The Sword and Laser discussion

Pretty excited about this pick, announced in episode 206. The Goblin Emperor is a book that's been highly recommended to me, so am happy to see a book that is more...traditional for the genre for the pick.

Any mod can feel free to create the folder when the time is right. And edit the title if needed for the book "abbreviation."

Sweet! I have been wanting to read this for a while :)

Oh, heck yes! I've been pretty excited about this one, but it was so far down my to-read list. I have not been very disciplined about not buying new ebooks. I'm super excited to have the excuse to read this sooner rather than later.

This looks like the sort of book that I know I will like.

I like pushing the boundaries with less traditional titles, but it is good to get back to the type of stories that got me into the genre.

Aaaand my library has a copy! Yee hah.

It's a great pick and I will re-read. But I'd love some alt-pick recommendations as did read recently.

Katherine Addison turns out to be a pseudonym for Sarah Monette, which suddenly makes me go Aha!

This has been on my to-read list ever since io9 first covered it. It looks incredible.

Way to steal my "job" Terp!

That's what I get for not listening to the podcast last night I guess.

Has anyone done the audiobook? I'm a bit iffy on if I'll like this, and the library has a bunch of copies, but I have a ton of audible credits that have built up recently..

Rob wrote: "Way to steal my "job" Terp!

That's what I get for not listening to the podcast last night I guess."

>:)
I randomly was able to watch last night while knitting, took advantage of the opportunity. ;)

Glad to see others are excited about this. I picked up the audiobook because I had a credit to burn. I listened to the sample and it seemed ok. I'll have to see as things draw nearer if it makes more sense to read in print or audio.

Really really excited that this has been picked. I have wanted to read it for a while but couldn't justify buying it (trying to cut back on book spending) but now I have a reason to get it. Can't wait to read it and chat to everyone about it

terpkristin wrote: "I picked up the audiobook because I had a credit to burn. I listened to the sample and it seemed ok. I'll have to see as things draw nearer if it makes more sense to read in print or audio. "

I'll be curious to see your decision.

I'll wait at least another week to decide. Apparently some of my SFFAudio stuff came in yesterday, and there are 2 books I wasn't expecting so I may be tied in audio for the next few weeks anyways.

Yes I did the audible version & it was fine. Just go to a bookstore and check out the grammar section at the back of the book first. You will be able to figure it out, but reading it prior to the actual book will save some confusion. The Mass Market edition comes out March 3. The Hardback had very large font which up the page count, but you will rip thru the pages. Apparently she has a steampunk trilogy out under her real name, but Tor made her create a new name as part of the contract. You can read about it at her web page. Lastly I really liked the book.

I wish they would publish stuff like that online for audiobook folks to be able to browse.

Good book. And I've read it recently, so I don't need to reread. :)

Paul wrote: "It's a great pick and I will re-read. But I'd love some alt-pick recommendations as did read recently."

So some people have favourably compared Goblin Emperor to Daughter of the Empire. They do have a very similar premise, but it's also been several years since I read DotE. That might be worth a comparison read.

terpkristin wrote: "Pretty excited about this pick, announced in episode 206. The Goblin Emperor is a book that's been highly recommended to me, so am happy to see a book that is more...traditional for the genre for the pick."

Although this is a Laser month, and Goblin Emperor is about as Laser as Promise of Blood.

Joe Informatico wrote: "Although this is a Laser month, and Goblin Emperor is about as Laser as Promise of Blood"

How about we stop worrying about this every month?

Plus one reviewer called it a "Literary Hug " and after the last few books I need one.

I'm probably going to skip it. The ebook has been $12.99 ever since it came out. I've never seen it for less. If it goes on sale, I might read it.

Ouu! My library has a copy of it too! I'll have to wait until I get through Wise Man's Fear though.

@Sandi - it only came out last April so the price should drop when the mass market paperback comes out (Stephen above says March 3rd). I also don't like to buy ebooks until the hardcover price goes away, so I'll be keeping an eye on this one too.

So excited! I've had the paperback on pre-order for a while. It comes out March 3, so it will be perfect for next month's pick!

I've read it recently, so hopefully I'll remember enough about it to participate!

Rob -- From my own experience reading, and from a comment I saw somewhere (here? there? anywhere?), one thing that made the audio version difficult is that all the names are very similar and full of similar titles. It all makes sense as part of the linguistic background to the book, but if you have trouble with names it's a potential problem. (I spent about 2/3rds of the book wondering who was who, because I was too lazy to swap back and forth from the back of the book all the time.)

Rob wrote: " I'll wait at least another week to decide. Apparently some of my SFFAudio stuff came in yesterday, and there are 2 books I wasn't expecting so I may be tied in audio for the next few weeks anyways."

What do you mean? Not expecting?

My local public library has it so although this isn't a genre I read I'm committing to try it!

I have a giant problem with names. Thanks for the heads up Robyn. Sounds like library for me.

And Jenny, you only told me about The Providence of Fire, not the Bradbury books. It was a pleasant surprise. :-)

Was Johnny on the spot and placed my library hold order. :)

I'm ahead of the curve for once; I read The Goblin King last year, and enjoyed it muchly! Excellent pick :)

Kind of pricey, (paperback not released until April in the UK) and my budget is tight, so I may sit this one out. Probably just as well, as I have a dissertation to write. Shall file it in my mental 'to read' folder though, as it does sound rather interesting.

Unfortunately too long for me - in addition to being on a 250p-max-diet, I have lots of other really important stuff happening in March. But the book looks interesting, so I'll keep it in mind for slacker days! :)

terpkristin wrote: "Pretty excited about this pick, announced in episode 206. The Goblin Emperor is a book that's been highly recommended to me, so am happy to see a book that is more...traditional for..."
Is this the one where the imp dies in the 7th chapter ?
;->

Oh, awesome! This has been on my list for a while now. If I finish a couple other books in time, I should be able to be part of my very first S&L book pick.

I started reading this during a doctor office visit this morning and if the rest of the book is as good as the first four chapters, I'm going to really like it. I don't usually go in for Fantasy with court intrigues, but I already love the main character and the writing is effortlessly superb.

The only stumbling block I'm having is that the titular character has the same name as one of my dogs. So when I hear "Maia" I don't picture a half-goblin young man, I picture a half-Schipperke yarking furball.

Trike wrote: "The only stumbling block I'm having is that the titular character has the same name as one of my dogs. So when I hear "Maia" I don't picture a half-goblin young man, I picture a half-Schipperke yarking furball. "

I was waiting until March 1st to start it because I'm a fast reader and I don't want to read too far ahead of the discussions. But now I suspect that when I read the book, that character might end up with a certain doglike quality in my mind.

Maia is a girl's name over here in Scandinavia, so not much goblin-man in it for me either :P

Yeah, it is the nickname of a female friend, so Goblin Guy will end up pretty and blonde in my head whenever I eventually read this.

Names ending in 'a' are generally girls names aren't they? I'm sure there are exceptions, of course, but I can't think of any right now.

Edit: I checked my friends on facebook and just one guy with a name ending in 'a' (lots and lots of girls though): Kazuma

It will all go away & every time you look at your dog you will think of a Half Goblin-Elf who is a great person-dog

My library system (though not my closet library) has several copies and so I'm going to pick this up Monday.

Well, both Maias can make their ears lie back against their heads, so there's that.

Here's my Maia:

Trike, your Maia is adorable :)

I'm in. Audible has a "Use 4 Credits, get $10" promo going on now, so I got it with one of my credits.

There's a convo going in the Audiobook group right now about the promotion. It's not showing on their site. Some people got an e-mail saying "Buy 3" and others got "Buy 4". Some members don't qualify at all. If you're interested in the promotion and didn't get an e-mail, you might want to give them a call.

Would have joined in the fun.
But the paperback does not get released in the UK until April 13th

Psychic pick since this ended up on the Nebula list!

Not having much luck with audiobooks here in the UK - this one also not available on audible.co.uk. Saved my credit especially, too! :(

Suddenly realized that I can listen to it instead of reading - plenty of bus rides and alone time at work ahead of me! Suggested it to my library, as no libraries in Norway seem to have it. We'll see if they buy it. Otherwise there's always Audible, but I'm not subscribing these days, so it's a bit expensive, and we're trying to limit our shopping for a while.

I guess the library will decide for me, if I'll join or not.

xGvJx wrote: "Suggested it to my library, as no libraries in Norway seem to have it. We'll see if they buy it. "

Do libraries there stock English-language books alongside those primarily in the native tongue, which I assume is called Narwhallian, based on the famous Beatles tune "Narwhallian Wood."

Yeah - especially comic books and sci-fi/horror/fantasy, but also other stuff. I guess English is the second most common language in Norwegian libraries, followed by Swedish and Danish, (both pretty similar to Narwhallian), German and French (common third languages), and lots of others. In my library, they are all side by side in the comics/genre section, while all except the Scandinavian are separated from the Narwhallian in the other sections.

Narwhallian??? :P

Trike wrote: "... the famous Beatles tune "Narwhallian Wood"

Now you've got me whistling, and it's time to go to bed, but you can't sleep while whistling. Maybe I'll have to watch the Oscars after all.

xGvJx wrote: "Narwhallian??? :P "

:D

Made a special drive to the library today to pick this up and it was completely worth it.

I have been too busy for S&L for about six months or so, and I wanted to catch up on my Nebula Award reading and my S&L reading, and this pick does both for me.

If you are wary about reading this because it looks too traditional or for whatever reason, don't be. I was 50 pages in before I realized I wasn't on page 4 anymore.

Eleanor wrote: "Really really excited that this has been picked. I have wanted to read it for a while but couldn't justify buying it (trying to cut back on book spending) but now I have a reason to get it. Can't w..."

Pity that it comes out in paperback on 1st April in the UK :-(