S&L Podcast - #378 - Ointment for Your Brain

The Hugo Nominees are in! And we've read some fo them! Also, the Nebula Nominees are in and we've read some of them too! And we have thoughts on the beauty of this month's pick, This is How You Lose the Time War.

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WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?

Tom: Bubly - Blackberry flavor
Veronica: Haus

QUICK BURNS

Mark: 2020 Hugo nominees announced.

2020 Nebula Nomineees (virtual presentation coming May 30)

Jan: Tor.com reports that a new novel from Andy Weir (The Martian) is set to be released spring next year. "Project Hail Mary" is a twisty story about a lone astronaut on a spaceship tasked with saving Earth. Also, MGM is in exclusive negotiation to adapt the novel as a movie with Ryan Gosling attached to produce and play the astronaut.

Kenley: A new activity for while in quarantine. Join your favorite authors on Zoom where you can have spirited discussions from the privacy of our own quarantined space! With the Quarantine Book Club.
So far in the scifi/fantasy realm, they've had Cory Doctorow (April 1). Up next in our categories is Tim Maughan, author of Infinite Detail on April 9 and Madeline Ashby, author of reV on April 15.
Looks like the series is happening almost every day. The cost is $5 or free if you can't afford even that low price.

Mark: Divergent Author Veronica Roth Sells Film Rights to Upcoming Adult Novel Chosen Ones

Jan: This has to be my favorite themed award I never heard of!

Tor.com reports that the winners of the 2019 Kitschies have been announced! Apparently the Kitschies are "the annual tentacle-themed prize for works containing elements of the 'speculative and fantastic'.

The winner of the "Red Tentacle"" for Best Novel is The Fire Starters by Jan Carson (who is apparently a woman),
the winner of the ""Golden Tentacle"" for Best Debut is Jelly by Clare Rees, and
the winner of the ""Inky Tentacle"" for Best Cover Art is The Memory Police designed by Tyler Comrie

Unfortunately though, none of the winners seem to actually contain any tentacle based narrative (although, do jellyfish have tentacles?).

BARE YOUR SWORD

"Light book selections"

Dear Veronica & Tom,

I took advantage of the Uncanny Collections special on Brain McClellan's website. They’re short novels but easy and a lot of fun urban fantasy.

Also when I need a break from Sci-Fi and Fantasy novel like after a Wheel of Time novel, I reach for a Stephanie Plum novel (there around 25 of them). Light novels about bounty hunter, who has terrible luck in her field. The nice part is they don't need to be read in order. I recommend starting with book 6, since that is when the character of Bob the dog shows up.

Good luck with all the craziness out there.

David

—

Genesee Rickel @gmrickel
Finally finished February’s @swordandlaser pick. THE LIGHTNING BRIGADE: a tough read during COVID, relentlessly gritty & dark, excellent social commentary, a mindfuck of a timeline that requires your attention, and it all ends with a bang (or a blink :wink:). So awesome! :star: :star: :star: :star:

Beth Mitcham @MitchamBeth
@swordandlaser I read this one ahead of you!"
THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR, Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone. Two trained operatives from opposing sides suddenly (slowly) and desperately discover emotions and each other and try to rewrite the world with love language. Language is power.

BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION

Hugo nominee: This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Duel Authorship

Poetry or Novel or Novel in Poem Form?