The Sword and Laser discussion
Only Sword or Laser?
I joined this club to broaden my horizons, so I do make an attempt on each book. But I've found that in general, I far prefer the sword books...which, even before I joined this club wouldn't have surprised me. I definitely consider myself to be a sword.
Honestly I ignore both, most of the time. And not because of genre, but because I'd rather read my own selections. I joined this and other clubs because the conversations are interesting.
I'm actually in the same boat as Kenneth. I've noticed since joining Goodreads that I've been pretty deficient in my reading of genre classics, so for the past couple of years my focus has mostly been on those.
I'm patiently waiting for a horror pick.
Tamahome wrote: "I'm patiently waiting for a horror pick."Horror could probably be argued to fit under sword. Although dystopia type horror is usually considered laser. Hmmm.
Personally, I just read what I have time for and sounds interesting, and many times I don't get to it that month and go back to the discussion if I read the book later on. It's a benefit either way! (For instance I was sad to be off the grid during Octavia Butler!)
I've always read more SF than F but I'm trying to read all the picks or at least get them to read later. I find that if a pick is more than about 20 years old I've usually already read it so it gives me more time to read other things.
Tamahome wrote: "I'm patiently waiting for a horror pick."So you think all the picks so far have been really good?
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So you think all the picks so far have been really good?"
A true horror pic would be "Twilight" ;-)
To really scare us they would choose the whole series.
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Horror could probably be argued to fit under sword. Although dystopia type horror is usually considered laser. Hmmm."Apocalyptic horror, too, like The Stand, The Day of the Triffids, and that James Herbert trilogy about giant man-eating rats.
Lots of Stephen King novels are sword and laser, like Firestarter where psychic powers are subject to scientific experiments, and The Langoliers where a plane flies into an alternate dimension. Clive Barker is only tagged as a horror author because of his early short stories; his novels are typically epic fantasy. Koji Suzuki always has a scientific explanation for his novels, even if it is absolutely preposterous.
Really, only serial killer horror, like Psycho or Peter Straub's Koko are outside the scope of Sword and Laser.
I'm more of a Sword when I'm choosing on my own but I like Laser too, so I read both, but not always when the book is chosen.
I'm more of a Laser, but I do read both. I'm usually either ahead or behind on club picks, though I do end up reading many of them eventually.
If left to my own devices, it's laser every time. But when I've picked up a sword from a club pick, I've often enjoyed it. But it's been a long time since I was caught up with the club books - I'm consistently 2 or 3 months behind - so it's rare I join in the discussion.
Tassie Dave wrote: "A true horror pic would be "Twilight" ;-)To really scare ..."
Don't give them any scary ideas!
Kenneth wrote: "Honestly I ignore both, most of the time. And not because of genre, but because I'd rather read my own selections. I joined this and other clubs because the conversations are interesting."I'm the same. I'm not really good with book clubs, but I like the overall discussions and the S&L video shows.
I usually read the current pick. I never read sf before the club and have enjoyed several of the sf picks enough to stick with the authors/series. I like being a part of the current pick's discussion and podcasts
I read both, but I'm way, way pickier about fantasy than I am about scifi. I at least try to read every book that's been picked. In fact, I've been reading through the old picks and then listening to the old wrap-ups. I've only got a few to go.
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Although since joining goodreads to join sword and laser, I'm more widely read, and the pick being something I've already read has become more common.
Definitely Sword but I try to fit in a couple sci fi books a year but the Laser books that I read usually don't align with the official picks.
I'm more of a sword. I try to read the picks but usually end up reading them later. Also don't mind skipping if the book doesn't pique my interest, like this month.
My problem with the sword side of things is it all runs together. There are dazzling castles and squalid cities, ferocious dragons and grizzled mages, and, of course, political intrigue. Never ending political intrigue.The laser side, though, is all over the place -- Robinson Crusoe on Mars, the problems of communicating with aliens, the logistical issue of building a tower to heaven. I really wish we'd get some sword books that aren't in a pseudo-medieval setting.
Sean wrote: "The laser side, though, is all over the place -- Robinson Crusoe on Mars, the problems of communicating with aliens, the logistical issue of building a tower to heaven. I really wish we'd get some sword books that aren't in a pseudo-medieval setting."I suppose it's all in the definition of fantasy one uses. Pseudo-medieval seems very narrow, though I don't disagree that is what gets used to establish S&L criteria much of the time.
I'm both sword and laser in that I'm a fan of Niven and McCaffrey's books, and many others besides. I came to this group while following a thread about White Dragon. But I have never listened to the podcast nor read the book of the month. I'm not into podcasts in general but might jump in on a book of the month sometime. I'm here for the lively discussion and this place delivers regularly.
I'm far more laser than sword. I end up reading most of the lasers and about half the swords. In terms of the Goodreads group I don't tend to get involved with the sword discussions much even if I have read the book.
Sean wrote: "My problem with the sword side of things is it all runs together. There are dazzling castles and squalid cities, ferocious dragons and grizzled mages, and, of course, political intrigue. Never endi..."Read Promise of blood that was the June(?) pick. It's set in pseudo-revolutionary France instead.
I definitely agree that there are far too many high swords set in the high medieval period, I'm really not a fan of high fantasy really, but if you look then it's definitely possible to find some set outside there. Pre-contact Japan is pretty popular and I think there are a few set in the ancient world too. Then if you want to get into more Urban Fantasy there are lots set in victorian or modern settings.
As for the question considering myself, I'm definitely more of a sword right now as I'm catching up on a lot of great series I missed. Generally thoughI like stories that ask questions while still having a coherent and fun plot so I tend towards more realistic fantasy and then Sci-Fi that I like the premise of but it takes me more investment to get into Sci-Fi so I read less.
Sword or Laser doesn't matter as I read them about 50/50. I have a massive collection of unread books and about 1 in 5 picks is already available to me. So not spending money to buy even more books is my biggest consideration.
I'm more likely to buy a Laser book and more likely to borrow a Sword book. But since I heard about and joined S&L I've only done one book. I do find a lot of them interesting and put them on my to-read list. I'll probably participate more once I finish my Masters. Just two more semesters! (including this one)
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༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽
Veronica wrote: "Don't listen to the podcasts??༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽"
Is that for John?
While I think of myself as more of an SF fan and there are certain sub-genres I avoid within fantasy - standard doorstop quasi-medieval hero-quest fantasy, "dark" "urban" fantasy with pictures of feisty women with swords on the cover - I do love me some good fantasy and enjoy having my expectations upset.
I'm definitely a sword and usually take the initial book time and the laser time to read ><
Eric wrote: "Veronica wrote: "Don't listen to the podcasts??༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽"
Is that for John?"
Whether it is or isn't, could someone explain the emoticon?
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༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽"
Oh My Glob.
John wrote: "Whether it is or isn't, could someone explain the emoticon?"
It's someone crying. It looks a bit like "Lumpy Space Princess" to me.
I am definitely a sword. But I joined Sword & Laser to get to try out some laser as well.
It looks like one of those multiline unicode smilies. It probably looks better in Windows.
I am a sword, although I sometimes skip them when I'm not super interested and/or I have to be doing other things with my reading time (I want to finish university eventually!). I haven't read any laser pick at all.
I found S&L through the G&S video shows and I enjoy the discussions, both of which are why I decided to start reading the books in the first place and I've found some new favourites by doing so.
I mostly read the sword books, but the Laser picks always make me consider reading those books. Often I wait to hear some of the discussions and if I like what I hear I read the books. Since joining this group my reading has really branched out and I've found some great books I wouldn't have picked up on my own.
When I found the podcast I was definitely more of a Sword. I've read a lot of the picks from the past that fall into that category, but hardly any of the earlier laser picks. This year my resolution was to read each of the monthly book picks, in order to broaden my horizons. I have to say, I've been enjoying the laser a bit more than the sword this so far year (excluding Rothfuss, who is awesome, but I had read previously, so I'm not really considering that book pick because it was not new to me). So now I'm probably something like 60/40 sword/laser. I've still read much more sword in total (and more in depth into longer series), but if things keep going this way I might find myself more on the laser side soon.
Tamahome wrote: "It looks like one of those multiline unicode smilies. It probably looks better in Windows."Probably a Mac things that doesn't play nice with web servers.
When I copied to Word and expanded I could see the resemblance to someone crying. Took a bit though. Once I got it, it was pretty funny. I do love the discussion group, even if I'm not generally interested in podcasts. Heck, I was a huge Kevin Smith fan and only listened to one of his. Yes, I know this place started as a podcast, but the book discussions are great. It's a multimedia empire!
Tamahome wrote: ""Mountain of Shame" http://emojicons.com/e/mountain-of-shame"Tsedai wrote: "Oooooh. I see it now."
I've tried crossing my eyes like those 3D pics and I still don't "see" it. ;-) ... yes that's the limit of my emojicon lexicon.
In regards to the actual thread... I'm pretty evenly split betwen S&L... Maybe a little more likely to stick with the laser side of things. But I have discovered some pretty cool sword stories thanks to S&L picks.
I always try to read every monthly pick. There's only been a few exceptions since The Magicians that I haven't read - A Natural History of Dragons/Temeraire, Master Li and Number Ten Ox and Ancillary Justice and Redshirts - and it's always been for reasons beyond my control - not being able to get the books, moving house, or in the case of Redshirts, I'd read it less than 12 months previously
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Jonathon wrote: "I always try to read every monthly pick. There's only been a few exceptions since The Magicians that I haven't read -...or in the case of Redshirts, I'd read it less than 12 months previously "I don't consider that missing. Sometimes I'll reread the book with the group to be fresh, especially with stuff that I read some time ago, but often I'll just say to myself, "Sweet, that one's already done. I'm happy others will get to read it. I wonder what everyone else thought of it?"
Rob wrote: "Even if you don't consider most of King's books to be fantasy (and I'd argue that point) he's written The Eyes of the Dragon, which definitely is."Yea, a story like, for example, the Green Mile is definitely fantasy for me. You could file a lot of his stuff under Urban/Contemporary Fantasy. Just because something is horror or a thriller it doesn't mean it's not fantasy as well.
The Sword and Laser
Books mentioned in this topic
The Eyes of the Dragon (other topics)The Eyes of the Dragon (other topics)
The Stand (other topics)
The Day of the Triffids (other topics)
The Rats (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Clive Barker (other topics)Kōji Suzuki (other topics)
I usually skip Sci-fi picks which is depressing because they tend to get the deeper discussions. I just enjoy fantasy more.