S&L Podcast - #152 - Ancillary Justice Wrap-up with Author Ann Leckie

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Two big reasons to cheer on this episode. One, you backed us, you really backed us, and we have 12 glorious episodes of the video Sword and Laser authors guides coming next year. Two, author Ann Leckie joins us to wrap up Ancillary Justice!

WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?    
Tom:    Yorkshire Gold Tea
Veronica:    Water
    
QUICK BURNS    
    
We funded!! Thank you so much to everyone who backed the Season 2 Kickstarter. We’ll send out updates as we get details on things like add-ons and of course shoot dates and post dates for the shows!

Own William Gibson's bomber jacket!    
Neil Gaiman wrote this fairy tale short film about a girl that can fly    
Crowdfunding an sf/f mag for teens    
Singularity & Co. is saving the sci-fi, one pulp novel at a time.     
The Top 101 Science Fiction Adventures   

CALENDAR
       
TV, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES    
Guillermo Del Toro's TV series greenlit    
HBO no longer developing AMERICAN GODS    
Adaptation Watch: Robert J. Sawyer’s TRIGGERS Optioned for Film, Sawyer to Write Screenplay    
J.R.R. Tolkien Biopic Being Developed   

    
BOOK KICK-OFF    

A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan    

BOOK WRAP-UP    

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie    
       
EMAIL    
    
Dear Tom and Veronica (and Tom's dogs)

Just dropping a quick line to say that I really enjoyed your Myke Cole interview - Myke came across as a really engaging, gracious and humble guy, and I've downloaded Control Point to Kindle so that I can make a start on Shadow Ops.

Thanks, as always, for Sword and Laser - I'm afraid that I'm struggling a bit with Ancillary Justice this month, but regardless of how I'm getting on with the month's read, the podcast contains so much discussion of Sci-Fi/Fantasy as a whole that it's a must-listen, each week.

All the best from the UK

Ralph aka slowfox
    
ADDENDUMS    

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio. For a free trial and 10% off, go to squarespace.com and use offer code SWORD11.

Download podcast here!

A message from Aaron! Re: Kickstarter

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That's right, we have only 3 days left on the Kickstarter! It has been an amazing month, and we can't wait to bring Season 2 to you guys! 

But we are still trying to reach our second stretch goal, and we have some big things planned... including getting a certain someone to speak! Can you guess who?

We added a few new reward levels, in case you missed them:

$60 - A Sword and Laser stein. 

Suitable for filling with mead or romulan ale! (plus the DIRK & HEAT RAY and KNIFE & MASER level rewards).

$60 - Sword and Laser Kindle case or sleeve. 

Put your Kindle in a case that shows off your a member of the world's greatest SciFi and Fantasy book club! (plus the DIRK & HEAT RAY and KNIFE & MASER level rewards)

$75 - USB Drive with all the audio and video episodes of Sword and Laser! 

(plus the DIRK & HEAT RAY and KNIFE & MASER level rewards).

So if you haven't pitched in yet, or want to raise your reward level, now is the time!! Thank you!

S&L Podcast - #151 - Myke Cole Will Kick Your Ass For Free

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We have the distinct pleasure of chatting with author Myke Cole about his Shadow Ops series, playing D&D with SFF authors and how he took on the challenge of writing from the POV of a 12-year-old-girl. Plus he offers free ass-kickings if you need writing motivation right now. It is NaNoWriMo, after all. 

Staffers Book Review (The link to Justin's blog we promised!)

Podcast download link!

Downloadable versions of video.

S&L Podcast - #150 - Who's the best?

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Who’s the best? YOU are the best for making season 2 of Sword and Laser video possible. You also get to decide who’s the best by voting in the GoodReads best fiction polls for Science Fiction and Fantasy. And G. Willow Wilson is the best, because she won an award. Find out who else won awards and why we think Ancillary Justice might snag one too!

QUICK BURNS    
    
Goodreads Best of 2013 semifinals voting begins for all categories including Science Fiction and Fantasy books.   
Explore the original manuscripts from 'Frankenstein' in your browser    
This Group Wants to Build a Museum of Science Fiction in Washington DC    
WINNERS: 2013 British Fantasy Awards 
WINNERS: 2013 World Fantasy Award    
Massive anthology of Twenty First Century science fiction hits shelves    
The Campbell/Hugo Conversion Rate    
    
CALENDAR
    
BOOK CHECK-IN    
    
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Sucked in by the beginning! (no spoilers)    
The world vs First impressions    
        
BARE YOUR SWORD    
    
Songs that remind you of books    
    
TV, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES    
    
Orson Scott Card won’t see profits from the Ender’s Game movie    
    
Vote here!
    
ADDENDUMS

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.  

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio. For a free trial and 10% off, go to squarespace.com and use offer code SWORD11.    

Direct link to podcast file!

S&L Podcast - #149 - Interview with Nicholas Kaufmann

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This week we introduce you to Nicholas Kaufman, author of the new book Dying Is My Business  among many others! We cover questions about writing in an urban-fantasy world, whether self-publishing is worth it, and mispronouncing names (we'll give you one guess who started that topic...).

Nicholas Kaufmann's website 
http://www.nicholaskaufmann.com/

Nicholas Kaufman's Live Journal
http://nick-kaufmann.livejournal.com/

[GUEST POST] Nicholas Kaufmann on Why Some Boxes Should Never Be Opened
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2013/10/guest-post-nicholas-kaufmann-on-why-some-boxes-should-never-be-opened/

Download the video here. 

Direct link to podcast!

S&L Podcast - #148 - Kick-off Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

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We’re back and our Kickstarter is funded!  Hooray! That means Sword and Laser video episodes will return. And if we make our stretch goal you might get even more! We’re also here to wrap-up Boneshaker by Cherie Priest and Kick-off our November book from NaNoWriMo victor and first-time novelist Ann Leckie, Ancillary Justice.

CALENDAR

BOOK KICK-OFF

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Inside 'Ancillary Justice': Q&A with Sci-Fi Author Ann Leckie
A Skillfully Composed Space Opera In 'Ancillary Justice'
“Nothing quite clarifies your thoughts like thinking you’re about to die.” Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice

BOOK WRAP-UP

Boneshaker (Clockwork Century) by Cherie Priest

Themes: Steampunk & Apathy

What did you think of the ending?

BARE YOUR SWORD

NaNoWriMo 2013 Folder
Divide and Conquer: A NaNoWriMo Alternative

EMAIL

I love the podcast but I have one tiny correction to what Tom said about ebooks and libraries. At least at the library district where I work, we can only lend out one copy of an ebook to one patron at a time. In other words, the ebook works just like a physical book. We have to buy multiple licenses in order for more than one person to check out a particular title. Also, some publishes put a limit on the number of checkouts a title can have. After that limit is hit, we have to buy another copy of the ebook.

Keep up the great work!

Chris

ADDENDUMS

Get Tom's new book 'Lot Beta' at tommerrittbooks.com

Sign-up for Veronica's vampire-unfriendly gift box at quarterly.co.

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio. For a free trial and 10% off, go to squarespace.com and use offer code SWORD10.

 

S&L Podcast - #147 - Interview with Bradley P. Beaulieu

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Bradley P. Bealieu, author of The Lays of Anuskaya,  was nice enough to take some time to chat with us about his books, his blogs and more. He's even a podcaster! We milk for details about his forthcoming book Twelve Kings in Sharakhai and put a few of your questions to him as well. Enjoy!

Bradley P. Bealieu's website Quillings.com

Download direct file here! 

S&L Podcast - #146 - Are you there zombie? It's me, Veronica

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Are ebooks killing reading? Why do zombies exist? What is Veronica drinking? All of these-- SOME of these questions, and more are answered on another thrilling edition of Sword and Laser.  

 WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?

Tom: Sutter Home Chardonnay

Veronica: Wine!

QUICK BURNS

WINNERS: 2013 Aurora Award

R. Scott Bakker completes THE UNHOLY CONSULT

Talking to Jo Fletcher About the British Invasion of U.S. Publishing

Video interview with Scott Lynch

Learn a New Language with this Animated Video Explanation of Elvish, Klingon, Dothraki and Na’vi

How L.A.'s "Last Bookstore" evolved from post-apocalyptic to magical

The Abomination of Ebooks: They Price People Out of Reading

CALENDAR

TV, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES

Sleepy Hollow on Fox

BOOK CHECK-IN

Boneshaker (Clockwork Century) by Cherie Priest

Boneshaker a Visual Guide (Spoiler-free Goodreads thread link)

BARE YOUR SWORD

You lost me at "zombies"

Did You Suffer Eighth Grade Syndrome?

Urban Fantasy Where to Start?

EMAIL

So I was just looking for a particular book that was recommended on the S&L video show a while ago. It's actually out of print and there are no e-book or audio versions available. The only copies on ebay were expensive first editions. Since there are no viable options to give money to the author (in this case his estate) or the publisher/rights holder, what are your thoughts on pirating such hard-to-find works (i.e., searching for an unauthorized epub version)? - Eric

ADDENDUMS

Veronica Tuckerizations for Robot Army! A Tuckerization is when an author writes the name of a person into their story. Only 2 Veronica Tuckerizations are available. They're priced at $100 a pop, but that gets you the Tuckerization as well as a copy of the anthology ebook. Back the Kickstarter!

Tom has a new book

[GUEST POST] Tom Merritt on His Science Fiction Retelling of King Arthur

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service.For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio. For a free trial and 10% off, go to squarespace.com and use offer code SWORD10.

Direct download link!

S&L Podcast - #145 - Hangout with Rob Reid

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It's been a year since we interviewed Rob Reid and so much has changed.  The price of his book has changed! His species has changed! Well, no. He's still human.  But his book did become 99 cents.  He explains why he loves this, and the mystery of the OTHER Rob Reid.  It's spoooooooky.

Year Zero by Rob Reid

YEAR ZERO EBOOK (BRIEFLY) AT 99¢ – AND THOUGHTS ON FREE VS. CHEAP VS. PRICEY

Download direct link to podcast!

Get a video download here. 

S&L Podcast - #144 - Kick-off Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

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Find out why Veronica liked a laser book better than Tom. Who's Hugo-award winning short story is becoming a TV show? And get an early NaNoWriMo pep talk.

WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?

Tom: 2012 Ande's Crossing Malbec

Veronica: 2007 St. Supéry Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

QUICK BURNS

Charlie Jane Anders’ “Six Months, Three Days” Coming to NBC

A New Grant to Encourage Science Fiction Writing from Diverse Worlds

Must reads of October

STAR WARS READS DAY RETURNS OCTOBER 5, 2013

Random House Launches Flipboard Magazines Curated by Margaret Atwood and for George R.R. Martin Fans

CALENDAR

Read down to October 15

BOOK KICK OFF

Boneshaker (Clockwork Century) by Cherie Priest

Authors guide to Cherie Priest

WRAP UP

The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

Tech that should be there but is not.

Finished it. Loved it. Mmmm pulpy goodness.

Old Man Mose

BARE YOUR SWORD

NaNoWriMo 2013 is a month away!

Robin Hobb working on new ‘Fitz & Fool’

EMAIL

"Speaking of Inter Library Loan (ILL), I also was one of those kids who lived at their library. I used to use ILL to get books from all over. At one time, there was a fee hike, where ILL was going from free to $1. As a kid with just a paper route, there was no way I was going to be able to afford the new fees. I spent a few hours one afternoon filling out forms for ILL, to submit them the day before the pricing went into effect. The head librarian wanted to disallow this seeming abuse of the system, but the other librarians stuck up for me. These books trickled in for me for over a year, it was glorious.

Rob"

ADDENDUMS

HELP FUND MY ROBOT ARMY!!! & Other Improbable Kickstarters

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

And also by Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio. For a free trial and 10% off, go to squarespace.com and use offer code SWORD10.

Direct download here! 

S&L Podcast - #143 - Interview with Robyn Schneider

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We got chance to hang out (literally, Google hangout) with Robyn Schneider, author of many fine books, on top of many other talents! Find out her hidden secrets then go pick up her new book, The Beginning of Everything. Unless you're British. Then you'll need to look for Severed Heads, Broken Hearts.  She'll explain it all in the show.

As an added bonus, you can watch the video version of the interview at our new YouTube channel, or download the video version here.

Direct audio link here!