The Sword and Laser discussion

I already read the first few pages and already planned to buy the book for my Kindle. The intro was a good start.
Plus the book is reasonable priced.
I ordered the ebook and didn't think twice.
Thanks for a good selection

I love anything superhero related set in a noir setting so I am really looking forward to this book.

Especially good that you can pick up a Kindle copy for only $3.99

I got mine on iBooks but ebook is definitely the way to go

For the drm adverse you can also buy it on Angry Robot Books.

I was mistaken earlier I did not buy my copy of the book from iBooks I got it from angry robot I just have it on my iPad so I confused myself there.

4.49GBP is a steal for a well written novel

Jessica wrote: "4.49GBP is a steal for a well written novel"

True, though I have to say, while I found Empire State to be well plotted I didn't think it was particularly well written.

As far as superhero themed material goes this wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination. It could be worse Tom and Veronica could have chosen to read the X-Men/ST-TNG crossover.

Just picked this up from the Library, looking forward to it.

I for one am delighted to see anything super hero related on S&L. Soon I Will Be Invincible, Flyboy Action Figure Comes with Gasmask, Playing for Keeps, and Confessions of A D-List Supervillain are some of my favorite books.

edit: did i say favorite because i meant guilty pleasures ;)

I'm almost done reading it and I'm really enjoying it. It's not really a superhero novel even though it does have a couple of them. It's more of a noir parallel universe story. The only thing that's bugging me is all the British spellings in a book based in New York (and alternate New York).

Sandi wrote: "I'm almost done reading it and I'm really enjoying it. It's not really a superhero novel even though it does have a couple of them. It's more of a noir parallel universe story. The only thing th..."
Well..... it is a British novel. So.....

I have the same trouble with my own work. Being a Brit I don't feel like I have to spell check myself just to pander to an america audience. This opinion has gotten me into trouble with american based publishing sites but if they feel that way I just wont publish to those places any more. This is why I love FictionPress.com, the other authors there don't care about my British grammar.

I am super-stoked about the concept of this book. Unfortunately, I consume literature almost exclusively through my hearing orifices now. I need someone to get an audio version out pronto!

Oh, I have absolutely no trouble with British spellings. I read a tonne of books written by English people growing up and -or and -our are completely interchangeable to me. With this book, it just took me by surprise because the first thing I noticed was how much the dialogue read like movie dialogue from the Thirties and Forties. I don't even think I noticed the British spellings until I was about 1/4 of the way in. It just stuck out to me because the style was so mid-century American.

Just started reading it, can't beat the $3.99 price tag. Looking forward to it.

Good start but weak finish.
Its his first book.
I expect he'll get better.

I like the writing style and the story has a good and promising start. The superheros fighting in New York got me interested but the end reminds me of a badly written Fringe episode.

Sandi wrote: "Oh, I have absolutely no trouble with British spellings. I read a tonne of books written by English people growing up and -or and -our are completely interchangeable to me. With this book, it jus..."

I understand your point I would just point out that if you read the script for Doctor Who episode Daleks in Manhattan the thirties dialogue would be in British English.

ditto
I didn't let the spelling colour my judgment of the book.

I enjoyed the book.
It might not be one of the top 10 of all time but it was a decent book at a decent price. I was left with a favorable impression and would consider another of his books.

Sorry, but reading this book was a complete waste of time. It did not grab me at all.

Just finished the book,and I really enjoyed. Very well done especially for a first novel.

I finished it last night and I really enjoyed it. I mean it didn't change my life but it was a fun entertaining read. Reminded me of coupdhavebeen episode of star trek NG holodeck adventure.

Kate wrote: "Jessica wrote: "4.49GBP is a steal for a well written novel"

True, though I have to say, while I found Empire State to be well plotted I didn't think it was particularly well written."
I agree. I was surprised and disappointed to find it was more poorly written than some of the stories I read in my undergrad writer's workshop. Wasn't terrible! But just too many errors, and rough phrasing and difficult phrasing.

Liam wrote: "True, though I have to say, while I found Empire State to be well plotted I didn't think it was particularly well written...."

I've seen a couple of folks say this. I didn't really notice errors or rough phrasing, but I wasn't really looking for it. Any examples?

I think my lukewarm response to it was that it lacks a certain sense of...authenticity? Detail? As a voracious devourer of anything set in old New York, I think I was hoping for a much greater sense of place. I never really believed the setting. When you go for old NY, even a parallel version of it, you are up against things like Kavalier and Clay in terms of world building, and Empire State seemed superficial to me in that regard. The sort of setting you'd come up with if you didn't really put a huge amount of effort into researching your place before dropping your characters into it.