empathizes with George RR Martin
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We talk with Peter V. Brett about his new book, cool tattoos and the last enjoyable book he read. The Skull Throne, 4th in the Demon Cycle series, comes out March 31, 2015.
S&L Podcast - #210 - Are You the Goblin Emperor?
/We bid adieu to Terry Pratchett and commemorate him with one more book pick next month. We cheer for Chuck Wendig being picked for the next Star Wars novel. And we wonder if we are too much like the Goblin Emperor. Are you?
Download direct link here!
QUICK BURNS
Paul: Terry Pratchett has passed away
Sandra: There will be one more DiscWorld novel
Dara: Gollancz plans to publish The Thorn of Emberlain by the end of 2015. They also revealed the cover.
Alpha Young Writers scholarship drive
Dara: HBO wants 10 seasons of Game of Thrones
Mark: George RR Martin is sad but cancels WorldCon Saratoga and ComicCon "(Should I complete and deliver WINDS OF WINTER before these cons roll round, I reserve the right to change my mind)."
Joanna: Lois McMaster Bujold just announced that she has sold a book about Cordelia Vorkosigan to Baen, titled "Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen" and tentatively scheduled for February 2016.
Sky: 20 new books will be released in the new Star Wars universe in a series dubbed "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens", that span multiple publishers and age groups and fills in the gaps between Return of the Jedi and the upcoming The Force Awakens. Including Chuck Wendig! --- Details on the first standalone Star Wars movie including the title "Rogue One" and director and release date for episode VIII: Rian Johnson / May 26, 2017
Tamahome : Station Eleven a finalist to be nominated for the Faulkner
BARE YOUR SWORD
Hey guys, just heard your podcast for the first time and really enjoyed it.
I'm a designer and concept artist that works in film and games and just thought I'd share the fact that I just finished working with Denis (Den-ee) on his upcoming sci fi film The Story of Your Life which will star Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.
I can't say anything about the movie i just worked on, but I wanted to voice my support for Denis as the choice to direct the new Bladerunner. People may not be super familiar with him, but if they watch his films, they'll see that he's could do a great job with it. He's got a kind of dark, gritty style and , fingers crossed, could be what this new Bladerunner film needs. I really like the idea of a less "Hollywood" type of director tackling this story.
Anyway, thanks! And if you'd like to see what kind of fantasy and scifi design work I do, please check out my site: www.theartofpeterkonig.com
-Peter
---
March Madness SF/Fantasy Style
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Next time we'll kick off a Terry Pratchett book. Watch the goodreads group for the announcement of which one
ADDENDUMS
Our show is currently entirely funded by our patrons at patreon.com/swordandlaser Thank you to all the folks who back our show and if you would like to support the show that way head to patreon.com/swordandlaser
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
S&L Podcast - #208 - Who Will Win This Year's Nebula?
/So much good news! Some of our favorite stories are becoming movies and TV shows and we even have good news of a popular indie author getting picked up by Tor. And we even make a stab at predicting the Nebula winner. Yet controversy rages in the Untheileneise court. Especially about how to pronounced Untheileneise.
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Nothing. I'm tired.
Veronica: Nothing, I have to go to a dance class after this!
QUICK BURNS
"Mark Nebula nominees are up at including S&L March pick The Goblin Emperor and the current pick Annihilation Will the Supreme S&L go out on a limb and predict a winner? "
Rob: Amazon picked up a full season of Man in the High Castle
David: The City & the City may be coming to TV!
Allister: This sounds great. Kazuo Ishiguro is writing a novel with elves and ogres. The Buried Giant is set after the departure of the Romans from Britain and draws on Arthurian themes whilst being influenced by samurai movies/films and westerns.
Stephen: Becky Chamber's well reviewed self published The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet has been picked up by TOR for wider distribution.
Louie: Blade Runner sequel gets its director and star. Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners) is in negotiations to direct Harrison Ford.
Warren: Harrison Ford to reprise role as Deckard in 'Blade Runner' sequel
Dara: Paramount is trying to acquire the rights to The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester.
David: Bryan Singer looking to adapt The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
Apparently they're going to rename it Uprising. Maybe they're just using it to mine it for elements instead of really adapting it? Is the original (famous!) title that movie-unfriendly? "
BARE YOUR SWORD
I also wanted to comment on the topic of alternative sexuality in SciFi. It's funny because it seems like the last few books I have read in the genre are in fact exploring the idea that in the future sexuality isn't your standard hetero relationship. The "Commonwealth Saga" by Peter F. Hamilton had many different types of partnering, as a standard course throughout. Which also continued in his "The Dreaming Void" series. Also "Hollow World" by Michael J. Sullivan had a very experimental play on sexuality (can't go into it since... Spoilers) and was really the whole point of the book. I know these are just a few books, but it just feels like many of the newer books coming out have mixed things up. Or at least not taken a hetero relationship as a standard assumption. - Travis E
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Sarah Monette - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Goblin Emperor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SarahMonette.com: Who am I?
Katherine Addison || FAQ
SFF In Conversation: Katherine Addison on The Goblin Emperor and Grimdark | The Book Smugglers
The Book Plank: Author interview with Sarah Monette // 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 and if you would like to support the show that way head to patreon.com/swordandlaser.
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
S&L Podcast - #207 - Crowdfunding an Abomination with Gary Whitta!
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Gary Whitta is an award-winning screenwriter who wrote The Book of Eli and worked on the first Star Wars standalone film. So when he had an idea for a dark historical fantasy story he wrote a book. Why? We ask him that, about successfully crowdfunding his novel, and much more on this episode!
Oh, and yes. We ask him about Star Wars too.
S&L Podcast - #206 - How Tyrion Could Die
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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
S&L Podcast - #205 - Brian McClellan Grows His Own Spaghetti Sauce
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When you rule the world of powder mages you can do what you want. Brian McClellan wields his powder for good. In addition to delivering us the complete Powder Mage trilogy with the third book The Autumn Republic, Brian is going to bring us a second trilogy in the same universe, all while growing his own spaghetti sauce and keeping bees. Impressive. Most impressive.
S&L Podcast - #204 - Annihilation is Not the End
/Veronica REALLY wanted to make the title of this episode "Tom Merritt is a sexist pig." But Tom doesn't need that kind of grief. And besides he has promised to read even more female SciFi/Fantasy authors going forward. But if you want to hear Veronica giggle at the notion-- as well as defend our book pick, Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer, and wax eloquent about the need for varied perspectives in literature-- then fire up this episode!
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Boddington's Pub Ale
Veronica: Some kind of white wine
QUICK BURNS
Nominate Your Favorite Works And People For The 2015 Hugo Awards
Nokomis.FL noted "George RR Martin’s The Winds of Winter: no plans for publication in 2015 " Trike wasn't sure this was really news and Robert wrote: "given that 'Winds of Winter' won't be published in 2015, it's almost certain that the TV show will finish before the books are published. "
Michele and Dara:
"J. Michael Straczynski Will Adapt Kim Stanley Robinson’s Red Mars for Spike TV""
Dara: More books into tv series! Endemol studios has acquired the rights to Lauren Beuke's Broken Monsters
"Ben: After their popular special issues and Kickstarter campaign last year Women destroy Science Fiction (and fantasy and horror too) - Lightspeed are doing a similar thing with Queers Destroy.... Which can be backed on Kickstarter at the moment.
Robyn: I'm late to the game (and apologies if this has been mentioned before), but I just realised that The Guardian is doing a monthly round-up of SFF - January's is here. Fun way to find out about new books.
Also take a look at John DeNardo's SF Signal's 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy and Horror Books to Look Forward to in 2015 (Part 2)
BARE YOUR SWORD
Louie: Who are your top 5 most read authors?
Tom:
1-Philip K. Dick 30
2-William Shakespeare 18
3-Stephen King 14
4-Evelyn Waugh 11
4-Douglas Adams 11
4-Neal Stephenson 11
7-Hunter S. Thompson 10
8-Frank Herbert 9
8-Douglas Coupland 9
Veronica:
1-Charlaine Harris 14
2- Laurie R. King 13
2-Robin Hobb 13
4-Tad Williams 12
4-Jim Butcher 12
6-Orson Scott Card 9
7-Jacqueline Carey 7
7-Gail Carriger 7
7-Kevin Hearne 7
7-J.K. Rowling 7"
A Rant about a Particular Aspect of eBooks
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
Jeff VanderMeer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Annihilation review – 'You'll find yourself afraid to turn the page' | Books | The Guardian
Finally, a novel about weird science that's genuinely weird
ADDENDUMS
Support our show on Patreon
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
S&L Podcast - #203 - Myke Cole's Secret Unicorn
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We welcome back the amazing Myke Cole to talk about how he finds time to write great books, fight crime, and decorate his apartment with even more books. We also pressure him into a startling revelation about unicorns. And of course, talk to him about his new book, Gemini Cell: A Shadow Ops Novel which is out now!
S&L Podcast - #202 - Ready Player Two
/We wrap up The Sparrow. We loved it and it made us sad. We're also blown away at the quality of books being made into TV shows. Well, only a pilot and a trailer but so far so good. But should you risk reading a book and seeing a movie or TV show too? Maybe not!
Download direct here!
Watch the Google Hangout!
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Jameson's Select Reserve Black Barrel
Veronica: Hendricks Gin
QUICK BURNS
Yento: New trailer for The Expanse. I'm trying so hard not to get too excited about it because syfy but this looks like it could be pretty good.
Louie: First look at The Man in the High Castle adaptation. (Israel also alerted us)
Dara: SyFy is really into adapting books. Now they're turning Robert Charles Wilson's Spin into a miniseries.
Warren: Screenwriter Zak Penn, who's written the Ready Player One adaptation, has revealed that Ernest Cline is currently working on a second novel.
David: "Gollancz have acquired the English translation and publication rights to three further Witcher books by Polish fantasy author Andrzej Sapkowski." via The Wertzone
BARE YOUR SWORD
Steve: How to dislodge the movie from the book?
Jonathon: Big, Long Series to Fill Gap Left By WoT
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
Next month's pick: Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer (We'll formally kick off next episode)
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
TS: Disappointed With The Ending (full spoilers)
ADDENDUMS
We have a new producer! Hi Jacob!
S&L Podcast - #201 - Don't Fear the Roomba?
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Author and robotics engineer Daniel H. Wilson chats with us about his new story/app called Mayday: Deep Space about a person trapped on a ship full of monsters. Only you can help him survive! But of course we have to ask Daniel when the robots will rise up and kill us all.
S&L Podcast - #200 - Best Books of 2014
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Well we're here to kick off the new year AND celebrate our 200th episode so we gathered drinks and cheer and your favorite books of 2014 as well as our own and a few others. You'll never guess which one everybody picked! That's not true. You'll totally guess. You probably already guessed. But listen to the show anyway, OK. For us?
Download directly here!
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Mimosa with Veuve Clicquot
Veronica: Bulleit Rye
QUICK BURNS
Mark Zuckerberg started a book club on Facebook because books are good
Rob and Chakara: TWO new Mistborn novels by Brandon Sanderson will be released in late 2015 and early 2016!
Nick: A Library In Your Pocket: How Having an E-reader Has Changed My Reading Habits
BARE YOUR SWORD
Your best of 2014
The Best Science Fiction And Fantasy Books Of 2014
Top 5 Sci-Fi Books of 2014 - OMNI Reboot
The Martian by Andy Weir
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
I want to have dinner with Anne and George!
Final thoughts on The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
ADDENDUMS
Support our show on Patreon
You can also support the show by buying books through our links! Find upcoming and past new releases at swordandlaser.com/calendar
S&L Podcast - #199 - Integrity for Sale
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This week we almost wrap up The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, discuss the intricacies of eBook DRM and try to decide just how high a price our integrity would fetch. We also wonder the same about Neal Stephenson and Steven Hawking. Join us, won't you?
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Forgotten Fire 1871
Veronica: Greyhound
QUICK BURNS
Tamahome: Gotta love the NPR filter tool for the best books of 2014. Hat tip to Jenny.
Shad: Interesting ruling on DRM. It might not hold up on appeal, but it would be great if stripping DRM to make a backup of books you bought stopped being illegal
Related thread by Eric
Daniel: Something I've noticed in my own personal tastes. All the best new books I've been reading have been firmly in the fantasy genre. For my sci-fi fix I've definitly been in comics and manga.
Sci-Fi Author Neal Stephenson Joins Mystery Startup Magic Leap as ‘Chief Futurist’
BARE YOUR SWORD
Scott: 2014 Book Themes?
Alex: Reading in 2015
Andy: If you were able to take Veronica and Tom on an adventure (think RPG), what would their roles be?
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
Next Month's Book Pick Poll
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
ADDENDUMS
Support our show on Patreon
You can also support the show by buying books through our links! Find upcoming and past new releases at swordandlaser.com/calendar
S&L Podcast - #198 - The Most Hated Phrases in SciFi
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This week we're busy. We congratulate the winners of several year-end awards. We kick off our December book pick, The Night Circus, a beautiful novel by Erin Morgenstern. And we dive into some of the most wretched and hated terms and phrases in the professions of authorship. Mary Sue is under siege!
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Red Trolley Ale
Veronica: Red Branch Hard Apple & Honey Cider
Casey: What are YOU drinking?
QUICK BURNS
Tamahome: The Goodreads choice awards are in
Sky: Audible's best of 2014 released. Sanderson managed to win out over UF/Paranormal :)
Dara: SyFy has cast the leads for The Magicians series. Jason Ralph will play Quentin Coldwater and Sosie Bacon (daughter of Kevin Bacon) will play Alice.
Nick pointed out the successful test flight of the unmanned Orion space capsule.
Nick: Christopher Nolan rumored to be offered Ready Player One to direct
Fiona: The BBC adapted Good Omens as a 6 part audioplay. First part will air on Radio 4 on Monday 22nd December. Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman have cameo appearances!
Tamahome: What James Cameron says you'll do when you see the Avatar sequels. NSFW.http://boingboing.net/2014/11/26/james-cameron-on-avatar-sequel.html
PICKS
Andrew picked: The City and the City by China Mieville
BARE YOUR SWORD
Louie: Terms authors are tired of hearing: "Infodump," "Mary Sue," "Hard SF," "Dystopian."
What are some terms that you are tired of hearing/reading?
Marion: What Is The Strangest or Most Unique SF/Fantasy Novel That You Have Ever Read?
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
Kick off: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Erin Morgenstern on The Night Circus - YouTube
the night circus | erin morgenstern
Erin Morgenstern - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ADDENDUMS
Support our show on Patreon
You can also support the show by buying books through our links! Find upcoming and past new releases at swordandlaser.com/calendar
S&L Podcast - #197 - Veronica is a Cannibal
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We sing the praises of Ursula K. Leguin, marvel at the casting of HBO's Westworld, announce our December book pick and wrap up Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. Also, Veronica admits she would eat people.
Ed. note: I would eat people -V
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Milk (of human kindness)
Veronica: Tullamore Dew
QUICK BURNS
Sandra: Philip K. Dick's Short Story ‘The Crawlers’ Is Getting A Big Screen Adaptation
David: Ursula K. Le Guin accepts the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at the 65th National Book Awards on November 19, 2014.
terpkristin: The follow-up to Brandon Sanderson's first "Legion" novella (novelette? short story? something?) came out 11/24! It will be free from Audible for the first month, based on his blog post.
Kvon: Pat Rothfuss' Worldbuilders is once again running an sff lottery and auction to benefit Heifer Intl.
David: Wesley Chu re-signs with Angry Robot Books
Michele and Rob: Amazon and Hachette have reached an agreement
Bookshelf: Next year HBO will have a new series.West world- With Anthony Hopkins- an adaptation of Michael Crichton's 1973 novel of the same name.
PICKS
The Secret Root by D.S. Cahr suggested by Ira.
Next time we'll discuss The City and the City by China Mieville suggested by Andrew. Post your thoughts to the thread and we'll discuss more about them next time!
Find more upcoming releases at swordandlaser.com/calendar
BARE YOUR SWORD
Marion: What is the one book or series you would give away to someone who is reading SF/Fantasy for the first time?
Rob Secundus: Monstrously Long Audiobook Recs
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
Next month's pick: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Wrap up: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
Drew: The Toad
Jay: Is everyone a vegetarian or is meat only for the richest people?
John: I find it interesting how Dick describes casual lack of empathy.
ADDENDUMS
Support our show on Patreon
S&L Podcast - #196 - Would Vegetarians Eat Electric Meat?
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We have some awesome World Fantasy winners to talk about, some exciting casting news for The Magicians and The Expanse, but it really gets interesting when our “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” check-in turns into an ethics of meat-eating discussion.
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Talisker
Veronica: Glenmorangie
QUICK BURNS
Dara: Jonathan Nolan (Interstellar) will adapt Asimov's Foundation trilogy for HBO.
Terpkristin: The 2014 World Fantasy Award winners were announced, you can read the list here. Best novel went to A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar. I think we should think about reading it sometime soon as a sword pick. :) Saladin Ahmed agrees.
Sandra: Syfy's adaptation of the 'The Magicians' series has cast Eliot, Penny and Julia's roles
Rob: Scribd is adding audio books to it's monthly subscription service.
Louie: Deadline reports more ""The Expanse"" casting
PICKS
Book Discussion: The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Leguin suggested by Carrie Smith.
Next time we'll discuss The Secret Root by D.S. Cahr suggested by Ira. Post your thoughts to the thread and we'll discuss more about them next time!
Find more upcoming releases at swordandlaser.com/calendar
BARE YOUR SWORD
What hard science fiction do you like?
Looking For Psychological Horror Recommendations
LOCAL MEETUPS
Terpkristin: MD/DC/NoVa: Looking for more members
Stephen: Orange County: Nov. 24th 6:30 pm or so, at Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Josh: The next San Francisco S&L meetup is Monday, Nov 24 from 6pm - 8pm at Borderlands Books!
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
Check in on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep
Bookshelf: The one thing missing in both the book and movie is the coffee.
They got the cigarettes but no coffee. (There should be at least one Night Hawks at the Diner kind of scene).
Jay: So... Why can't empathy be programmed?
ADDENDUMS
Support our show at Patreon.com/swordandlaser
S&L Podcast - #195 - Why It's OK to Hate My Favorite Book
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It's a jam-packed episode this week with great news for Ann Leckie and Andy Weir, our wrap-up of Alif the Unseen, kickoff of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and the determination that it's OK to hate the book I love.
Download episode here or in the embed below!
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Coffee. We’re both drinking coffee because we did this show in the morning.
QUICK BURNS
Sandra: Ann Leckie announced on her website that her novel Ancillary Justice has been optioned for television by Fox Television Studios
Tamahome: G. Willow Wilson takes over (all female) X-men after her successful Ms. Marvel stint
Joe Informatico: The already stellar cast of The Martian adaptation gains Chiwetel Ejiofor, officially making it the greatest film in the annals of celluloid.
Nick: The Hemingwrite
PICKS
Book Discussion: The Many-Coloured Land by Julian May suggested by Ralff Windwalker
Next time we'll discuss The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Leguin suggested by Carrie Smith. Post your thoughts to the thread and we'll discuss more about them next time!
Find more upcoming releases at swordandlaser.com/calendar
BARE YOUR SWORD
Will: Amazon wants your vote on which books to publish. Amazon introduces the Kindle Scout program
Trike: Counting With Covers!
Nick: I tell the previous story as a metaphor(is that the right word?) for the times when a book is really really loved and popular and you read it and don't like it but feel something must be wrong with you because you don't get it.
Dara: I recently finished reading Nexus and Crux by Ramez Naam.
David: eBook-only series
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
Kickoff: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
Wrapup: Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
ADDENDUMS
Support our show on Patreon
S&L Podcast - #194 - Delilah S. Dawson: Why Whimsydark Rules
/We had a lovely time chatting with author Delilah S. Dawson about her struggles with Ikea furniture, brilliance on Twitter and the coining of Whimsydark. There's also a fair amount about blud and humans.
S&L Podcast - #193 - Kiss from a Queen (on the Face)
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In Neil Gaiman’s new book, The Sleeper and the Spindle, Sleeping Beauty gets woken by a Queen’s kiss. And there’s pictures so it did happen. Fictionally speaking. We also discuss The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan, and find out people are pleasantly surprised by the techno-thrilling coming of age fantasy that is Alif the Unseen.
QUICK BURNS
Neil Gaiman's upcoming children's book, The Sleeper and the Spindle
Winners of the 2014 Aurora Awards for best Canadian SciFi
Mark wrote: "In partnership with Ideate Media, IDW Publishing is proud to announce that Dirk Gently will be appearing in his first-ever comic-book series in 2015, helping to prove the interconnectedness of all things, the precept by which Dirk Gently, Douglas Adams’ beloved fictional “holistic detective” lives. Written by Chris Ryall with art by Tony Akins. A cover for issue #1 is by Chew co-creator Rob Guillory."
PICKS
Book Discussion: The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan suggested by Vaughn.
Next time we'll discuss The Many-Coloured Land by Julian May suggested by Ralff Windwalker. Post your thoughts to the thread and we'll discuss more about them next time!
Find more upcoming releases at swordandlaser.com/calendar
BARE YOUR SWORD
Best use of Time Travel in a novel?
It's the end of the world as we know it
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
AtU: Religion in AtU - Net Positive or Negative by Hack
AtU: The character of Vikram (spoilers) by Joanna
AtU: Finished and Pleasantly Surprised? by Buzz
ADDENDUMS
Support our show on Patreon
S&L Podcast - #192 - Sexual Experiences with Robert Jackson Bennett
/Robert Jackson Bennett joins us on the show this week to talk about his new book, City of Stairs!
Download link here, or watch the video!
The city of Bulikov once wielded the powers of the gods to conquer the world, enslaving and brutalizing millions—until its divine protectors were killed. Now Bulikov has become just another colonial outpost of the world’s new geopolitical power, but the surreal landscape of the city itself—first shaped, now shattered, by the thousands of miracles its guardians once worked upon it—stands as a constant, haunting reminder of its former supremacy.
Into this broken city steps Shara Thivani. Officially, the unassuming young woman is just another junior diplomat sent by Bulikov’s oppressors. Unofficially, she is one of her country’s most accomplished spies, dispatched to catch a murderer. But as Shara pursues the killer, she starts to suspect that the beings who ruled this terrible place may not be as dead as they seem—and that Bulikov’s cruel reign may not yet be over.
We also take questions from you, the audience, and ask him what the heck was going on with the video below:
S&L Podcast - #191 - Tom Merritt, Kindle Hater
/From excitement about a new book in the Old Man's War series, to a rising demand for SciFi, things are looking up on the laser side. We also find out that Tom doesn't use a Kindle and Veronica's opinion on spiders.
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Yorkshire Gold Tea
Veronica: Hendricks Gin and Tonic
QUICK BURNS
Joanna: Next Old Man's War book from John Scalzi announced.
The End of All Things
SporadicReviews: Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy optioned for TV!
Joe Informatico: FOX has committed to a put pilot* for a TV series based on the DC Comics (former Vertigo imprint) version of Lucifer, Lord of Hell. Lucifer first appeared in the Neil Gaiman-written Sandman comics before later featuring in his own Vertigo series.
*I had to look this up. Apparently a ""put pilot"" means the network/channel agrees to air the pilot with substantial financial penalties to the development studio if they back out. This is generally a sure sign the network will pick up the pilot.
SporadicReviews pointed out Pyr books in a blog post wrote: "We’ve recently heard from independent booksellers that their customers are hungry for science fiction again, despite the predominance of fantasy over these last several years.
Paul: New Kindle Voyage looks cool.
PICKS
ShadowShow by Brad Strickland
Book Discussion:
Next time we'll discuss The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan Post your thoughts to the thread and we'll discuss more about them next time!
Find more upcoming releases at swordandlaser.com/calendar
BARE YOUR SWORD
Good books that are driven distinctly by outstanding dialogue?
What's with the giant spiders?
Peter V. Brett Calls Out DC Comics on Sexism
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
Kick Off Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
S&L Podcast - #112 - Interview with G. Willow Wilson! — Sword & Laser
Wrap-Up
Stories of Your Life and others by Ted Chiang
SoYLaO: The Common Thread of the Stories (Mild Spoilers) - Carolina
ADDENDUMS
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