(Alt title: Learn to Love the Box) We talk with Sam Maggs about her new novel Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope, and about writing different stories in different platforms, from video games to comics to novels.
We talk with L. E. Modesitt Jr, the bestselling author of two science fiction series and four fantasy series, who has published more than seventy novels. His latest book, Quantum Shadows is described as blending science fiction, myth, and legend in an adventure that pits old gods and new against one another in a far-future world.
Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Divergent series, the Carve the Mark duology, The End and Other Beginnings collection of short fiction, and most recently her newest novel, Chosen Ones. We talk to her about the new novel, and what it’s like doing a virtual book tour!
You can also support the show by buying books through our links! Find links to the books we talk about and some of our favorites at http://swordandlaser.com/picks.
We explain why the Tiptree Award is now the Otherwise award, welcome the casting of Apple's Foundation TV show, and Sam Sykes has a message for Stephen King (and Myke Cole).
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: Thomas Allen Selections Generations Red Blend 2016
Veronica: Water
QUICK BURNS
Mark: New Expanse novella coming in December Auberon by James S.A. Corey
TRP: Stephen Moore, the original voice of Marvin the Paranoid Android on radio and TV, has died.
Joanna: The Foundation series for Apple TV starts filming on November 11th in Ireland.
Louie: Lee Pace and Jared Harris join the cast of Foundation, a 10 episode adaptation of the Isaac Asimov classic from Apple TV+. Harris will be Hari Seldon, the psychohistorian who foresees the fall of the galactic empire, while Pace will play Brother Day, the current Emperor of the Galaxy.
Tassie Dave: This years Booker Prize has gone to a SFF book.
It was won jointly by Margaret Atwood for The Testaments and Bernadine Evaristo for Girl, Woman, Other
This is Atwood's 2nd Booker Prize. She also won in 2000 for The Blind Assassin
Bernadine Evaristo is the first black woman to win the award.”
James Tiptree Jr. was the pen name of Alice Sheldon
On May 19, 1987, she shot first her husband, Huntington Sheldon, and then herself. He was 84 years old; she was 71. He was blind and disabled.
It has been described by some including members of the family as a suicide pact.
Others have come to see it as possibly caregiver murder.
The Tiptree Jr award was started in 1991
To remind audiences of the role gender plays in both reading and writing, the award was named in Sheldon's honor at the suggestion of Karen Joy Fowler.
Otherwise Award, drawing on Black queer feminist scholarship around what is termed ""otherwise politics".
BARE YOUR SWORD
"Sal vs Mags
Wrapping up Trail of Lightning, you compared Mags and Kate Daniels. Would like to hear your thoughts comparing Sal the Cacophony with Mags, since the fall theme seems to be bad-ass women mage/witch/monster hunters.”
Dale
—
280 Character Book Review by Beth Mitcham:
Sometimes rereading an old favorite the best way to get over a bad read
Next month:
The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge
INTERVIEW WITH SAM SYKES
Tom talks with Greg van Eekhout, author of Voyage of the Dogs and California Bones about dogs, writing from local influences, and what the Nebulas mean to him. Also Tom embarrasses himself at least twice!
Tom catches up with Rebecca Roanhorse, author of Trail of Lightning to talk about writing native cultures in genre fiction and what she gets out of the Nebula conference.
Brian McClellan is the author of the Powder Mage Universe books as well as essays on the life and business of being a writer. He describes himself as living on the side of a mountain in Utah where he writes books and nurses a crippling video game addiction. His most recent book, Uncanny Collateral, is described (on Brian's Twitter) as "Harry Dresden meets Dog the Bounty Hunter in a fast-paced urban fantasy about a collection agent who works for the supernatural."
Author S.A. Chakraborty joins us on the show to talk about the inspiration for her two recent books: The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper.
We chat with Mary Robinette Kowal, the author of this month’s pick, The Calculating Stars. From acknowledging and learning from your biases, to de-stigmatizing mental illness, to using math as a magic system, we had a lovely time and don’t care WHAT people would think.
March Madness is upon us! Nominate books for the tournament next month in our Goodreads forum until 8 PM Eastern February 25.
Hugo-award winning author, Mary Robinette Kowal is a novelist and professional puppeteer.
We talk to author R. A. Salvatore about his new book Timeless, and also how he feels these days about Chewbacca, Dungeons and Dragons and more. Timeless is out September 4. Pick it up in the Salvastore!
We talk with author Daniel H. Wilson about his book, Clockwork Dynasty and why we might not need to fear the robots.
It's windy but in among the breeze, N.K. Jemisin shares wisdom about writing, characters and wrapping up the Broken Earth Trilogy. Plus she accidentally brings up FanFic and talks about why, even though it can be more than practice, it's really good for honing your writing.
We talk to Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham, the authors that make up James S. A. Corey, about coffee, distilled and fermented beverages and, making The Expanse a TV show.
We chat with author Cory Doctorow about his new novel Walkaway, which is post-apocalyptic, but not dystopian. It's also DRM-free!
We talk with M. R. Carey about his new book The Boy on the Bridge and how The Girl with All the Gifts became a movie!
Matthew Isaac Sobin tells how his desire to write a beautiful story about the solar system, and the aggressive encouragement of a friend led to the story of Jonathan, the Last Machine in the Solar System.
Author Brian McClellan talks with us about his new entry point into the Powder Mage universe, Sins of Empire, why there's no wrong order to reading his books, and his attitude toward research.
Brittany Curran, who plays Fen on The Magicians, talks about how her childhood love of C.S. Lewis has turned into a modern-day trip to Fillory. Plus, the best way to enjoy Walt Whitman!
Bradley Beaulieu is on the show to talk about the second book in “The Song of the Shattered Sands” series called “With Blood Upon the Sand” coming February 7th. We also find out what a Pinterest board can do to build a better world!
We talk with Dave Barrett, author of Inkshares book It's All Fun and Games and Zac Linville author of Inkshares book Welcome to Deadland. One has zombie-like inhabitants based on theme park patrons and the other finds a LARP outing becoming all too real.
Our show is currently entirely funded by our patrons. Thank you to all the folks who back our show and if you would like to support the show that way head to patreon.com/swordandlaser.
You can also support the show by buying books through our links! Find links to the books we talk about and some of our favorites at swordandlaser.com/picks.
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