The Sword and Laser discussion

How to make The Watch series not feel so bad maybe? Also, some great lists of top fantasy and sci-fi and a few more award winners. Plus, we kick off the November pick and wrap up Finder By Suzanne Palmer.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/43039156
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Hah, I know where the title came from.

Ooo, Howl's Moving Castle is next.

Regarding the Watch Trailer:

For me there were definitely things I thought could work really well in the Watch series, like a female Lord Vetinari, but in the end that was not enough to get me through the completely different feel of the world in the trailer: To me the Watch and Ankh-Morpork of Terry Pratchett are not cool, fast-paced and drastic, they are not punk-rock, not cyberpunk with electricity and neon signs, strange Dune-like Guards holding torches, Vimes rocking on stage with an electric guitar or Lady Sybil being a vigilante with swanp dragon hand guns.

I am missing the whimsy, the self-aware irony, the laid back... Britishness?

The thing that symbolizes the difference for me the most is the modern day and profoundly American and Un-British police badges Vimes and team wear on a necklace.

In the end I agree it can be a good show, but I don't think it will be a good Discworld show.

I enjoyed reading Finder, but I got a little antsy when Fergus went back to Mars.

Tamahome wrote: "I enjoyed reading Finder, but I got a little antsy when Fergus went back to Mars."

I am going to doorbell ditch you. 🤨

I assume the fantasy Cy is referring to is The Fifth Season / Broken Earth - it's an argument about if it is fantasy or science fiction (though I don't see much of a difference). Initially it's pure fantasy, but as the series progresses it could be either.

Also, I highly recommend Linda Nagata's Red trilogy. Top notch military science fiction. I'm reading her newest, Pacific Storm, a near future sf thriller set on one of the Hawaiian islands as a super storm is about to hit.

Trike wrote: "Tamahome wrote: "I enjoyed reading Finder, but I got a little antsy when Fergus went back to Mars."

I am going to doorbell ditch you. 🤨"

Who's there?

I am down for Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia to be a future Sword pick!

How to mess up The Watch... Throw all the interesting characters away and start again

Miscast Sybil Ramkin from a large woman approaching middle age who discovers love in an unexpected place to a 20 something beauty.. This one is unforgivable (changes the entire relationship dynamic between two people of similar age who life has passed by to an older man younger woman dynamic)..

Vimes would never work with a Vigilante (he arrests armies for breaking the law). Again ignoring the basic character

Vimes gurning! Really, the whole thing is takes the heart of the books and throws it away leaving the superficial

What Nnedi Okorafor did we read?

terpkristin wrote: "What Nnedi Okorafor did we read?"

We haven't read her for the book club yet. I think V has mentioned reading Binti a few times in past podcasts.

Iain wrote: "

Miscast Sybil Ramkin from a large woman approaching middle age who discovers love in an unexpected place to a ..."

Yep a missed opportunity to be body positive....

Thanks, Mark. I spent a long time in my car while listening trying to figure out what we read (that I missed).

I know what Veronica means by having trouble picturing space stations and spaceships. I have that trouble with Peter F. Hamilton too, and wish it came with some diagrams. His 3rd Salvation book comes out in three days Tuesday Oct 27 btw. The Saints of Salvation

I wondered if Veronica had seen the map - it certainly helped me!

https://twitter.com/fbaerald/status/1...

^ I came here to ask if Veronica had seen the map. I gave it brief look before starting the book, but did not start referring to it pretty frequently until I was about half way through.

I liked Tom's reference to Nongshim ramyun. I found it about a year ago, and think for an instant ramen it is very good. Personally I add a couple of eggs with 1 minute left in the microwave when cooking and they poach just right. If I have time I'll doctor up with other ingredients as well. But as he said, they are no substitute for a good restaurant grade ramen.