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

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

QUICK BURNS

Joe Abercrombie's next book gets a title

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

New China Mieville book gets a title 

Hugo winners, 2011

CALENDAR

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

TV and Movies

For Croatian ASoIaF and GoT fans

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

INTERVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

ADDENDUMS

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals.   For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

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

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

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

QUICK BURNS

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

S&L Top-100 Science Fiction, Fantasy Titles

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

CALENDAR

io9 complete guide

8/16/2011 The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind

8/16/2011 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

8/17/2011 The Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley

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

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

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

BARE YOUR SWORD

Cooking Ice and Fire

TV and Movies

Eureka Cancelled

Six more for THRONES

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Spoilers Imminent)

EMAILS

Veronica,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Rick Parker

NEW MEMBER HELLOS

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

BOOK CHECK-IN

A Dance with Dragons

About Jon Snow

The Maesters speculation

ADDENDUMS

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

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

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

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

QUICK BURNS

Stannis and Melisandre cast for GAME OF THRONES

Davos joins THRONES

Tad Williams talks to George R.R. Martin

Pottermore launches competition to select beta users

Alastair Reynolds to pen DOCTOR WHO novel

Attack the Block makes fighting aliens cool again

World Science Fiction Travel Fund

CALENDAR

8/2/2011 The Diviner by Melanie Rawn

8/2/2011 Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

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

BARE YOUR SWORD

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

Finished Series (read last two or three posts

TV and Movies

Alphas, more like Al-Blahs

Falling Skies is on (Spielberg produced)

Harry Potter 7 Part 2 (spoilers?)

BOOK CHECK-IN

A Dance with 50%-70% of the Dragons

EMAILS

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

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

Cheers,
uv.

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

Hi Tom and Veronica!

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

From Jenny C.

NEW MEMBER HELLOS

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

ADDENDUMS

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

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

S&L Podcast - #69 - 100% Dinklage

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

QUICK BURNS

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

Encyclopedia of Science Fiction online and free

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

CALENDAR

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

BARE YOUR SWORD

A Long Time & a Bad Memory

Tyrion: Chapter 1

From Singularity into La-La Land?

BOOK CHECK-IN

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

EMAILS

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

NEW MEMBER HELLOS

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

ADDENDUMS

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

S&L Podcast - #69 - 100% Dinklage

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

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

BARE YOUR SWORD

eReader Nook v Kindle?

Only Reading Finished Series

Alternate Selection

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

INTERVIEW - Starts at 22:01

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

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

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

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

ADDENDUMS

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

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

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

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

QUICK BURNS

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

Neil Gaiman Reveals the Future of American Gods 

Machine of Death deadline approaches 

CALENDAR

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

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

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

7/31/2011 Troika by Alistair Reynolds

BARE YOUR SWORD

Dance with Dragons accidentally ships early

The most complex lore?

Gateway Books for Future Scifi/Fantasy Lovers

BOOK PREVIEW

A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin

Speculative World Map for A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE

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

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

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

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

EMAILS

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

Robert M.

NEW MEMBER HELLOS

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

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

ADDENDUMS

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

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

S&L Podcast - #66 - The Hunger Games Wrap-up

Well we've seen ol' Katniss, Peeta and Gale through to the end, and we wrap up all three books in The Hunger Games series. We also have some good book picks to get you through until July 12 when we start our next book, and book-bingers of the world unite!

QUICK BURNS

Congrats to Brandon Sanderson

Jeff VanderMeer's public fiction project: The Journals of Doctor Mormeck

Who should be cast as the leads in the American Gods miniseries?

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

CALENDAR 

6/28/2011 Dragon’s Time: Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey
6/29/2011 Naamah's Blessing, Jacqueline Carey (Tor)
7/5/2011 Heaven's Shadow by David S. Goyer and Michael Cassutt
7/5/2011 The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Eighth Annual Collection
7/12/2011 A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin

Audiobook pic Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi

BARE YOUR SWORD

The Hunger Games > WAIT A MINUTE

Are you a book-binger?

books I dislike" by good authors.

BOOK CHECK-IN 

Hunger Games series
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

NEW MEMBER HELLOS 

Hello to Blindman (came to us from Major Nelsons podcast), Dani, Robert (what is this, the cast of Game of Thrones?), Jason and Vladimir!

ADDENDUMS

Help us with sound effects! T-shirt contest! Send your .wav files of VERY SHORT segment sound effects to theswordandlaser@gmail.com by July 12 to win a Sword and Laser t-shirt!

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 - #66 - The Hunger Games Wrap-up

S&L Podcast - #65 - Think of the children!

This week we bring you the first two-word review of Geoirge R. R. Martin's A Dance with Dragons, some excellent hard scifi for you scientist types, and a philosophical discussion of dark YA books.

QUICK BURNS

Submit to Machine of Death VOLUME 2!

First review of A DANCE WITH DRAGONS

The Best Hard Science Fiction Books of all Time

Interview with Dan "Robopocalypse" Wilson

Brandon Sanderson's "A Memory of Light" may not be published until later in 2012

CALENDAR

6/15/2011 The Uncertain Places, Lisa Goldstein (Tachyon Publications)
6/15/2011 Leviathan Wakes, James S.A. Corey (Orbit)
6/28/2011 Dragon’s Time: Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey
6/29/2011 "Naamah's Blessing, Jacqueline Carey (Tor)

AUDIBLE PICK

Robopocalypse: A Novel by Daniel H. Wilson
Narrated by Mike Chamberlain

BARE YOUR SWORD

The Hunger Games > Hunger Games vs. Battle Royale - Josh

The Hunger Games > Film Adaptation - Ken

The Hunger Games > The deaths of children - Veronica

BOOK CHECK-IN

Veronica: On book 3, loving it so far!

Tom: On book 2, loved book 1, book 2 still good -Finished Best Served Cold and Wolves of the Calla, on to Song of Susannah and Last Argument of Kings

EMAILS

Hello Veronica and Tom, Horkken here from Paris, France.
I know you talked about it on a previous episode but now that the HBO series is coming to France (this week (yes it's fast)) I wondered what is the best option.
Reading the book first and then watch the show or watch the show and then read the book ? I know it must be a common question but I usually have a rule, always read the book before watching an adaptation on screen but I really don't know with Game of Thrones.
So I would like your opinion on that. Thank you !

PS: In the original version you have 4 books so far, the french translation is in 12 books. The publishers are real butchers here. (It's even worse with Robin Hobb).

Thank you.

Horkken

NEW MEMBERS HELLOS

Hello new members!

ADDENDUMS

George R.R. Martin signing and S&L meetup!

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 - #65 - Think of the children

S&L Podcast - #64 - Interview with N. K. Jemisin

This episode we get the distinct pleasure of chatting with N. K. Jemisin, author of our last book pick, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. We'll discuss a little about her writing process, how she invented the world her characters inhabit, and even get a bit political. Or at least social judicial.

We also go over the books that are coming soon in the science fiction and fantasy world, and annouce the winner of the recent poll on Goodreads for our next book, which was up against some pretty tough competition in the "science fiction written by a female author" category. No recap on Game of Thrones this week, but it'll be back next time! And we'll have plenty to talk about, trust us.

CALENDAR

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)
6/15/2011 The Uncertain Places, Lisa Goldstein (Tachyon Publications)
6/15/2011 Leviathan Wakes, James S.A. Corey (Orbit)

INTERVIEW

Questions for NK Jemisin

BOOK KICK-OFF NEXT WEEK!

Book will be--- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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 - #64 - Interview with N. K. Jemisin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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