The Sword and Laser discussion

Not sure why the powers that be haven't created a thread for this yet, but they posted the new Podcast (it was waiting for me in my RSS this morning!)

http://www.swordandlaser.com/home/201...

Just walking outside while listening to the first 15 minutes. The Youtube commenters told me Dozois is pronounced 'Doe-zwah'; don't shoot the messenger. Neil Gaiman has indeed narrated some of his books, and I hear he is very good.

EDIT:
Why don't you mention Julie's podcast of Bridge of Birds?

Rob wrote: "Not sure why the powers that be haven't created a thread for this yet, but they posted the new Podcast (it was waiting for me in my RSS this morning!)

http://www.swordandlaser.com/home/201......"

Thank you! You beat Becca.

Tamahome wrote: "EDIT:
Why don't you mention Julie's podcast of Bridge of Birds? "

I'm sorry, I didn't see that / don't know who that is?

For the record, Neil Gaiman does read some of his own audiobooks, and he is amazing at it. I've listened to Coraline and the Graveyard Book, and highly recommend them.

Julie Davis read the whole book on her podcast, with the author's permission:

http://hcforgottenclassics.blogspot.c...

Hi there, heard the discussion about pronouncing Glenmorangie, and thought I would send you a link to a Scotch pronunciation guide.

http://www.esquire.com/features/drink...

Correction, V... Goodreads HAD a book swap feature. They dropped it sometime last year, I think. I've since started doing that at PaperBackSwap.com, while keeping the rest of my book-related things here at Goodreads.

Veronica wrote: "Thank you! You beat Becca."

You're Welcome. Pretty sure she's west coast, and an I'm early riser on the east coast, so I just noticed before she was awake most likely.

I figured I'd post it in case some of the east coasters didn't see it yet before they drove to work.

Glad I wasn't stepping on anyone's toes.

Excellent episode!

Rob wrote: "Veronica wrote: "Thank you! You beat Becca."

You're Welcome. Pretty sure she's west coast, and an I'm early riser on the east coast, so I just noticed before she was awake most likely.

I figured..."

No toe stepping at all!

Fell asleep on my couch last night before the episode posted, wine + Moonrise Kingdom = sleepy Becca.

Becca wrote: "Moonrise Kingdom"

How was that?

Veronica re: Bridge of Birds hold on it really does get better every chapter. Your just getting to the the good stuff. It's more amazing the more you read.

Finally got a chance to listen. I noticed the new mod today and was wondering! Thanks for the shout out for my suggestion. More importantly, thanks for following through with my suggestion!

Since you're implementing my suggestions, and announcing the March Pick in this podcast, I'll use this as a reminder that it would be handy to add that book the bookshelf as soon as possible, so people can see it's coming up. ^_^

Also I made a thread as well (maybe sticky it until March rolls around?)

Great podcast, as always!

Veronica was asking what the difference between a novella and novelette was. According to the Hugo Awards, a novella is 17,500 to 40,000 words, a novelette is 7,500 to 17,500 words and a short story is less than 7,500.

Click-Clack the Rattlebag -- via audible this past halloween -- was my first time to hear Neil Gaiman's voice. loved the story and enjoyed the way he told it.

i'm currently reading Neverwhere (DTE from my local library) for the first time. a few pages in, i noticed that i'm hearing the voice of the narrator as neil himself. not a conscious choice -- it's just naturally his voice that comes to mind as i'm reading.

maybe that's weird, but now i honestly can't imagine "hearing" his stories any other way.

So... What about the book discussion?

Thanks for the show. Glad to hear the kick off of the book and look forward to what you guys think of the story and what you think of the goodreads discussion...Awesome to hear we are doing C.J. Cherryh's Down Below Station... outstanding pick...V drinking the scotch of choice for Connor Macleod!!

Tom wrote: "So... What about the book discussion?"

It was a welcome addition. You kept it spoiler light which is good so early in the month. Hopefully you'll dig into the details more for the podcast on the 19th though.

Listening now and just got to the part in which Tom says he'd rather pick good books than worry about the format availability and I just want to give him a "I heartily agree!" I mean, yes, we should make sure it's actually in print or whatever and I would personally prefer that it's at least in paperback, not just hardcover, but as for e-book and audio and such I think everyone here has been great at helping others find books in different formats when they're not immediately obvious, but I agree that it would be a shame to limit book picks by format. Thanks for a great show.

Rob wrote, "I noticed the new mod today and was wondering! Thanks for the shout out for my suggestion. More importantly, thanks for following through with my suggestion!"

I promise to use my newfound mod powers for good.



Jim said, "...just got to the part in which Tom says he'd rather pick good books than worry about the format availability and I just want to give him a "I heartily agree!", we should make sure it's actually in print or whatever and I would personally prefer that it's at least in paperback, not just hardcover, but as for e-book and audio and such I think everyone here has been great at helping others find books in different formats when they're not immediately obvious, but I agree that it would be a shame to limit book picks by format."

I agree with this, too. I'm reading many more e-books these days, so I'm very happy when a S&L pick is easily available in multiple formats, but I think it'd be too restricting to require all picks to always be audio- and e-book available.

Very intrigued by Bridge of Birds, starting it this weekend...

Tom wrote: "So... What about the book discussion?"

Liked it very much. Thanks for listening to us crazies!! A tweak to the book discussion section would be to say up front exactly where they are at in the book (eg. chapter 10). That way for folks that aren't caught up to that point can tune out and perhaps you and V don't have to tip-toe around spoilers either. We would have been warned!! For audiobooks this might be a challenge, but you see where I'm going.

I has a sad about the available formats of the March read. Guess I'll be skipping it. Got lots of other things to read.

With the new mod addition, could the mods(and V&T) start using the titles that Mods can have here on Goodrreads?

Might help some new folks figure out who's in charge and whatnot.

Love the episode and enjoyed the extra book discussion. I for one really appreciate the extra time being put in to both shows.

Tom wrote: "So... What about the book discussion?"

Enjoyed the amount of book talk and keeping it relatively spoiler free at this point in the month. I approve!

I thought this week's show was fantastic. Every time a new audio show comes out, I move it to the top of my queue, which was well worth-it. I enjoyed the book discussion (especially since I haven't seen the video kick-off yet). I didn't know the history of the book...guess I'll have to go see the video episode! I'm finding that Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was is moving quickly for me. At about a third through, I kind of like the frenetic/random-seeming chapters, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it comes together.

As others have mentioned, Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was is available in audio via Forgotten Classics. The only thing I'd recommend if you do want to treat it like an audiobook is to use iTunes or an audio editor of your choice to cut out the "beginning stuff" on each episode. It's good to listen to, but if you want to listen to the book in a playlist, it can be distracting.

I'm a little bummed about the March pick. I like that we're going to read a book by a female author, but I would have preferred UKLG or maybe just a different title. Downbelow Station just doesn't seem like something I'm interested in. That said, I find I prefer it when books are chosen via dictatorial picks and I did "resolve" to read (or attempt to read) all the picks this year. So maybe I'll be surprised. :)

Also, great pick for Jlawrence as a new moderator!

Looking forward to the next show!

Ala wrote: "With the new mod addition, could the mods(and V&T) start using the titles that Mods can have here on Goodrreads?

Might help some new folks figure out who's in charge and whatnot."

I don't know what that means?

Veronica wrote: "Ala wrote: "With the new mod addition, could the mods(and V&T) start using the titles that Mods can have here on Goodrreads?

Might help some new folks figure out who's in charge and whatnot."

I d..."

Under the group configuration, you can add custom titles to each moderator. So you could label yourself as "Queen of Swords" and Tom as "King of Lasers" or something simple like "show host".

Veronica wrote: "I don't know what that means? "

Basically what Rob said.

I only mention it because for the longest time I had no clue Becca was a mod. The only place you see the Mods listed is on the group home page and I never go there.

If you all set your titles, they'll appear beside your names in threads/posts so you stand out from us pleebs.

Our newest mod has already set his.

Make him the title fairy and have him do the rest. :P

So happy about the book discussion and length of the podcast, thanks T & V!

Ala wrote: "Make him the title fairy and have him do the rest. :P"

I have given Tom, Veronica and Becca titles now, that they can then change to their liking. ;)

Thanks title fairy! :P

I appreciate the point of not picking a book based on availability, but as I've been discovering, a lot of us not in the USA can't get some of these books that aren't available in e-book format. Maybe those that aren't so widely available can have an official alternative pick?

Paul wrote: "Veronica re: Bridge of Birds hold on it really does get better every chapter. Your just getting to the the good stuff. It's more amazing the more you read.
"

I'm so glad that, A) Veronica isn't loving it right away and B) you say it gets better.

It gives me hope. I'm around the same place as Veronica was on the podcast, and whilst I'm not hating it, I'm not loving it as much as I wanted to. Shall get listening to more today. :)

P.S. I thought you guys got the balance between book discussion and other news etc. perfect this week (just enough without major spoilers for the early cast is spot on). Really enjoyed it this week. :D

The next time Veronica trims her bangs, she should leave a few hairs longer than the rest. That way, she can be introduced as "Veronica, Supreme sword with a slight flaw in her bangs." :P

I haven't been following the S&L podcast long enough to really noticed the difference in book discussion since the video show came to be, but I did like how much was there. Thanks for listening to us, oh Supreme Sword, oh Supreme Laser!

Jlawrence wrote: "Ala wrote: "Make him the title fairy and have him do the rest. :P"

I have given Tom, Veronica and Becca titles now, that they can then change to their liking. ;)"

I wonder if they'll even notice :)

Enjoyed the episode as usual, particularly for the Quick Burns, which always cover at least a few things I haven't heard about.

Count me in as enjoying when Veronica mispronounces a name. I do it all the time, and routinely have my name mispronounced. It doesn't make me feel superior to hear her do it. It's a human thing that, if anything, is just amusing.

Would love on the next episode for Veronica to go into what in Bridge of Birds is giving her such trouble. I inferred that it had something to do with the Asian-influenced Fantasy elements Tom was talking about, given that she brought up her problems immediately after he discussed them. However, that doesn't seem like her at all, and I'm figuring my inference was way off. Probably just the product Tom finishing a thought and her wanting to talk about trouble getting into a work when she's been so busy.

I appreciated having some honest book discussion and would love even more of that feature.