The Sword and Laser discussion

I'm almost done (I have about 15% left) and I think I have figured out what has been bugging me.

I mean, I'm enjoying the book, but something just didn't feel right. Granted, I had just come off a Vorkosigan binge read.

LWSAP reads like a TV show! Almost every chapter is like an episode of a TV show. There's a series arc (the journey to Hedra Ka), there are character arcs, and there are episode arcs. Each chapter is mostly self-contained with a focus on just a few characters as their backstories are revealed and their relationships with each other are developed.

It's an interesting way to write a sci-fi space opera. I am really enjoying it. I hope the ending is great. *fingers crossed*

It is pretty episodic. My one major issue with the story is that the crew hears about something and then it happens. Exactly like the set-up/pay-off of an episode in a TV series.

Yep, the book reminded me a lot of the structure of the video game Mass Effect 2, which is itself very episodic and set up like a TV show. (The structure wasn't the only thing that reminded me of ME!) Meet a new squadmate, learn more about that squadmate in a "loyalty mission" of sorts, repeat.

As an old school RPG player it had overtones of Firefly in that both read like Traveller fan fiction. Not necessarily a bad thing, after all George R. R. Martin's Wild Card books are Champions fan fiction.

AndrewP wrote: "As an old school RPG player it had overtones of Firefly in that both read like Traveller fan fiction. Not necessarily a bad thing, after all George R. R. Martin's Wild Card books are Champions fan fiction."

Come to that, Firefly is Traveller fan fiction. And to Tobias drawing a parallel to Mass Effect, I did that, too. To shamelessly quote my own review:

One might be tempted to compare it to famous and familiar sci-fi worlds. It's a little like Firefly, it's a little like Cowboy Bebop, it's a little like Mass Effect, it's a little like Farscape, it's a little like Ringworld, it's a little like Well World... Which ultimately means it's its own thing.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(view spoiler)[Didn't Mass Effect 2 also have a nerdy crew member that was in love with a ship's AI?

I also seem to remember a "bureaucrat does one on one interviews with the crew where they talk about their relationships" scene in Firefly, as well as a "enemies mined the ship and the engineer has to disable them" scene. (hide spoiler)]

Yup.

And Chambers herself has said that she modeled the multispecies marketplace after the one in Farscape.

Trike, I think the only one you missed is that it's a little bit cooooountry...and a little bit rock and roooooolllllll..... *guitar solo*

John (Taloni) wrote: "Trike, I think the only one you missed is that it's a little bit cooooountry...and a little bit rock and roooooolllllll..... *guitar solo*"

Oh my god you're old.

For those too young to get the joke, John is talking about the Donny and Marie Show. We used to LOVE this stuff back in the day. Simpler times.

https://youtu.be/_AfXznngjGw

41 years ago. Oh my god I'm old.

What kind of music do you usually have here?

Oh, we have both types.... Country and Western.

AndrewP wrote: "As an old school RPG player it had overtones of Firefly in that both read like Traveller fan fiction. Not necessarily a bad thing, after all George R. R. Martin's Wild Card books are Champions fan ..."

I was thinking it reminded me of the Alternity RPG from the 90's. I've got the urge to dig it out and look it over again.

Yes, the AI story arc reminded me very much of ME:2, with Joker and what's her name

I think the episodic structure fits the subject matter though! Most days aboard the Wayfarer would be very 'routine', so the episodes allow for both personal plots and the overarching story to move forward without getting bogged down in mundanity.

I thought the over arching plot of the trip to the angry planet to tunnel back paid off. I enjoyed the episodic storytelling, though Ohan's story resolved too quickly. Still it was fun to meet all the crew.
I liked the conclusion. I dislike cliffhangers and this seemed set up for it. I haven't played the games mentioned, but the book had the optimism of Star Trek or Firefly. Refreshing!