S&L Podcast - #429 - Pivot to Therapy

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We have a rousing discussion of redemption in Light from Uncommon Stars, get way too many awesome items for our to be read lists from the ALA, and discuss pivoting the show to include TV shows (and maybe therapy?).

Download directly here!

WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?

Tom: Terra Beer

Veronica: Fort Point

QUICK BURNS

terpkristin: Just got an email from Chicago Worldcon that Hugo nominations are open now! Maybe nominate your favorite sword-y and laser-y podcast.

to which Mark added: In 2021, S&L had 24 nominations for Best Fancast. Of the six podcasts that made the 2021 Hugo ballot, 28 nominations was enough to make the cut, and three of the podcasts were within 10 nominations of S&L. So, it would just take a few more people, and maybe a reminder to V and T to nominate themselves too. ;-)

Trike: Amazon just announced the title of their LOTR prequel series.

It’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

It premieres on Amazon Prime on September 2nd

Jan: Deadline reports that Parasite director Bong Joon Ho is in talks to write and direct an untitled film based on Edward Ashton’s upcoming novel Mickey7 for Warner Bros

Jan: The adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi's ""Children of Blood and Bone"" has moved from Lucasfilm to Paramount.

grkpektis: Stephen King announces a new book called Fairy Tale about a kid from the real world going to a fantasy world. I’m calling it now the kid is going to be evil.

Genesee: The American Library Association (ALA) had their annual awards ceremony

BARE YOUR SWORD

@MitchamBeth

LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS, Ryka Aoki. This book is a call to action -- I want to eat great food, listen to great music but also practice compassion and forgive mistakes. Finding true love might be in there somewhere as well.


@scalzi

Not gonna lie, I'm excited too


@ryka_aoki

I posted a reply tweet in German, but my German is so rusty and bad I deleted it. ;) Anyway, thank you so much for the mention, @swordandlaser! (and hi and super congratulations, @scalzi!)"

BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION

KICK OFF

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo. (thanks Seth!!!)

Amazon link

Book briefing


WRAP UP

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

Amazon link

"Dwango — 01/24/2022

Finished it! Liked her descriptions of food, violin culture, and making donuts. It was somewhat an orderly stream of thought with each small break of space between text and the occasional chapter break. Liked it and got a bit hungry."


"HarryB — 01/25/2022

I had read this not too long after it came out, admittedly starting from some dark place, it became incredibly positive and I even found myself chuckling out loud when I read it (it's ok, only the cat was listening). I certainly respect this author for somehow pulling off a mashup of fantasy, science fiction, humor, donuts, and music, not 'pulling it off somehow' but succeeding incredibly well, bravo!"

"Gillian — Yesterday at 9:35 AM

Finished last night. Really loved it."

"BethMitcham — 01/21/2022

I finished the book and enjoyed it a lot. One gap I noticed was the oldest son gets short shrift. He never gets unfrozen. Was killing the earthlings really that much worse than trying to murder Shirley? "

LFUS: Why I Didn’t Like This Book (SPOILERS)

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.

S&L Podcast - #428 - Ein kleiner Nachtmarkt

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We are excited about a possible new Scalzi TV show, Twitter summaries of great books, and our first non-spoilery thoughts on Light from Uncommon Stars.

Download directly here!

WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?

Tom: Wang black sesame and bean soy drink

Veronica: Sfizio


QUICK BURNS

John: Fonda Lee has announced the release date of a new novella in The Green Bone Saga series. There is a special print edition on offer that can be found at subterraneanpress.com

Jan: Tor.com reports that David Naimon’s Between the Covers Podcast hast started a new series called "Crafting With Ursula"

Jan: Mel Burke at Polygon has released their list of most anticipated science fiction and fantasy books for 2022

Ziggy: #TheKaijuPreservationSociety by @scalzi has been optioned for television to Fox Entertainment!! AHHHHHHH, WE ARE SO EXCITED 🎉🎉🎉

Jan: The 2022 Philip K. Dick Award finalists have been announced.

Seth: My favorite currently-running fantasy series is getting a new entry. Nghi Vo and Tor announce Into the Riverlands, a Singing Hills cycle novella. Coming out this fall.


BARE YOUR SWORD

"Beth Mitcham @MitchamBeth Jan 10 THE INHERITANCE OF ORQUIDEA DIVINA, Zoraida Córdova. I loved the language in this book which moved between richly lush and sharply modern. Like sinking into a bubbly warm bath and having toddler bath toys occasionally pop up to the surface."

"Brian @brivolbm7q Jan 9 @acedtect heard your description of SGV food on the last @swordandlase episode. Have you checked out blossom market hall yet? Kinda quasi 626 night market but permanent spot."

"Kenley Neufeld @kenleyneufeld Jan 9 Sweet story of suffering, love and joy. Friendships, trust, family. Of growing up. Throw in a spacecraft, aliens and a demon and we have a nice mix of sci-fi and fantasy. Definitely a good way to start my 2022 reading. Thanks @swordandlaser and more importantly @ryka_aoki"

What was your favourite S&L read of 2021?


BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION

CHECK-IN

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

LFUS: An interesting mashup of genres

LFUS: Just give me music and food and I'm fine

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