#012 - The S&L Podcast: Biggest book pick ever!
Monday, September 8, 2008 at 5:26PM Welcome back everyone! So, I'm still trying to figure out why my audio sounds like crap, while Tom sounds great. It's especially grating since, you know, I'm supposed to be an audio producer and all. How embarrassing! We'll work it out soon, I promise. Anyhow, here's the show:
Book #8 is going to be Anathem, by Neal Stephenson. The two interesting things about this book are that a) it's super long and b) it's only available in hardcover and Kindle versions. We're also going to give everyone some more time than usual to get through this 900-someodd page book.
CONTEST
Here's the poll for the Best Closing Line Contest! Here are the choices:
1. Michael H. -- A smile crept into his eyes and with his walking stick in one hand, and the orb faintly glowing in the other, Gabriel set off across the street, scanning the horizon for traffic, and making a mental note to take better care next time he bought a tchochki from a Devonian Barkeep.
2. Michael M. -- With palpable relief Schuman slumped over the rail waiting for the pool of magma to close over the briefcase and reflected to himself that he still hadn't had a cup of coffee.
3. Shane G. -- And it came to pass in the last days of the lost colony that the swords were broken and the lasers died and the people cried out to the unhearing heavens from which they had come saying, "If any remain among the stars, for your lives, do not part the quantum jelly!"
4. Gregory F. -- After the dust had settled and the sound of battle waned, Sabrina and Julia found each other amongst the ruins. The sisters then knew they had won, and once again evil would sleep.
[poll=8]
The winner gets a Logitech USB Headset!
FROM THE NING GROUP
Music while reading
Frogg
Lately, I have been doing a good chunk of my reading on the bus on my way to work. Whenever I leave the house, I always have my iPod on me, so I find myself listening to music while reading. Does anyone else do this, and if so, what do you listen to?
I usually shy away from anything with lyrics. It makes it hard to concentrate if I get caught up listening to the words, so most of my reading is done listening to post-rock stuff like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion, Esmerine, etc. Recently I have been on a William Gibson kick, and ambient electronic music such as Boards of Canada or Apparat go very well with it.
terpkristin
I can't listen to music while I read, even something without lyrics. If I try, I soon find myself humming along with what I'm listening to and not paying attention to what I'm reading.
How Where Do You Like to Read
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Reader Comments (12)
[...] Get the podcast at: Swordandlaser.com [...]
I feel slightly crazy, because I just ordered Anathem online, the day before it is even available. Stephenson is a toss up for me. I loved Snow Crash, to the point of it being one of my favorite books, but Quicksilver made me despise him. It was self-aware and pretentious, and I still can't believe I made myself finish it. So we'll see how this one goes. Hopefully the characters will be more along the lines of Hiro Protagonist and not trying so hard to be like the clever historical geniuses of the Baroque Cycle.
So yeah, my opinions are strong on this one. 900 pages, Tom, it better be worth it. :P
whoa. might need the rest of the year to read this one. wish u guys coulda picked something i could borrow from the library...
Regarding the pronunciation of 'Anathem,' Amazon has posted a kind of mini-interview with Neal Stephenson in which he explains the title and gives a little introduction into the world:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m7QZBWIRDCDPD
Tino,
You should be able to borrow this book from your library. I know that my library is very good at getting new releases and if they don't have it, I can request it and they'll get it! Give it a try and good luck!
Great timing! I just finished the last book I was reading, and my copy of Anathem arrived in the mail this morning. Looking forward to reading this one.
Well we will see how this goes...after the baroque cycle stephenson has lost me but i loved snow crash and zodiac so much it seems worth it to try again....and Tom mentioned Crypticonium which was pretty good also....
I just found this podcast when I started reading Anathem a few days ago. The site is now bookmarked. I find it odd that so many of the reviews I have read speak of the Baroque Cycle negatively. I thought that it was fantastic and had a great ending. Too each their own I guess.
I'm about halfway through Anathem. So far I'm impressed and engrossed.
It's also available on the Sony Ebook store for us Reader owners.
[...] you need more evidence that Anathem is a landmark book, check out Sword and Laser this month. The book club has chosen it for their read this time around and has allotted more time than [...]
When are you reviewing Anathem? I've almost finished it.
laser?