The Sword and Laser

This week we bring you the first two-word review of Geoirge R. R. Martin's A Dance with Dragons, some excellent hard scifi for you scientist types, and a philosophical discussion of dark YA books.

QUICK BURNS

Submit to Machine of Death VOLUME 2!

First review of A DANCE WITH DRAGONS

The Best Hard Science Fiction Books of all Time

Interview with Dan "Robopocalypse" Wilson

Brandon Sanderson's "A Memory of Light" may not be published until later in 2012

CALENDAR

6/15/2011 The Uncertain Places, Lisa Goldstein (Tachyon Publications)
6/15/2011 Leviathan Wakes, James S.A. Corey (Orbit)
6/28/2011 Dragon’s Time: Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey
6/29/2011 "Naamah's Blessing, Jacqueline Carey (Tor)

AUDIBLE PICK

Robopocalypse: A Novel by Daniel H. Wilson
Narrated by Mike Chamberlain

BARE YOUR SWORD

The Hunger Games > Hunger Games vs. Battle Royale - Josh

The Hunger Games > Film Adaptation - Ken

The Hunger Games > The deaths of children - Veronica

BOOK CHECK-IN

Veronica: On book 3, loving it so far!

Tom: On book 2, loved book 1, book 2 still good -Finished Best Served Cold and Wolves of the Calla, on to Song of Susannah and Last Argument of Kings

EMAILS

Hello Veronica and Tom, Horkken here from Paris, France.
I know you talked about it on a previous episode but now that the HBO series is coming to France (this week (yes it's fast)) I wondered what is the best option.
Reading the book first and then watch the show or watch the show and then read the book ? I know it must be a common question but I usually have a rule, always read the book before watching an adaptation on screen but I really don't know with Game of Thrones.
So I would like your opinion on that. Thank you !

PS: In the original version you have 4 books so far, the french translation is in 12 books. The publishers are real butchers here. (It's even worse with Robin Hobb).

Thank you.

Horkken

NEW MEMBERS HELLOS

Hello new members!

ADDENDUMS

George R.R. Martin signing and S&L meetup!

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

S&L Podcast - #65 - Think of the children

S&L listener Anne did an awesome cover of our theme music (originally composed by our pal Josh Lawrence) on her ukelele! How awesome is that? And she's only been playing the ukelele for three weeks!

Thanks Anne!!

This episode we get the distinct pleasure of chatting with N. K. Jemisin, author of our last book pick, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. We'll discuss a little about her writing process, how she invented the world her characters inhabit, and even get a bit political. Or at least social judicial.

We also go over the books that are coming soon in the science fiction and fantasy world, and annouce the winner of the recent poll on Goodreads for our next book, which was up against some pretty tough competition in the "science fiction written by a female author" category. No recap on Game of Thrones this week, but it'll be back next time! And we'll have plenty to talk about, trust us.

CALENDAR

6/3/2011 The Book of Transformations by Mark Charan Newton Tor
6/7/2011 Robopocalypse: A Novel by Daniel H. Wilson
6/7/2011 Hot and Steamy: Tales of Steampunk by Jean Rabe
6/7/2011 Jim and the Flims, Rudy Rucker (Nightshade Books)
6/15/2011 The Uncertain Places, Lisa Goldstein (Tachyon Publications)
6/15/2011 Leviathan Wakes, James S.A. Corey (Orbit)

INTERVIEW

Questions for NK Jemisin

BOOK KICK-OFF NEXT WEEK!

Book will be--- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

ADDENDUMS

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 75,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction and periodicals. For a free audiobook of your choice, go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

S&L Podcast - #64 - Interview with N. K. Jemisin