The Sword and Laser discussion
If you could change something about the book club audio episodes it would be....
Add more name mispronunciations. Definitely more name mispronunciations.
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I see what you did there..
Mod
I see what you did there.."
Bob is so clever...
I'm not as funny as Bob, so I'm not going to try.Here are a few ideas though:
* I wouldn't mind a little more swearing and drinking.
* More book recommendations/suggestions.
* What about having a "Questions From the Peanut Gallery" segment? Ask V & T...
* I'd like more singing, but I'm not sure I represent the majority.
That's what I'd like more of.
Now dance for me, you puppets. Dance!
I am not sure you guys could cover more then you do since you are so busy with a lot of different interests. this isn't a bad thing, but you aren't set up to say cover the self published world or the free books available because you are already so busy with other book clubs and projects, etc..
I think the general discussion of books and the reading hobby is great, and I am wracking my brain as to what else you could discuss/cover.
I'd say tackling more books if you could, expand the genre's into thrillers that are more sci-fi or dark fantasy but you do that too, just general heads up about books that might slip through the cracks I guess.
wow I didn't help at all, sorry bob and velma.
I think the general discussion of books and the reading hobby is great, and I am wracking my brain as to what else you could discuss/cover.
I'd say tackling more books if you could, expand the genre's into thrillers that are more sci-fi or dark fantasy but you do that too, just general heads up about books that might slip through the cracks I guess.
wow I didn't help at all, sorry bob and velma.
Since you don't have time to read many more books, maybe pick some club members to lead discussions on popular choices, such as books that were almost voted as the main pick. Having a formal extra pick could lead to more discussion. Also, many episodes feel like club participation is more of a formality instead of an important part of the show. I don't know if there is a lack of interesting posts in the forum or time constraints for the podcast, but it wouldn't hurt to step this up a little bit.
Sometimes it feels like you two get into a discussion, but cut that discussion short to make sure you get to all the items on the list/things that need to be talked about. In general if I could change one thing it would be to make getting side tracked acceptable, if that makes sense? If you want to talk about a specific topic for ten minutes straight, to just go for it. If one thread, or one scene in the book, or one character struck you particularly, to feel free to just wax eloquent for a while, even if that means talking about less of higher threads in general.
I agree with Rob. My favourite episodes (apart from those featuring Alastair Reynolds :D) are the ones that are a bit meandering where you guys just talk more conversationally about the month's book pick, the recent/upcoming releases, other recommendations or things you're reading, etc.I like Casey's questions from the peanut gallery idea as well.
I definitely don't think you guys need to be worried about making the episodes tighter!
My suggestions/comments for one of my top 5 favorite podcasts!Cut the length of the intro music down considerably. (That thing seems to go on and on forever...)
Really, apart from that, you're doing great! I like the separation of your various types of shows (video, author spotlights, book discussion) instead of trying to cram everything into one. I like being able to pick and choose which type of episode I want to listen to.
I enjoy the bare your sword segment, and the calendar, and the news, and the book discussions. Basically, the entire book discussion podcast except for the endlessly long intro. The What Are We Drinking segment has even grown on me.
I started this post thinking: "OOOH! Here's my chance to make a bunch of suggestions to make this podcast better!!" Turns out I only had one minor suggestion. I think that says something about the quality of your podcast!
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One thing I can think of: I personally don't pay much attention to the calendar as I already know about the books I'm interested and for the most part titles and authors being read in rapid succession don't really make me go: oh, I should check that out.
I know there are usually a lot of them, so it may not be practical to talk briefly about each, but maybe highlight 1 or 2 off the beaten path coming out that you guys think are interesting? IE not the new big name/highly anticipated books but maybe mid-level or indie authors that are being mentioned.
Oh yeah, especially since the website is now a bigger thing with the whole reviews being posted and all, the calendar segment seems less important. And cutting it down means more time for meandering and such.
I think the book club segments are the best part of the podcast. (I am still sad that we never got the Earthsea wrapup.) I really like the way you highlight the best forum discussions. So my suggestion is don't mess with what works.I will say it is great when you can interview the author in conjunction with the pick.
If I had to pick something, I'd say go back and do the Earthsea wrapup.
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A very valid point! Do you guys use Google Plus much?
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I use it daily, but I've accepted that I'm weird in that regard. Maybe the lack of people using it is part of why I like it so much though. I mostly use it for news I might have missed from RSS feeds.
If I had to pick something, I'd say go back and do the Earthsea wrapup.Seconded.
I agree with shortening the calendar to highlights and maybe saying "and check out the rest of the amazing releases online!" Maybe more focus on YOUR calendar (upcoming livestreams, videos, etc.)Everything else is great the way it is and thanks for all your hard work on this great podcast/video show/forum/media conglomerate of awesome!
Rob and Rob made good suggestions. I would like more info on upcoming SF&F releases.
Something you could add is listener generated content, like what Scott does (or did) at the end of each episode of The Instance. It would lengthen each episode with little extra effort if the submitters did their own sound editing.Something you could improve? I wouldn't mind a little more book discussion. Perhaps its because I rarely read the Scifi stuff, but I feel as if the fantasy choice is kind of ignored... not ignored, but gets the "that was cute and fun" while sci-fi read is "interesting and thought provoking".
Yes, that is what Sci-fi is intended to be, while Fantasy is also generally cute and fun, but there should be themes or topics to discuss, even if it's escapism fantasy. The fantasy book discussions seem to be more directed at the author or genre as a whole than at the book. I won't swear by it, but it seems like there have been times when the calendar bit took more time than it did to wrap a book up.
(I know it was a side pick, but I will never forgive you, Veronica, for throwing Temeraire under the bus. I don't even remember what you said, but it was unforgivable. At least until I forget entirely and even then it will not be forgiven, only forgotten.) :)
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I threw Temeraire under the bus?! Never! I loved that series!
Video (at least hangout format) for all episodes!
I really enjoy the podcast as is but as some have already suggested, maybe shortening the calendar (maybe 2 weeks instead of a month's worth). Then using that extra time to lengthen the book check-in discussion or allowing for more free form/tangential discussion
Mod
The calendar is only two weeks as is. Still too long, eh?
I like the suggestion made earlier of using the calendar to highlight a couple of books that you and Veronica think deserve special attention. We can go to the website for the rest of the calendar. Other than that, the format is good.On Google hangouts, I don't attend the live hangouts because they seem to be scheduled when I'm commuting. I must live in an inconvenient time zone (MDT).
I don't know if it's too long per se, I just think, if anything, it's the most conducive to being cut to provide more room for actual pick discussion
Veronica wrote: "I threw Temeraire under the bus?! Never! I loved that series!..."Perhaps not under a bus, a bus isn't really large enough anyway, but under the rug at least.
I dug threw my files and I quote, "We are not going to wrap up His Majesty's Dragon, but there are (plenty of discussions going on in the forums)...."
I'm only an occasional listener anymore and while part of this is that I only occasionally listen to most podcasts nowadays I thought a bit about S&L and why I don't listen more. Here's a few things, not in any order...1) It feels like you're doing the podcast to a set length and sometimes you cut things short or hurry through things to make length. I'd rather you just take an extra 20 minutes (presuming you don't have to leave for another commitment) and discuss what you want to discuss.
2) Cut the stuff that we can get online (calendar, etc) unless it's something that excites one or both of you. I don't need you to read an upcoming book list to me, I can see that online and scan it MUCH faster than you can read. DO call out something if you're personally excited about it.
3) Never ever cut book club things like wrap-ups. Just don't. I get you're busy but the podcast is, to me, tied to the book club.
Google+ - uh.. you have a Goodreads group with a ton of members. If you have an announcement put it here. Put it elsewhere too if you want, but given that this is the hub of S&L discussions it seems odd to put announcements elsewhere and not here.
Really, what I want to listen to is a podcast where Veronica and Tom discuss Fantasy and SF with a focus on the book we're reading, but with digressions into other things that one or both of you are excited about.
The calendar is my least favourite part as well - I can check it out on the website, so it is duplication to have it in the podcast.I would also like more notice of the Google hangouts if possible.
I know you're asking about the podcasts, but I have a question about the club.Why do you guys almost never join in the book discussions here on Goodreads? We get your brief feelings about each book during the show, but it's not really very in depth like in the forums. Like Altered Carbon had a ton of threads, but no comments from you two in any of them.
Tom started a thread about our alt pick this month, and I was pleasantly shocked and just had to ask why not more often? I know you guys are busy bees, but I do hope you'll chime in here a little more often.
I also agree about the advance notice for hangouts
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Yeah, we've been sort of deciding at the last minute ourselves, so we'll figure out how to make that work better. We almost always record on Tuesdays at 4 PM Pacific/ 7 PM Eastern, just so you know. If we're doing a hangout that's likely when it will be.
But yes, better advance notice. Got it!
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Why do you guys almost never join in the book discussions here on Goodreads? We get your brief feelings about each bo..."
For me it's a combination of time and not wanting to bias the discussion. I sort of want to see what you all say without my input and then work it in on the show.
Which goes to your other point that the discussions are brief on the show. Sounds like everybody would like them to be deeper.
Maybe you can have a 3rd guest for reading discussions like the Readingenvy podcast. :)http://readingenvy.blogspot.com/2014/...
Tamahome wrote: "Maybe you can have a 3rd guest for reading discussions like the Readingenvy podcast. :)http://readingenvy.blogspot.com/2014/..."
Such a good podcast
More discussion would be interesting. I know you avoid talking about anything controversial or that may offend the authors but perhaps you could do a regular segment where you discuss the state of the scifi and fantasy industry and talk about various topics.Is Dagger Porn the hot new fantasy genre?
Are the plague of zombie novels dying out?
Is time travel so yesterday?
One suggestion I'd make over all has to do with my perception of each of your lives, and might be completely off-base. You seem like busy people. Frighteningly busy. You continue to add additional commitments and even within S&L, you add additional segments and things you try to do on a regular basis. Even as a long time listener, I find myself unable to keep up.Have you ever considered cutting back and putting more time into a few things that you think are most important? Are you interested in doing book club episodes? Maybe you like the idea of a book club and picking the books and leading a community but don't enjoy deep discussion. (Not a judgment, just an observation after many years.) But some people here get really into the books and might be great people to pull in for that sort of discussion. I know it's a challenge to bring in guests for audio discussions, a scheduling and technology nightmare at times, but it would promote more involvement.
So my suggestion is two-fold. Go with your strengths. Spend your energy on what you actually like doing (author interviews maybe, and that's hard for any of us joe schmoes to do), and let other people spend their energy on the things you don't have enough time for, or let them go. Letting go often feels like losing but it can often make everything else stronger.
I'm also not a huge fan of the calendar. Mentioning a few books is good but I tend to zone out if it goes on too long.Maybe you guys could do personal recommendations. Not necessarily each episode but maybe once a month, one from each of you and why you recommend the book. Or from the S&L members. There could be an official recommendations thread and you guys could choose a fantasy and sci-fi one each episode. Could be cool.
I agree with the people that say a longer podcast would be great. Even 10 minutes would allow you to get a bit more news or in depth discussion into the mix.
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KIDDING!
So one idea V and I kicked around is replacing the calendar section with picks. We could reference the viewer reviews, picks in email and our own other readings. Then the calendar bump would just be for highly-anticipated releases that WE'RE excited about.
Alexander wrote: "More discussion would be interesting. I know you avoid talking about anything controversial or that may offend the authors but perhaps you could do a regular segment where you discuss the state o..."Tom Merritt is actually Jason Snell in disguise on The Incomparable podcast.
Just a thought with the calendar, perhaps, have it only on the kick off episode since, by nature, those tend to be less discussion oriented
Tom wrote: "So one idea V and I kicked around is replacing the calendar section with picks. We could reference the viewer reviews, picks in email and our own other readings. Then the calendar bump would just be for highly-anticipated releases that WE'RE excited about."Looks like Veronica and I are thinking along the same lines. I like that idea.
Think it's pretty much a given folks don't like the current calendar segment. I do kinda like it as I get ideas for future reads especially if there is some commentary on it. I kinda like the idea that V&T have, but how about something a little different. Keep their thoughts, but maybe a "poll" for what folks are looking forward in the upcoming Month. Pre-populate it with some of the known and if anything is missed folks can add it. This would be only for new books. Folks can then "vote" as well as have discussions. Just a thought.More discussion on the current pick for the month would be nice and perhaps a finite discussion (eg this week we talk chapters 1-5) that way folks have goals to reach. More difficult with longer books and V&T's schedule but something else to think about.
And don't make the show any longer. It takes away from my reading time. :)
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Why do you guys almost never join in the book discussions here on Goodreads? We get your brief feelings about each bo..."
Because you guys read too fast and I'm scared of spoilers.
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Otherwise May will be about Skin Game and June will be Cibola Burn etc.
My original point wasn't necessarily to eliminate the calendar, but to 'prescreen' the list and talk briefly about a few books that people might not otherwise hear about.
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I think people have been pretty good about marking spoilers in the thread titles and/or using spoiler tags. At least since I joined. And I'm probably more sensitive about spoilers than most.
Oh I like the poll idea, for what we're most excited for. Then Tom and Veronica could mention the top 3 or 5 and also ones they're excited about, if there isn't overlap.
The Sword and Laser
Books mentioned in this topic
Skin Game (other topics)Cibola Burn (other topics)
From time to time Veronica and I evaluate what we're doing with the show to make sure things are still working and to keep it fresh. We know you probably think the show is OK, or you wouldn't still be listening, but we can always improve, right?
So V and I were discussing some ways to make the book club episodes of the audio podcast tighter. And maybe more book-clubby. We have some ideas but Veronica suggested we should turn to y'all first.
What do you think? Anything you wish we did different? Anything you wish we did at all? Anything you'd like us to stop doing? We're not promising we'll do exactly what you say, but the more opinions we get the better idea we have about which direction we'll go.
So what do you say?