S&L Podcast - #401 - More Like Dys-HOPE-ia, right?
/We learn the mysteries of the fig newton and Fangtasia. PLUS we kickoff our January book with a SURPRISE GUEST and how Parable of the Sower ended making Brea and Tom more hopeful. (Go catch Brea on the Reading Glasses podcast)
WHAT ARE WE SNACKING?
Tom: Candycane Cocoa
Brea: Fortunato Number 4 Chocolate
QUICK BURNS
Shad: This year's State of the Sanderson
John: Pre orders are open for The Galaxy, and the Ground Within - book 4 of the Wayfarers series. Woop woop
Rob says: We got a few more donations since my last update bringing our final total to: $5,745.70!
This exceeds our amount from 2019 by $270.00.
The end of year Worldbuilders drive goes to Heifer International, which provides long-term solutions to give people a hand up so they can pull themselves (and ultimately, their whole community) out of poverty. Heifer’s programs start with education, feature a common sense approach at a local level, and have a proven track record of sustainability and a far-reaching ripple effect of people helping others to thrive.
This year we had 29 donors, which is 2 more than we had last year. This includes 9 Anonymous donations.
2020 Donors
Mark Martinez
Erik Reimers
Elizabeth Mitcham
Todd Carrozzi
Sheila Jean
The Roberator
Jann McKenzie
Robin Madeiros
Dan Bowers
Kirsten Love
Lara Eakins
Blair Robinson
Shannon Clark
Michael Beam
Seth Warburton
David Jenkins
Rebecca Powell
Leesa Hanagan
Kirsty Walls
Sheri Johnson
Anthony Robertson
Thanks and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
BARE YOUR SWORD
From @veronica: @ryan
and I are so excited welcome our son Julian to the world. Grateful, humbled, and awestruck by this little dude.
Crystal asked: another book request. Any suggestions for an SFF that’s not action driven? Like SFF murder mystery or very minimal violence? I want to like SFF but I feel like I’m picking the wrong books for me. Still looking for DND in a tavern mystery too.
Jan wrote: I am snacking on a homemade pre-breakfast Christmas cookie while listening In any case: Great episode! Thank you, Brea, it has been a delight.
And congratulations on 400 episodes! Reading the 404 jokes (you really have to skip that number!) I have to say that I am looking forward to 420 end of next year - maybe we can celebrate that milestone instead!
Other than that (let me change into my Santa hat) - I wish everyone a happy holiday of their choosing - stay safe and healthy (and sane)! Have a great 2021 with lots of swords and lasers - it can only get better!
Meghan wrote "The club in True Blood was called "Fangtasia". The books and the Alan Ball series are quite a bit different so interested to see where they go with a reboot.The book series is mainly focused on Sookie with the other characters less prominently featured. I enjoyed them as fast, easy reading.
Tamahome noted: "[Fig Newtons] The company named the pastries after the town of Newton, Massachusetts. After recently becoming associated, the Kennedy Biscuit Company and the New York Biscuit company merged to form Nabisco. The new company trademarked the fig rolls as Fig Newtons."
BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION
JANUARY KICK OFF
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
DECEMBER WRAP UP
Parable of the Sower (Parable 1) by Octavia E. Butler
Seth notes: I'm about halfway through now, and so far I like that Earthseed seems to be a pretty down-to-earth philosophy / religion. There is definitely the idea (in some philosophy and religion as well as fantasy fiction) that daily life is a hindrance to discerning truth. Specifically, I thought about Bran in Game of Thrones - his character suffers partial paralysis which removes him almost completely from his old life and seems to facilitate him receiving visions, etc. In a world as gritty as Westeros this seemed funny to me. In PotS, a similarly gritty world, I like that the truth Lauren pursues is more practical. It just seems to fit better.
Stephen says "I finished the tale. I found most of the violence to be offstage, more of a newspaper report than a police report with all its gory detail. I also found the tale more hopeful, as the main character goes from being afraid and untrusting to becoming more sure of herself and willing to take a chance on individuals. Plus the tale took place in my neck of the world, a path I myself have traveled many times as both lakes mentioned in the tale are fabulous for fishing.
Kenley: Dr. Monica Coleman and Tananarive Due have been hosting a series during the pandemic called Octavia Tried to Tell Us: Parable for Today's Pandemic. So far there has been ten discussions with as many different guests. Definitely some fun and interesting conversations. Check it out.
ADDENDUMS
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/
