S&L Podcast - #502 - Rhubarb Abercrumble

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We kick off our January read, wrap up Akata Witch, and welcome in new public domain characters. There's a new Lord of the Rings movie this year. Yay! Plus, Veronica had a rhubarb cider, and Joe Abercrombie looks great for 50!

Download directly here!

WHAT ARE WE NOMMING?

Tom: Paik's Lager and Gochujang Cabbage
Veronica: Rhubarb Cider

QUICK BURNS

New Quick Burns thread:
Goodreads Quick Burns

Survey results from Rob:
View Survey Results

Mark: Joe Abercrombie posted his 2024 review, highlighting marketing plans (limited editions, sprayed edges, etc.) for his new book, The Devils, coming May 2025. Also, Abercrombie turns 50 and shared a new author photo for Veronica.
Joe Abercrombie's 2024 Review

hapahappiness: The Libby Instagram account shared a reading bingo board. Think you're a voracious reader? Check it out!
Image 1
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Tamahome: Warner Bros. will release its first new Lord of the Rings movie in 2026. Andy Serkis will direct The Hunt for Gollum, with Peter Jackson producing.
Variety Article

Trike: The 2025 Public Domain list includes:

  • Characters: Popeye and Tintin (US only; Tintin remains under EU copyright until 2054).

  • Songs: Singin’ In The Rain, Rhapsody in Blue, Stardust (Nat King Cole's version: YouTube), and Ain’t Misbehavin’.

  • Films: Frau im Mond (Woman in the Moon) by Fritz Lang.

  • Books: The Maltese Falcon, The Magic Island (first zombie literature), and Tarzan and the Lost Empire.

BARE YOUR SWORD

Tassie Dave: We read 1Q84 and Elantris simultaneously back in 2011. It took 46 days with no one-month time limit back then!

Ruth: Wondering about the UK publisher’s decision to rename Akata Witch? Here's some insight into its context within Nigerian editions.

Scott: Nnedi Okorafor explained her publishing decisions for Who Fears Death and Akata Witch. Learn more about the differences in the Nigerian and UK editions.

Chris G:
Subject: Discord?
Message: Hello, just started listening and heard the Discord mentioned on the show. You all seem like fun people! Is it patron-only?

BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION

Kickoff:
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Amazon Link
Bookshop Link

Wrap-Up:
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Bookshop Link
Amazon Link

Discussion Highlights:

  • The setting in Akata Witch felt authentic and integral.

  • Magic in the story rewarded learning—a unique concept.

  • Comparisons to Harry Potter: More contrasts than similarities.

  • Some felt the pacing was inconsistent or the ending rushed.

  • Overall, many enjoyed the book and plan to continue the series.

ADDENDUMS

Our show is entirely funded by our patrons. Thank you for your support! Want to help? Visit:
Patreon

Support us by buying books through our links! Explore:
Sword & Laser Picks

Feedback: feedback@swordandlaser.com
Website: swordandlaser.com
Socials: @swordandlaser on Instagram, X, and Mastodon
Goodreads: Sword & Laser Group

S&L Podcast - #501 - One Missed S-Call-Zi

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It's end-of-year book list time! And we have a list of our favorite end-of-year lists. Plus, our initial thoughts on Akata Witch!

Download directly here!

WHAT ARE WE NOMMING?

Tom: Neoguri ramen with an egg
Veronica: Mulled wine! And green tea. Not together!

QUICK BURNS - [Add Time Stamp!]

Any news or announcements

"Our mod Rob, aka the roberator, has refreshed the Sword and Laser survey. It's a few short questions to help him and us get to understand who's listening. Take it, won't you?

You can find it in the show notes or by going to Sword and Laser and clicking 'survey'."
Survey Link

Trike:
A Christmas miracle: Alan Moore actually approves of an adaptation of his book.

"For the first time in my career, I’m genuinely excited and enthusiastic about a work of mine… one that I own, and believe could work marvelously in a different medium… being adapted for the screen."
Read more on Deadline

Tamahome:

"My body is green with excitement. Steven Spielberg to helm Old Man’s War, bringing John Scalzi's sci-fi to life!"
Fiction Horizon Article

crochetchrisie📚:
Goodreads Choice Awards Winners
Goodreads Winners List

Seth:
Amal El-Mohtar picks the best SFF of the year for the New York Times.

In the spirit of process improvement, just in case you can't click the link, here they are:

  • The Book of Love

  • Rakesfall

  • In Universes

  • The Melancholy of Untold History

  • The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain

  • Exordia

  • The Mercy of Gods

  • Those Beyond the Wall

  • The Tainted Cup

  • Long Live Evil

Read the full article

Trike:
The 2024 edition of NPR’s Books We Love is out!

"Lots of books mentioned in other 'best of' lists but also plenty of ones I hadn’t heard of."
NPR Books We Love

Seth:
Perhaps you're tired of best books lists? Sorry. I like seeing LitHub's list of best book covers each year. They poll designers, and there isn't much agreement this year, but the overall winner is the creepy covers for the re-issues of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy.
LitHub Article

Liqorice:
Booker Prize-winning Orbital, by Samantha Harvey, has been serialized by BBC Radio. According to the author, it is not 'science fiction' but 'space realism.'

"Given that literary authors often use the term 'magical realism' to distinguish their work from fantasy, that sounds like an interesting distinction to separate the book from genre fiction. Regardless, I read the book, and if you like literary fiction, it is pretty good."

BBC Radio Episodes

BARE YOUR SWORD - [Add Time Stamp!]

Feedback from the audience

Jan (new):

"It's great fun to listen to you reminiscing! Makes me look back as well! ❤️
I am old and my memory is fuzzy, but I feel I am with Sword and Laser since the Geek & Sundry days, though I started contributing from time to time with Hogfather.

Btw: Is there a statistic of who contributed the most Quick Burns? Asking for a friend... 😉"

Scott:

"I feel like Vaginal Fantasy started before Geek and Sundry was founded. It was through Vaginal Fantasy that I first encountered Veronica and heard about Sword and Laser..."

Tassie Dave:

"Vaginal Fantasy started in January 2012. Geek and Sundry was founded in 2011 and officially launched on April 2, 2012. Sword and Laser joined in March 2012."

BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Bookshop Link | Amazon Link
Book Briefing

ADDENDUMS

Our show is entirely funded by our patrons. Thank you to all the folks who back our show! If you'd like to support us, head to:
Patreon

You can also support the show by buying books through our links! Find links to the books we talk about at:
Book Picks

Contact us: