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
 
***
 
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

Thanks to an overwhelming response to one of Aaron's recent Whiteboard Review, we're kicking off our February pick, Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart! Plus, we check in over on GoodReads to talk Gaiman, refreshing Science Fiction, and libraries that don't have any books.

More on our February pick, Bridge of Birds:
On GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15177.Bridge_of_Birds
Hughart Fan Site: http://www.barryhughart.org/books.htm

Discussion Links:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1167500-digital-libraries
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1067161-neil-gaiman-starter-book
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1167079-need-to-expand-my-horizons

"Reconsidering Goblins" by Aaron:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-dJ-BKgTgA

It's time to wrap up our January pick, John Scalzi's Old Man's War, check in with everyone over on GoodReads, and get momentarily excited for a new excerpt from GRRM...before remembering that its still going to be a long wait for Winds of Winter. Enjoy!

More on our January pick, Old Man's War:
On GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51964.Old_Man_s_War
From John Scalzi's Blog: http://whatever.scalzi.com/about/books-by-john-scalzi/

Discussion Links:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1163392-bored-woodless
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1163460-grrm-new-extract-of-the-winds-of-...
http://georgerrmartin.com/if-sample.html
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1160339-what-do-you-guys-think-about-brea...

"A Once Crowded Sky" Review by Aaron:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuSKLG61lbk