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

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

I'm getting old. All the voices I can hear coming out of Bob's mouth are from actors who are deceased! Not sure which actors among the living have the right mix of haughty and raunchy in their voice.

I though the first iteration tv show was decent. Paul Blackthorne and Valerie Cruz were both good casting choices. I agree with Rob's sentiments about Bob and the hockey stick. I was disappointed that the show only lasted one season.

So, which voice actor should they cast as Bob?

I'd also like to see Mister and Mouse.

The October Tor.com ebook of the month is a Lovecraftian tale

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

https://ebookclub.tor.com/

One of NPR’s Best Books of 2016, winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, the British Fantasy Award, the This is Horror Award for Novella of the Year, and a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, and Bram Stoker Awards.

Seems to explore some of the same themes as this month's S+L pick.

terpkristin wrote: "I have a feeling that a book I’m going to read soon will become one. I picked up Papillon recently...in French. I only recently realized that the story is about Devil’s Island off the c..."

If the book doesn't work for you, there's the movie starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070511/

I binged season 3 this weekend. The science fiction elements are more overt this season. I think the writers are in agreement with Trike. We've been invaded. There are some uncomfortable parallels with current events.

Dara wrote: "Mark - I’ve picked up Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell about 5 times and haven’t made it far before giving it up. I realize that it’s my new white whale."

Dara, if you haven't seen it, check out the the tv mini-series. There are no footnotes!!!

I haven't read this yet, but it looks pretty interesting...

The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo

let's see, at least three shades of white whale for me

The Count of Monte Cristo - finally listened to the book on a long distance drive

Anathem - still haven't finished it, on the backburner for now

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - book is on the backburner but I watched the tv series and really enjoyed it

Google apparently plans to let users decide if they want Google services to signe them into Chrome too. The change will come with version 70 of Chrome, coming next month.

https://9to5google.com/2018/09/25/goo...

ok I ordered a copy because I'm sort of addicted to Matt Helm

http://goodreadergonebad.net/donaldha...

If you don't like clicking on weird URLs, here is the article John linked to

https://blog.cryptographyengineering....

Another article on recent Chrome changes

https://www.wired.com/story/google-ch...

John (Taloni) wrote: "I feel the need to point out that Chrome has some privacy issues."

Yeah, I've stopped using Chrome at work. At home, I'm deeply embedded in the Google environment, so Chrome's new "you're opted-in no matter what you want" policy is less meaningful.

A thread from last year has some SF&F authors who are also writing comics

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

Max Gladstone and Delilah Dawson are also writing comics. Chuck Wendig too.

Just finished Something More Than Night by Ian Tregillis which means I've met my 24-book Sword challenge. Slan completed my 24-book Laser challenge early this month. Next year I'll increase my pledges a little. With three plus months to go, I can still add to the totals.

A new list at Tor.com

The Greatest Science Fiction Robots of All Time

https://www.tor.com/2018/09/14/the-gr...

and here's what it looks like on Goodreads

Here's what the extension looks like in operation at Amazon

I listened to Reading Glasses Ep. 66 this weekend (Mallory and Brea are a trip!)

http://www.maximumfun.org/reading-gla...

and learned about Library Extension

https://www.libraryextension.com/

an extension for the Chrome browser (coming soon for Firefox) that shows you what your local library has available when you are browsing Amazon or Goodreads.

I installed and it works! A very clever and useful app for browsers.