The Sword and Laser

We get the message and beef up the book discusiion. But the news is full of trailers and the feedback is full of awesome. But will Veronica Hughart the book? And if she did, what would that mean?

WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
Tom: 2009 Toscana IGT "1967"
Veronica: Glenmorangie
 
QUICK BURNS
Book Trailer: “Etiquette & Espionage” by Gail Carriger 
TOC: ‘Dangerous Women’ Edited by Gardner Dozois and George R.R. Martin
Amazing Stories returns, as a social network for fandom (with stories)
Animated Fiction: Neil Gaiman Reads His Zombie Story “Down Among the Dead Men”
Locus 2012 Recommended Reading List 
Book Trailer: “The Daylight War” by Peter V. Brett 
 
CALENDAR
  
BARE YOUR SWORD
Welcome new forum mod, Josh!
Memoirs Found in a Bathtub $1.99 today 
Violent character names 
Book Blind Date 
 
TV, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES
Behind-the-Scenes Game of Thrones Video Explores Iceland as Setting for ‘Beyond the Wall’
 
BOOK CHECK-IN
The Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart
 
EMAIL
Hi Tom & Veronica. 
I love your show(s) and the GoodReads group.  On the podcast I listened to today, Tom said that he would like to pick a science fiction novel by a female author.  Ursula K. LeGuin was mentioned, but I'd like to see something more contemporary.  May I suggest God's War by Kameron Hurley?  I've started reading it and it's something really different.   It's kind of like Joe Abercrombie writing SF taking place on a planet with a female dominated society.  The primary SF elements are genetic engineering and colonization of other planets.  It's not an easy read and it's very dark, but it seems pretty good.  I've paused it because it's so intense, so I need an incentive to finish. 
Keep up the great work!
Sandi
 
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I saw this and immediately thought it would make a great news piece for your show!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/354009039/beyond-words-a-year-of-daydreams-fantasy-author-ca
I am behind on my youtube episodes so if you have already covered this, please FORGIVE ME! I just saw it (I think Brandon Sanderson linked to it on his twitter) and thought it was AWESOME! Anyway, love your show and the podcast,
Sincerely
Jeane Ess
 
ADDENDUMS
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 100,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.
 

Download the MP3 below!

S&L Podcast - #120 - Book Blind Dates

We have a whole lot of award finalists to tell you about and Veronica bravely tries to pronounce their names. We also wonder how much said is too much said.

 
WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?
 
Tom: Car Men Air Camenere, Chile 

Veronica: Something red
 

QUICK BURNS
 
TOC: ‘The Fearsome Journeys: The New Solaris Book of Fantasy’ Edited by Jonathan Strahan
  
Harper/Voyager UK to Release SF/F Classics with Beautiful Minimalist Covers
 
Tad Williams completes latest novel 
 
Great science fiction authors tell us which novels they wish they’d written themselves
 
FINALISTS: 2012 BSFA Award 
 
FINALISTS: The 2012 Kitschies 
 
CALENDAR
 
BARE YOUR SWORD
 
Veronica's Reddit AMA 
 
The battle against 'sexist' sci-fi and fantasy book covers  
 
Jim Hines Group Cover Pose
 
Living in a Fantasy world 
 
TV, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES
 
New GAME OF THRONES video 
 
BOOK CHECK-IN
 
Use of "said"
  
ADDENDUMS
 
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 100,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.  

S&L Podcast - #119 - Pronounce this

We're running a little late, but we're here! We have lots of awards to discuss and one to even beg for a little. Plus we chat about what makes a sellout and what makes an addictive series!

QUICK BURNS
FINALISTS: 2012 Philip K. Dick Award 
Yep, there's now a 'seal of approval' for the scientific accuracy of novels
Christopher Tolkien speaks out for the first time, says Peter Jackson 'eviscerated' his father's work
Gollancz to publish three ELITE novels 
A brave new world: science fiction predictions for 2013
WINNER: A.E. Van Vogt Award 
Hugo Award Nomination Period Is Now Open 
The Offer on Old Man’s War: A Ten-Year Retrospective 
Great Quotes about Writing from Game of Thrones Author George R.R. Martin 

CALENDAR
 

BARE YOUR SWORD
10 Book series so addictive you won't want to stop 
Space Ships and Nekkid Ladies 
 

TV, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES
Clever Film Trailer for “John Dies At The End” Aimed at Pirates 
77 Science Fiction and Fantasy Movies to Watch Out For in 2013 
 
BOOK CHECK-IN
Old Man's War by John Scalzi 
 
MAIL
 
Thought I'd check in and tell you guys that you are AWESOME. I dearly love the podcast and Youtube show at Geek and Sundry. I listen to the podcasts on the way to/from work when I'm not listening to my audiobooks and I always have a lot of fun with the books! Really enjoyed Nocturnal by Scott Sigler recently (which freaked me out on a level I'm not entirely comfortable discussing), and am currently having a blast with Old Man's War. Keep up the great job and I can't wait to see what's next!
-AJ
 
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Hey Tom and Veronica,
I know this is a little late but I did want to thank you for all your amazing work on the Sword & Laser podcasts in 2012 & with the introduction of the video show as well :D Thank you for continuing to inspire me to get back to reading & making sure I always have a long list of books to read.  Hope that 2013 is going to be a wonderful year for you both as well as for Sword & Laser itself :D
Steven Cain
P.S. Tom I know you mentioned you wouldn't mind suggestions for things to do in LA yourself so I figured I'd include the suggestions I received for my trip to LA just in case they might be helpful for you.
 
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ADDENDUMS
 
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 100,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.  

S&L Podcast - #118 - Scientific seal of approval