S&L Podcast - #63 - Save it for the end

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Today we check in on Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Little Fuzzy power ballad, and get Tom to hold off on his Game of Thrones TV talk until the bitter end.

63 S&L Podcast - #63 - Save it for the end by swordandlaser 63 S&L Podcast - #63 - Save it for the end by swordandlaser

QUICK BURNS

Power-ballad for John Scalzi's new Little Fuzzy novel

Use of Weapons declared best sci-fi film never made

GRRM gives a final status report on A DANCE WITH DRAGONS

CALENDAR

5/24/2011 The Falling Machine, Andrew Mayer
5/25/2011 Chasing the Moon, Lee Martinez (Orbit)
6/3/2011 The Book of Transformations by Mark Charan Newton Tor
6/7/2011 Robopocalypse: A Novel by Daniel H. Wilson
6/7/2011 Hot and Steamy: Tales of Steampunk by Jean Rabe
6/7/2011 Jim and the Flims, Rudy Rucker (Nightshade Books)

BARE YOUR SWORD

Kindle is watching you!

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms > On spellings and pronunciations

BOOK CHECK-IN

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

We'll be interviewing NK Kemison on next week's episode, post your questions for her on our Goodreads forum.

EMAILS

Hi!

I just wanted to say that I love the Game of Thrones discussions on your Sword and Laser podcast! I really like to hear a discussion of the show, and I think you guys do a good job of reviewing the episode, while still being mindful of those who haven't read the book (like me!). I don't really have people to discuss this with around me, and I don't have time to hunt down some discussion group on the internet, so your discussions are perfect for me.

Also, I agree with Veronica. I felt a lot of the past few book picks haven't been ""engrossing."" Sometimes, I just want to read a book that you can't put down, and that draws you in. (That would NOT be Blindsight.) I'm fine if it's not considered ""high brow"" science fiction.

Thanks for putting on the podcast!!

Paul

***

Tom and Veronica,

Had an idea for how you could cover some of the big releases coming up without having to read them as the official book. I listen to a video game podcast (Gamespot presents the Hotspot if you want to plug) that is a weekly show about the news and latest releases. In their main show they cover very generally the new releases but when there is a big release, most recently Portal 2, they put out an entirely separate episode they call a spoilercast. This way the listeners have a choice to listen or not listen and avoids the whole pesky fast forwarding through spoilers or even having to warn about spoilers at all because its the purpose of the show. Doing this allows those reading the book along with you to listen should they want or if any pick up the book later to go back to the episodes and listen along. I know Tom and Veronica, you guys are often taxed for recording time but I don't think that this ""spoilercast"" would have to be anymore than 10-15 minutes a week, or maybe just a one off 30 minute episode to recap the book when you've both finished. Let me know what you think.

Follow both of you religiously and love all your shows, Sword and Laser especially.

Alex

 

S&L Podcast - #63 - Save it for the end

S&L Podcast - #62 - A blonde Gimli running through my head

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This week we discuss how the Game of Thrones series is shaping up, how we make mental pictures of characters when we read, and the meaning of Hodor.

QUICK BURNS

Book Publishers, AOL To Launch New Book Recommendation Site

CALENDAR
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
5/24/2011 The Falling Machine, Andrew Mayer (Pyr)
5/25/2011 Chasing the Moon, Lee Martinez (Orbit)

BARE YOUR SWORD

How do you imagine characters when you read a novel?

Epic vs. Epoc

Hodor.

BOOK CHECK-IN

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

N. K. Jemisin is an African-American female writer of speculative fiction. Her 2010 debut novel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, was nominated for the 2010 Nebula Award and the 2011 Hugo Award, and was ranked #5 on Amazon's "editors' pick" list of the year's best ten works of science fiction and fantasy.

The Inheritance Trilogy
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010)
The Broken Kingdoms (2010)
The Kingdom of Gods (forthcoming in 2011)

S&L Podcast - #62 - A blonde Gimli running through my head

S&L Podcast - #61 - Literary blue balls

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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 - #60 - SciFi is hard

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We discover a whole new world of books to add to our reading lists thanks to the Hugo award nominations, and we dive into further discussion about what makes for hard scifi. The answer is, well, difficult.

QUICK BURNS

THE HUGO AWARD NOMINEES YOU CAN READ RIGHT NOW — FOR FREE

BSFA Awards

The GAME OF THRONES title sequence

10 of the most badass dragons ever

CALENDAR

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
5/3/2011 Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris - A Sookie Stackhouse Novel
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

BARE YOUR SWORD

Is this truly 'hard' sci-fi?

How did you like the new Doctor Who show?

BOOK CHECK-IN

Blindsight by Peter Watts

EMAILS

I'm glad that I listened to your podcast. I also expected more out of the 1st episode, but welcomed the confusion/unanswered questions. I look forward & hope future episodes will fill in those blanks to keep me interested with new confusion/unanswered questions. I also agree about the 15 minutes before the premiere, what was that supposed to be anyway? LOL

I was about to get the books or ebooks to read, seriously thinking about it anyway. After listening to your podcast & hearing about the differences, I think that would add unwanted confusion. I'm not a S&L frequent listener or fantasy book reader, I wanted to hear about Game of Thrones. I may decide to hold off on the show & decide to read the book anyway. Then watch the series. Not sure yet. Probably normal having differences between the book & series, but it's new to me. At least I know not to read while watching.

Thanks for the education.

Robert

***

Hey, V&T...

Hate to sound like a PR flack (I'm not...just a reader) but I stumbled upon a real gem of a story at the Kindle store called ""Out Of The Dark"" by first-time author Lee Doty, and was impressed enough to write to you guys about it.

I took away hints of Neil Gaiman and Neal Stephenson, a big helping of Jim Butcher, a pinch of Tim Powers, and some essence of Elmore Leonard (all favorite authors), but this rookie manages to retain his own strong voice...and with humor no less!

Mr. Doty displays the writing chops of a veteran...pacing, character development, dialogue...all first class. No lasers, but swords, martial arts, and unconventional firearms are all employed to great effect without overwhelming the storyline.

According to his Kindle page he's a certified geek (programmer) who wrote this novel during the daily train commute to and from his day job, and he's self-published on the Kindle (good angles for an interview?)

Judging by the Kindle discussion board he's still enthusiastic enough to answer all his readers' emails personally.

Read the book for sure, but think about getting him on the podcast as well.

Cheers. Jon

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 - #60 - SciFi is hard

S&L Podcast - #59 - Throne Games

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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

S&L Podcast - #58 - Blindsight Kick-off

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We're kicking off our brand new book selection, Blindsight, by Peter Watts! We don't have too many Quick Burns today... mostly just GoT news. Would you expect anything less?

QUICK BURNS

OMG GAME OF THRONES STARTS APRIL 17
Map of the free cities.

CALENDAR
4/12/2011 After the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughan

4/12/2011 "All the Lives He Led, Frederik Pohl (Tor)

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

The Kingkiller Chronicles > Penny Arcade Comic

Novels About People Playing Videogames

Geek Smackdown: George R.R. Martin disses on Lost

sword and laser question ( sales credit)

BOOK KICK-OFF
Blindsight by Peter Watts

From Wikipedia: Blindsight is a hard science fiction novel by Peter Watts, published by Tor Books in 2006. On 29 March 2007, it was nominated for the Hugo Award in the Best Novel category.[1] Watts has also released the novel online under the by-nc-sa Creative Commons license.[2] The novel deals with a crew of astronauts investigating an extraterrestrial entity and explores the nature of identity and consciousness. The title refers to blindsight, a neurological condition with implications for philosophy of mind.

The Chinese Room scenario features prominently in the book.

EMAILS
Thanks to Harold for making us an Infostripe!

S&L Podcast - #58 - Blindsight Kick-off

Severian has mommy issues - The S&L Podcast #57

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We wrap up the Shadow of the Torturer with special guest Josh Lawrence. And there's a lot to chew on! Where did Dorcas come from? Is the botanic gardens a time travel device? Like a Tardis? And what's with Severian's Mommy issues.

QUICK BURNS

Publication delays for the next Ian Tregellis novel

More DANCE WITH DRAGONS and GAME OF THRONES news

A Storm of HBO Videos

Stephen King has a new "Dark Tower" book coming in 2012

Richard Morgan finishes the Cold Commands

Neal Stephenson's gold farming thriller, REAMD

New Shel Silverstein book scheduled for September

CALENDAR

3/29/2011 "Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente Tor

3/29/2011 "Soft Apocalypse, Will McIntosh (Nightshade)

3/31/2009 "A Kingdom Besieged by Raymond E. Feist

4/1/2011 "Sea of Ghosts by Alan Campbell

4/12/2011 "After the Golden Age, Carrie Vaughn (Tor)

4/12/2011 "All the Lives He Led, Frederik Pohl (Tor)

BARE YOUR SWORD

Odd coincidences btw your SF/F reading and the real world

List of 12 recommended dystopian novels on HuffPost

What do you think the Claw is?

BOOK WRAP-UP

Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun' (Book of the Long Sun)

A comic book adaptation of Shadow

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 at stickerfu.com.

Severian has mommy issues - The S&L Podcast #57

Interview with Joe Abercrombie - The S&L Podcast #56

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Photo by Lou AbercrombieWe have the pleasure of talking with Joe Abercrombie, author of The First Law trilogy and his most recent book, set in the same world, The Heroes. We also delve into the darker nature of fantasy these days, how that thieving leech Tolkien stole all of Joe's ideas and then time traveled backwards to make them look like his own, and we take some questions from Twitter.

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 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 Audible now: The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie.

Partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at stickerfu.com.

Interview with Joe Abercrombie - The S&L Podcast #56

The Maester's Path

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As you all know, HBO is doing a huge push for The Game of Thrones miniseries (YAAAAY!!) on The Maester's Path, an interactive website where you can solve puzzles to obtain exclusive early looks and info about the show.

The third puzzles came out this week, and it deals with a very important task: defending the Wall.

Join me here, and discuss the puzzles on our GoodReads page. 

Dancing for joy about dragons - The S&L Podcast #55

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Yes my friends, we heard A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin got a release date of July 12!  So we get very excited about that as well as sharing a little insight into the scents of Westeros and the Dothraki Highlands. Plus a report from the Patrick Rothfuss signing!

QUICK BURNS

A Dance with Dragons will be released July 12!!!

More GAME OF THRONES TV goodness

The Game of Thrones scent pack

Violet Blue's photo gallery

Rothfuss pledges to buy Firefly from Fox and give it away

Report from the SF in SF event with Patrick Rothfuss and Gail Carriger

LotR Rewritten From a Mordor Perspective

Shadowmarch by Tad Williams

CALENDAR

3/15/2011
The Gravity Pilot by M. M. Buckner
3/22/2011
Black Halo by Sam Sykes
Kings of the North by Elizabeth Moon
3/29/2011
Embedded by Dan Abnett
The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel
Tiassa by Steven Brust
Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente

BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

Jim Butcher posted sample chaper from Ghost

Father Inire's Fish (reference spoiler, Shadow, ch 20)

BOOK Check-in The Shadow of the Torturer Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun' (Book of the Long Sun)

EMAIL:

Just listened to your podcast # 53 Shadow and Claw.

There was some discussion about whether middle earth was our world previously. And Veronica was fairly adamant about it not being our world.

A few things I have always heard. First off in The Hobbit in the very beginning Tolkien pretty much said that Hobbits were still around and that they used their ""Magic"" to escape being seen by us ""dumb clumsy humans"

Also I had always heard that Tolkien was upset about England not having it's own mythology and that is why he wrote the Silmarillion.

Just some thoughts I had about that. Wondered what you guys thought.

Thanks,
David Mitchell

---

Hi.
I'm a first time listener from Korea and really enjoyed the last two episodes. I always wanted to find a podcast that contains the information about SFF books. Most of the SF podcasts deal with mostly flims or games. It's really good to have a show like sword and laser=)

Since I'm from Korea, the numbers of SFF authors I know are very limited. But I got to know some authors thanks to your show.

It's quite hard for me to get copies of books cuz most of the books haven't even been translated into Korean(except for the universially famous books like Harry Poter or Lord of the Ring series). So the only chance I've got is to get the e-book copy from the internet. The reason I brought up this matter is that it might be good to have an episode about classic SFF books you can get free on the internet(Project Gutenberg and stuff). You put some of your favourite classic novels in the episode. It would be great!=)

Anyway I really like listening to your show and keep up the good work!

Much Love, Bini

Help Bini out at this thread

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 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 Audible now: The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

Partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at stickerfu.com.

Dancing for joy about dragons - The S&L Podcast #55

Interview with Patrick Rothfuss - The S&L Podcast #54

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Patrick Rothfuss

We have the distinct pleasure of interviewing Patrick Rothfuss, author of The Name of the Wind and the forthcoming A Wise Man's Fear, which hits bookshelves March 1. We find out that the four corners of civilization had some tabletop roots, we determine Jim Butcher is a cylon who consorts with dark powers and reveal that Patrick has written a first pass at the ending of the Kingkiller Chronicle. But don't get selfish. He and George R. R. Martin are on the same team after all. He promises it shouldn't take horribly long to finish, but even if it does, we're certain it's worth the wait.

QUICK BURNS

GOOD OMENS coming to television

A Doctor Who writer breathes new life into the "magical detective" novel

Another great map of Westeros

Locus List of the best genre fiction of 2010 - a cheat sheet for Hugo nominators

An Invitation to Westeros - new video for game of thrones

INTERVIEW

Patrick Rothfuss

From Wikipedia - Patrick James Rothfuss (born June 6, 1973) is an American fantasy writer and college lecturer. He is the author of the projected three-volume series The Kingkiller Chronicle, which was rejected by several publishing companies before the first book of the series, The Name of the Wind, was published in 2007 by DAW/Penguin, which went on to receive critical acclaim and become a New York Times best seller.

The Kingkiller Chronicle

The Name of the Wind (April 2007)

The Wise Man's Fear (March 2011)

The Doors of Stone (working title)

Books Patrick mentioned he has been reading or is looking forward to:

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Book 1 (The Inheritance Trilogy) By N.K. Jemisin

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Ghost Story (Dresden Files, No. 13) by Jim Butcher

ADDENDUMS

Sword and Laser 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.

And support our partner Sticker Fu. Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers!

Interview with Patrick Rothfuss - The S&L Podcast #54

Shadow and Claw - The S&L Podcast #53

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All is good this episode as we wrap up Good Omens, kick off the Book fo the New Sun, and learn how to properly pronounce Neil Gaiman. Plus Josh Lawrence joins us to share his knowledge of Gene Wolfe.

QUICK BURNS


RIP Margaret John

Joe Abercrombie's new novel, The Heroes, has debuted at #3 on The Sunday Times bestseller list in the UK

SONG OF ICE AND FIRE comic on the way

io9 guide to February's scifi/fantasy

Boston Science Fiction Film Festival Feb. 11-21

2/7/2011 (US) The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie

2/7/2011 Deep State by Walter Jon Williams

2/8/2011(2/17 on Kindle) The Bitter seed of Magic by Suzanne McLeod - unless Genny can find a way to break the fertility curse afflicting London's fae, she knows this is just the lull before the magical storm. Then a faeling - a teenage girl - is fished out of the River Thames, dead and bound with magic, and Genny is called into investigate. As she digs through the clues, her search takes a sinister and dangerous turn, exposing age-old secrets that might be better left buried.

2/8/2011 The Scar-Crow Men by M. Chadbourne The year is 1593. The London of Elizabeth I is in the terrible grip of the Black Death. As thousands die from the plague and the queen hides behind the walls of her palace, English spies are being murdered across the city. The killer's next target: Will Swyfte.5

2/21 UK (3/1 US) The Crippled God by Steven Erikson

Bantam Books (UK): 21 February

Tor US: 1 March

3/1/2011 The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

Gollancz (UK): 1 March

DAW (USA): 1 March

Patrick Rothfuss ON TOUR!! "San Francisco March 3rd, SF in SF Reading Series

BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

Ever read a book where you *hated* the hero/protagonist?

We Forgive You, Veronica...

BOOK WRAP-UP

Good Omens

So, that ending...

Subversion of religious idioms.

Light entertainment - the Aziraphale and Crowley show

Could have done without Newt and Anatahema. (V would spare Shadwell for the accent)

Didn't like Adam? Why? Was he supposed to be likable?

Would you reccomend it?

BOOK KICK-OFF

Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun'

The Shadow of the Torturer: The Book of the New Sun, Book (audiobook)

Other resources

Lexicon Urthus: A Dictionary for the Urth Cycle

invaluable, but somewhat spoilery

GURPS New Sun

roleplaying campaign sourcebook based on the books, for the GURPS RPG system

mega-spoilery

Big influence on New Sun:

Jack Vance's The Dying Earth

WolfeWiki

Where to find Josh Lawrence:

Bite Club podcast

Two Song Shot

EMAILS:


Hello Veronica and Tom,

This is totally unrelated to books but I was so excited when Veronica said she had been to a Get Up Kids show. I grew up in Kansas City and remember going to one of their first shows at a local all ages club in KC when I was in high school and their, at the time, last show at the Granada in Lawrence years later. They are still one of my favorite bands and listening to them always makes me homesick. Thanks for that extra moment of fun during the show, which was also great fun on the book-related information front.

I always enjoy the podcast, thanks for all the great work!

Cheers,

Beth


***

Hi Tom and Veronica

Longtime listener, avid forum poster... but you may have missed someone's comment about how to correctly pronounce Gaiman so I thought I'd send it again.

From his mouth directly!

http://www.teachingbooks.net/pronounce.cgi?aid=1433

GAYman. GAYman. Not GUYman.

Hehe. I just thought we should do our living authors justice, particularly when you are growing in popularity. Who knows, maybe he would one day want to stop by for a quick interview. But only if you say his name properly!!

Cheers,

Jenny

***

Hey S&L,

I thought you might be interested to know that Terry Pratchett's next

novel, Snuff, has been given a date! The book is coming out on October

13, 2011 (http://themorporkian.com/news/snuff-gets-a-release-date/)

and there is also what looks like a blurb for the book in the linked

piece.

Also, after hearing your discussion on whether Pratchett or Gaimen

came up with Pollution, the horseman of the apocalypse, I wondered if

you'd heard of Ronnie? Ronnie stars in The Thief of Time, and is ""The

Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse, who retired before they became

famous.""

Love the show.

English John from England


ADDENDUMS

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

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. 

Shadow and Claw - The S&L Podcast #53

Delayed Omens - The S&L Podcast #52

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Well it looks like our book wrapup may be delayed a tad, but it's OK.  We have it under control.  And we even have an idea for the next bok already.  So just give Veronica a break will you?  Oh.  You were.  Thanks for that.

QUICK BURNS

Science fiction writers, editors, critics and publishers talk the future of publishing

Book releases:

1/31/2011 The Alchemist by P. Bacigalupi

2/1/2011 License to Ensorcell by Katherine Kerr

2/1/2011 Son of Heaven by David Wingrove

1 February (special edition), 3 March (standard) - A former city broker ekes out a rural existence in a post-economic collapse Devon before encountering an expanding Chinese techno-empire. The first in the twenty-volume re-release of Wingrove’s Chung Kuo serie

2/4/2011 The Sea Watch by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Tor UK: 4 February- The sixth volume of Tchaikovsky’s Shadows of the Apt series once again sees Collegium under threat from outside forces, but this time the Wasps are not the enemy. Major betrayals and shocks are promised as the series moves into its second half

2/7/2011 Deep State by Walter Jon Williams

2/21 UK (3/1 US) The Crippled God by Steven Erikson

Bantam Books (UK): 21 February

Tor US: 1 March

The Malazan Book of the Fallen reaches its conclusion (more or less – six more books in two trilogies are on their way) in its tenth volume. The Bonehunters confront the Forkrul Assail in distant Kolanse with the fate of the Crippled God and the world itself at stake. Expect a divisive ending of Lost proportions.

3/1/2011 The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

Gollancz (UK): 1 March

DAW (USA): 1 March

The first the ‘Big Missing Three’ SFF books of the last few years to make it to print, the bookshelf-destroying sequel to the giga-selling Name of the Wind is picking up some mixed advanced reviews (great writing, glacial pace, pretty much the same as the first one) but will no doubt be a great success.

BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience

How much was Pratchett and how much was Gaiman

2010 Philip K. Dick Award Nominees Announced

BOOK CHECK-IN

Good Omens - Why Veronica hasn't finished.

Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun' (Book of the Long Sun)

Dragon*Con

Who should we get at Dragon*Con? Guest list is here.


EMAILS:

Hi Tom And Veronica

Love the show. Especially for introducing me to Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman. I think if C.S. Lewis & Douglas Adams wrote a book together, It would be similar to this book.

That's about as high a praise as I can give it. I've gotten another Pratchett (Unseen Academicals) to immediately plow through. I only hope Pratchett & Gaiman individually are half as good as Gaichett(?) or Pratman(?). My vote is for Pratman.

Thanks again,

Ken


***

Hey guys, I love your show and listen to it in massive chunks when I need to get through a long design project. I just listened to the podcasts where Veronica says, several times it seems, that Anne Rice is no longer “born again” and has renounced “that whole lifestyle”. I wanted to comment (“well actually”) that she is still a believer in the divinity of the man known as Jesus, she simply made a statement divorcing herself from American right-wing politics. Outside of the political arena, she remains the same lady with the same beliefs.

I only write because it could be interpreted from the comments on the show that she changed her beliefs and that this could influence the book. While that is still possible, it’s less likely when her comments are taken in context.

Thanks for doing the show. You guys not only fill a need but do it with top quality.

-Brandon

***

Every time I listen to your podcast I think to myself "I wonder why

they chose 'barrier sword' as the title of the feedback section?"" It

wasn't until I read the show notes for the latest podcast this morning

(and about 3 seconds of dissonance) that I realized my mistake. Oops.

Good choice on the real title, much better than the one I made up in

my head =).

Thanks for the book club.

--John

ADDENDUMS

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Delayed Omens - The S&L Podcast #52

Almost the end of the world (as we know it) - The S&L Podcast #51

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We're almost to the end of the world in Gaiman and Pratchett's Good Omens, but Veronica's not quite done yet so we just give some less spoilery evaluations of the book so far and we'll wrap it up next week. We also are trying to make room in our wallets and on our bookshelves for some excellent new SciFi and Fantasy hitting store shelves in the next couple weeks. Joe Abercrombie! Yay!


QUICK BURNS
Gene Wolfe talks dystopian futures, and the chances of star-drive in our lifetime
Among Others: extraordinary, magic story of science fiction as a toolkit for taking apart the world


BOOK RELEASES: 

1/25/2011 While Mortals Sleep: Unpublished short fiction of Kurt Vonnegut - The 16 previously unpublished short stories of this collection, taken from the beginning of Vonnegut's career, show a young author already grappling with themes and ideas that would define his work for decades to come. (Kindle)

1/27/2011 The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie (in the UK - US doesn't get it until 2/7) Union commander Lord Marshal Kroy coordinates the fight with the aid of a motley group of incompetent, self-important officers. The strangely sympathetic Col. Bremer dan Gorst is officially a royal observer who nurses a burning desire to kill or be killed. Leading a much smaller army against the Union is Black Dow, whose grip on the throne of the Northmen is tenuous and based on fear and brutality. (Kindle) 

1/31/2011 The Alchemist by P. Bacigalupi - The first foray into fantasy from Hugo winner Bacigalupi (The Windup Girl) is one of two novellas (the other by Tobias S. Buckell) set in a world where using magic has terrible consequences. Jeoz is a destitute alchemist living in Khaim, a city literally being strangled to death by bramble, a "wormy malevolence" that expands its thorny vines every time someone uses magic. 

2/3/2011 License to Ensorcell by Katherine Kerr - a psychic agent and her Israeli sidekick tracking down a werewolf-murdering serial killer in San Francisco. (Kindle) 

2/7/2011 Deep State by Walter Jon Williams (Kindle) - The sequel to This is Not a Game, about where alternate reality games and real life cross and meet.

Joe Abercrombie appearing in England 1/27 at Forbidden Planet in London from 6 PM, and January 29 at Forbidden PLanet in Bristol from 1 PM AD 

BARE YOUR SWORD

4004 BC (possible minor spoilers) 

Too many characters? 

What horseman would you be? 

Library Closures 

BOOK CHECK-IN

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

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.

The Alchemist and the Executioness  from Audible.

 

Almost the end of the world (as we know it) - The S&L Podcast #51

Good Omens for 2011 - The S&L Podcast #50

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It's our 50th episode!  We celebrate with a high-energy episode, looking at all the best books of the past decade and kicking off our new pick for January.

QUICK BURNS   
   
January 15 - Modern Times 2.0 by Michael Moorcock comes out   
January 18 - Home Fires by Gene Wolfe,    
A few cons coming up Mid-January   
   
BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience   
   
Tor's poll - best sff books of the decade   
   
Reading Goals for 2011   
   
BOOK KICK-OFF / WRAP-UP

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett   

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett   from Audible

It won the poll!

You see, there was a bit of a mixup when the Antichrist was born, due in part to the machinations of Crowley, who did not so much fall as saunter downwards, and in part to the mysterious ways as manifested in the form of a part-time rare book dealer, an angel named Aziraphale. Like top agents everywhere, they've long had more in common with each other than the sides they represent, or the conflict they are nominally engaged in. The only person who knows how it will all end is Agnes Nutter, a witch whose prophecies all come true, if one can only manage to decipher them. The minor characters along the way (Famine makes an appearance as diet crazes, no-calorie food and anorexia epidemics) are as much fun as the story as a whole, which adds up to one of those rare books which is enormous fun to read the first time, and the second time, and the third time...    
More on Wikipedia   


What else we're reading   

Veronica - Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson from the Baroque Cycle   
Tom - Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three  by Stephen King
   
Emails:   

On your latest podcast Veronica mentioned that she enjoyed the Millennium series a lot.

Today the New Yorker had a nice article on the appeal of the series:

Also the website from the publisher for the series in well designed and quite informative (currently >45 mil. sold). It contains pictures of all the locations used in the books.

Great podcast !

Best,
Paul

***

This was definitely a good podcast-- even with the sound issues (It happens to the best of us.).

Tom Merritt made a number of good points about the trappings of copyright law. However, I think that it is important to note that even famous authors found it hard to make a living because so many people were ""stealing"" his work. This is why he made so many personal appearances, which may have acerbated his untimely death.

Derivative works can be fine, but as a writer I would like to have control of what people do to my works and characters.

Thanks again for a well done episode.

JB

***

  
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 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.
   
Partner Sticker Fu.  Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at stickerfu.com.   
 

Good Omens for 2011 - The S&L Podcast #50

2010, you were a good year - The S&L Podcast #49

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We wrap up How to Live in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu, but there's so much more!  We look back on all the books from this year, both our book pics and your favorites you read.  we also look ahead to the most anticipated books of 2011. It's our year-end spectacular.  Break out your favorite sparkling beverage and enjoy.


   
BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience   
SF&F Books to be released on 2011   
   
Best book of the year. 2010 edition   
   
Year in Review   
--Books we read--   
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctrow   
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi   
Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregellis  
World War Z: An oral history of the zombie war by Max Brooks 
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein   
The Once and Future King by T. H. White   
The Princess Bride by William Goldman   
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe: A Novel by Charles Yu    
   
   
Book Wrapup   
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe: A Novel by Charles Yu   
     
Tom wrapped up - The Name of the Wind   
Veronica has started the Baroque Cycle   
   
Next Book?   
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan   
A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge   
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman   
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds   

VOTE HERE!!!!

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.

2010, you were a good year - The S&L Podcast #49

Science fictional survival guide - The S&L Podcast #48

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UPDATE: Sorry if you only got the flash file in your RSS feed, we've since updated the blog entry to include the MP3 link! Here it is if it doesn't push out automatically.

This week we officially kick off How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe: A Novel by Charles Yu, even if half of us are halfway through it. That's got to be some kind of asymptote. We also discuss a little Terry Pratchett, a dash of Joe Abercrombie and a helping of Patrick Rothfuss.

 

QUICK BURNS    
    
Greg Bear, Others Cry Foul on Project Gutenberg Copyright Call 
    
The December Adventure: io9's Guide To The Month's Science Fiction Awesomeness!   
    
    
BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience    
    
The Thread in Which We Suggest Books for Future Consideration   
    
Similarities With Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy   
    
Two Word Review(s?) no spoiler   
       
Book Kickoff/Wrapup    
    
Wired review of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe: A Novel by Charles Yu     
    
    
Tom is also reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Veronica just read some Terry Pratchett and both finished Joe Abercrombie's The Last Argument of Kings.


EMAILS:  
 
Hi Veronica & Tom,
I was very excited when my friend told me about your show. I'd been looking for a podcast about written science fiction and had started to despair. (We are, of course, awash in those discussing movies and TV, but as science fiction goes, that's a different animal altogether. So when my friend Chris told me about you, I was very happy, and so far, you have not disappointed.

That said, I'm sure you get all kinds of book suggestions, but I just have to throw my 2¢ in here. Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy is an amazing set of books. His descriptions are precise and vivid, his characters are involving, and his plotting is stunningly intricate. I got to the end and was shocked looking at how well he had planned the whole thing, and how tiny things that have been present from the start become of amazing significance in unexpected ways.

Since you've already had Mr. Sanderson on for an interview, I thought you might be receptive to this suggestion. I hope you pick this one soon, and if not . . . well, I'll probably still keep listening anyway.

Shawn Smith
a.k.a. Zaklog the Great

______________

    
About a month ago I found http://www.fictfact.com/ , see print screen below.  It tracks the series you are reading.  Once you mark the books in the series you have read or are following it sets up a list for the next book in the series.  If will show a list of the books that will be released soon.  They will email you if a book is added to a series you are following.  You can sort your Next Books in any order you prefer.  One other interesting thing, you can view your friends books if they use fictfact as well.  They just need to have a public profile.
 
I like it and I think you will too.
 
Thanks,
 
Craig, a S&L fan
    
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 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. 
   
Partner Sticker Fu.  Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers.

Science fictional survival guide - The S&L Podcast #48

No more Arthur! - The S&L Podcast #47

/

Giveaway for The Once and Future King books! Post to the thread to win.


    
QUICK BURNS    
    
Did Harry Potter Really Steal All These Story Ideas?   
    
Worst book ever to win a Hugo   
    
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Novelist Tells the Tale of the World’s First Computer   
    
    
BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience    
    
What makes Arthur so great?   
    
Alternate History   
     
  
BOOK KICKOFF / WRAPUP   
    
We wrap up The Once and Future King and The Princess Bride .
    
Next book! - How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe: A Novel by Charles Yu   
    

EMAILS

  
Just listened to Episode #46 where it was asked at what point is there good books to start off to get into Discworld. I too have been wondering how to get into reading Terry Prachett's books, so I did a little search and found this post from the Guys and Gals at BoingBoing. http://boingboing.net/2007/09/30/pratchetts-discworld.html#. Thought you might like it if someone has not already suggested it.

Thanks for all the hours of shows! Love everything you both do.

Chris

--------
    
Just listened to episode 46 and heard you pondering about where to start in the Discworld series. Well as someone who has absorbed the entire works of Terry Pratchett (TP) I would advise you not to worry about it and just jump into the series where ever you feel like.

The Discworld novels do not occur in chronological order with one underlining storyline.  Each book is its own individual story which just occurs within the Discworld universe. Characters constantly re-appear throughout the series however each book focus on one main character, therefore never encountering any of the characters before will not hinder your enjoyment.

However the Tiffany Aching books are aimed at younger audience than the rest of the discworld series, which results in the books having a different feel. Therefore I would recommend you to check out some of TP’s other works such as Guards, Guards, Interesting Times, Witches Abroad or Going postal to get a true feeling for the series.

YoYo

--------

Terry Pratchetts Author's Note in ""Lords and Ladies"":

By and large, most Discworld books have stood by themselves, as complete books. It helps to have read them in some kind of order, but it's not essential. This one is different. I can't ignore the history of what has gone before. [...]

So Pratchett has always tried to write the books Discworld books is such a manner that you can pick it up wherever you'd like. You might enjoy a couple of references and inside jokes if yu've read the whole series, but you shouldn't let it stop you if you're new to Pratchett. Especially not when it comes to the Tiffany Aching series.

In all fairness it is possible to group together ""series"" within the Discworld series that you might like to read in order. So that the handful of books starring Captain Vimes of the City guard would be more rewarding to read in their proper order, but it's entirely unimportant whether you read these before or after the books about the Lancre Witches. The Tiffany Aching books constitutes such a saga.

Martin
    
Thanks also to Gavin, Curt and Rob who wrote in about Pratchett orders as well! Kate also posted this helpful chart in the forums.


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 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.

Our pick: METAtropolis: Cascadia

   
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No more Arthur! - The S&L Podcast #47

An ill-made crush - The S&L Podcast #46

/

This week we make our confessions about SteamPunk, ask a question about Terry Pratchett, and further explore The Once and Future King. Who does T. H. White hate more?  Women or the Irish?

QUICK BURNS   
   
Steampunk short stories in the style of classic steampunk tales   
   
Terry Pratchett's young witch comes of age at last   
   
Where did science fiction come from? A primer on the pulps.   
   
November SciFi Calendar from io9   
   
Sherlock Returning Autumn 2011   
   
Fan-made Ender's Game Trailer   
       
   
BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience   
   
Arthurian References in Other Books   
   
Amazon's Top SF&F Novels of 2010   
   
Charlie Stross: "Die, Steampunk! Die!"   
   
BOOK CHECK-IN
   
What are some of the main differences we've noticed between Mists of Avalon and The Once and Future King?
   
Does TH White hate women? What about the Irish?  And Irish women?
   
EMAILS:   


Tom& Veronica,

Just started listening & rather enjoying the show. Still catching up on a few back episodes to get the feel of things and somewhat shockingly found you scoring easy laughs at the expense of my nation's heritage ... yes, I'm Australian.

GREAT WORK!! Love a little mongrel on my podcasters.

Great content on the sci-fi and fantasy genre(s), too.

Thanks guys!

Charlie C
   
 

ADDENDUMS    
    
Partner Sticker Fu.  Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at stickerfu.com

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service.  For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

An ill-made crush - The S&L Podcast #46

Oh, King Pellinore - The S&L Podcast #45

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We've got some scoops on how we feel halfway into The Once and Future King.  Some thoughts on the Princess Bride as the book relates to the movie, and a few hints on how to tell if you're living in a science fiction book or not.

QUICK BURNS    
    
Sci-Fi Writer Iain Banks Talks Surface Detail’s Hell, Creationist Heresy   
    
Pink Noise: hard-sf novella about the strange battles of the posthuman   
    
Science fiction from around the world, every week   
   
    
BARE YOUR SWORD - feedback from the audience    
    
Masterpiece Mystery! - new Sherlock Holmes   
    
Walking Dead on amc next sunday at 10   
    
King Pellinore   
    
    
EMAILS
    
I don't know if you have read it or not, Tom, but one of the best (and most plausible) series on your Arthurian theme is The Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte, starting with The Skystone and continuing for 8 more books.  It starts with Arthur's and Merlin's grandfathers who are Roman soldiers that decide to stay behind as the Roman armies withdraw back to Italy.  I think you must have read them after listening to episode 44, as you partially describe the premise.  I just thought that this series deserved a mention as one of the best re-tellings of the legend.

-Rodger 

---   
"I found this enjoyable, hope you do too!

Justin"   


ADDENDUMS    
    
Partner Sticker Fu.  Use the code Sword1 and get 10% off the stickers at stickerfu.com. 

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service.  For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword. 

Oh, King Pellinore - The S&L Podcast #45