Mark’s Comments (group member since Apr 13, 2012)

Mark’s comments from the The Sword and Laser group.

The book's publisher hired artist Melody T. Newcomb to illustrate the book. She has a page on her website with some of the illustrations.

http://melodynewcomb.com/ka-dar-oakle...

Our week long national nightmare is over! Lies Sleeping dropped for US Kindle owners this morning.

terpkristin wrote: "Starbucks"

terpkristin wrote: "Was the next book possibility discussed in the show? I just listened this morning but didn't think I missed quite that much..."

It was a brief mention that a World Fantasy Award nominee was sitting on V's desk, that she was planning to read it, and possibly make us read it as well.

also on sale for $2.99 today is Hollywood Dead by Richard Kadrey, the 10th and most recent Sandman Slim tale

https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Dead...

Rob wrote: "Personally I'm hoping for Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr. It sounded the most interesting of the three."

Same here

It's Saturday morning. I'm waiting for the coffee to brew and handicapping the December pick on V's desk; ladies and gentlemen place your bets...

Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory

* The author's seventh novel
* Goodreads 3.95 stars, 95% liked, 8418 ratings
* Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel (2018)
* World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2018)
* Locus Award Finalist
* One of NPR's Best Books of the Year
* Optioned for television

https://www.unboundworlds.com/2017/06...

https://www.unboundworlds.com/2018/07...

The Changeling by Victor LaValle

* The author's seventh work of fiction
* Goodreads 3.8 stars, 90% liked, 7345 ratings
* Locus Award for Best Horror Novel (2018)
* World Fantasy Award for Novel (2018)
* Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee for Adult Literature (2018)
* Shirley Jackson Award Nominee for Novel (2017)
* Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Fiction (2017)
* Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Horror (2017)
* PEN/Jean Stein Book Award Nominee for Shortlist (2018)
* American Book Award
* British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel
* Nominated for an International Dublin Literary Award
* Nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards Best Horror
* Optioned for television

http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketco...

https://www.tor.com/2018/06/13/victor...

Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr by John Crowley

* The author has written a couple of dozen books
* In 2006 he was awarded the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement
* Goodreads 4.02 stars, 91% liked, 492 ratings
* World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2018)
* Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature (2018)
* A Los Angeles Times Best Book of 2017 Selection

https://writingcooperative.com/john-c...

http://swordandlaser.com/home/2018/11...

Spoonbenders
A NEBULA AWARD FINALIST, ONE OF NPR'S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

The Changeling
Winner of an American Book Award, a Locus Award for Best Horror Novel, a British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel, a World Fantasy Award for Best Novel • Nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award, an International Dublin Literary Award, a Mythopoeic Award for Literature

Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr
“Ka is a beautiful, often dreamlike late masterpiece.” —Los Angeles Times
“One of our country’s absolutely finest novelists.” —Peter Straub, New York Times bestselling author of Interior Darkness and Ghost Story

Did I hear correctly; is one of these next month's fantasy pick?

Silvana wrote: "The new Peter Grant novel Lies Sleeping just arrived in my Kindle so I'll ditch everything and probably will not lie sleeping tonight."

US Kindle customers have to wait until Nov 20

｡ﾟ･（>﹏<）･ﾟ｡

Tassie Dave wrote: "I think I'd feel safer with AI in charge of the launch codes"

The first fictional AI with launch codes that I recall was Colossus published in 1966. Anything earlier?

An interesting concept list from the B&N SF&F blog

50 of the Greatest Science Fiction & Fantasy Debut Novels Ever Written

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/s...

Quite a few S+L picks on this list (17 of 50). Could there be a few more S+L picks here?

AndrewP wrote: "Tom mentioned Daemon in the podcast so I'm kinda wondering why he didn't pick that one instead of Zeroes."

Daemon was the April 2009 S&L pick

https://swordandlaser.wikia.com/wiki/...

A new Laundry Files novel by Charles Stross was released this week, The Labyrinth Index. The author has thoughtfully provided a briefing for readers who may not be up to speed on his peculiar insights about mobile phones, mathematics and eldritch horrors.

https://www.tor.com/2018/10/30/a-prim...

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames is on sale for $2.99

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KT7YTXW/

I thought I leaned Laser, but this year I seem to be more Sword. I've read 5 more Sword titles than Laser. Who knew?

Here's the rest of his costume