Introduction and welcome thread! Showing 451-500 of 4,412

[Mario]

Hi, everyone. My name is Mario. I love reading scifi, fantasy, mystery, and alternate history fiction.

I'm currently reading The Warded Man.

[Peter]

I started listening to the podcast today after hearing about it on "All Things Azeroth"

Been a HUGE Sci-Fi fan ever since I can remember. I really enjoy the more Sci-fantasy genre's (like Star Wars) and Alternate History. I became a big Song of Ice and Fire fan about 2 years ago and I'm pumped to join the group just as A Dance With Dragons is the discussion topic.

Some of my favorite authors are Micheal Crichton, RA Salvator, George RR Martin, CS Lewis, SM Stirling, Timothy Zahn, Micheal Stackpole, and Kevin J Anderson.

[Jeffery]

Hi, I'm Jeff.
I recently started getting back into reading with a Kindle that was gifted to me. I enjoy reading sci-fi more than fantasy, but I jump back and forth a lot.

Also, mystery/detective stories have a special place in my heart, no matter the genre.

[Robert]

Hi, I'm Robert. Started listening to the podcast around episode 50, but haven't really been on the forums very much.

I started reading Fantasy books back when I was in 7th grade and read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy in a weekend. (Didn't do anything else though except sleep and eat!) I've loved SciFi even longer than that because I grew up watching and reading Doctor Who. One of my favourite SciFi shows was, and still is, Blakes 7, because of the characters and their development.

Some of my favourite authors are Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Timothy Zahn, Michael Stackpole, Sandy Mitchell, Dan Abnett, Neal Stephenson, Stephen Lawhead, David Weber, Orson Scott Card, and Jack McDevitt.

[Mojo]

Hi Everyone,
Mojo here. I just stumbled across Goodreads and haven't listened to any of the podcasts yet but it's on my to-do list. ;-D

I've been reading sci-fi since I was just a sprout. The first two books were Ark of Venus and Runaway Robot when I was in the 4th or 5th grade. I took a detour in the Hyborian Age and read everything the Robert Howard wrote and even some of John Norman's stuff, at least until he started getting freaky into BDSM. I'm also a fan of the post-apocalyptic sub-genre. That started with Adams' Horseclan book and segued into zombies and other end of the world stuff.

Some of my favorite authors are David Drake, David Weber, Patrick Rothfus, Eric Flint, SM Striling, Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven, etc.

That's about it for me. I read a ton and am always looking out for new authors.

See ya around the boards,

Mojo

[Ian]

Hi, I'm Ian

My favourite sci-fi is still the first one I read - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Now I like Kurt Vonnegut, Terry Pratchett and Iain M Banks. Not exclusively, of course, but they are the ones I keep going back to.

[Jim]

Hi all, I'm Jim. I found the group by a friend's recommendation.

On paper I'm more into fantasy than sci fi these days, but I definitely enjoy both.

The latest books I've read are "The Blade Itself" by Joe Abercrombie (I've just started "Before They Are Hanged") while I'm part way through Wolfe's "Book of the Long Sun" and Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber.

[[deleted user]]

Hi all, I'm Ralph/slowfox

Been listening to the podcast for a while, but have only now joined the forum, basically because this is the first book I've read at the same time as the podcast!

I like both Sci-Fi and fantasy, although I possibly lean more towards the laser?

Some favourite (yes, Brit alert) authors include: Peter F Hamilton, Alastair Reynolds, William Gibson, Douglas Adams, Iain M Banks, Julian May, Tolkien, Raymond E Feist, Robin Hobb and, of course, George R R Martin.

[Zach]

hi im zach, was drawn to your podcast by your interviews with patrick rothfuss and joe abercrombie as i love those authors books getting incite like that was awesome. i am obsessed with asoiaf, studding the books for mysteries and the like.

[Gary]

Greetings, I am Gary. I have been listening to the podcast for some time now, but have only recently decided to join the Goodreads forum. I enjoy both the sword and the laser part of the show often switching between Fantasy and Science fiction in my own reading (though I also read a good deal of histories, alt. histories, and Westerns).

I haven't yet read along with the show, though I am looking forward to the chance to do so. While I plan on eventually reading Dance of Dragons, I believe I will wait for the paperback edition.

[Andy]

Hi! I'm Andy. I have been reading sci-fi / fantasy as long as I can remember. I read a lot of books and tend to bounce around a lot but this group seems right up my alley.

I am an Academic Advisor by trade but I will always been a proud nerd.

Some of my favorite authors are Jim Butcher, Jack Campbell, and Peter Hamilton.

Have a gret day!

[Kirtis]

Hello, all.

I'm fattius. Just discovered S&L while perusing the iTunes store. I've been a F&SF nerd for as long as I can recall. I'm currently reading/rereading series by George R. R. Martin, Brandon Sanderson, Jim Butcher, Tad Williams, Jack Campbell, David Weber, Scott Lynch, etc.

Looking forward to the first book I get to read with the group.

[Clifford]

Hi,
I'm Clifford and live and write in London. Been reading science fiction and fantasy since I was a boy and it's finally dawning on me that there will never be enough time in the world to read everything I want to. Started out with Robert E Howard and Tolkien, Asimov and Clarke and went on from there. Currently reading The Passage.
Was a journalist for over 20 years and now am writing books both fiction and non-fiction. Looking forward to some good discussions here and discovering new reads (while there's still time!)

[Jay]

Hi, I'm Jay and live and write in DC. I've been listening to you guys since time immemorial, back in the TechTV days and all through BoL and TNT and S&L and others.

I've read through every S&L pick, and it's very much helped/shaped my views of current literature. Keep up the good work!

[Michelle]

Hi,
I'm Michelle and I'm a chemistry grad student in Cleveland. I found the podcast through one of the many Frogpants shows, not sure which one. I've been listening to the most recent episodes and now that I'm caught up, I can't wait to participate in discussions of the current selection(s). I recently (in the last year or so) embraced my love of science fiction and fantasy. I just finished reading A Dance with Dragons and I haven't decided what I will read next.

[Gabriel]

Hello, I'm Gabriel. I love Sci-fi and fantasy. I just purchased an e-reader so I'm hoping to read more books on the go. I found the book club through a podcast search on my Blackberry. I'm looking forward to the interesting threads and topics.

[Mike]

Hello, Im Michael. As a child I read Tolkien, Anything Star Wars related, Michael Moorcock, and Tanya Huff. Reading took a hard turn for a number of years after getting the desire forcably burned from me by 2 years of AP schedule. I read less in a year of college classes than I did in Junior years AP US History. I have kept up with the times as far as a number of popular books but until Rothfuss put out TNoTW I wasnt really "into" reading. Bought my Kindle at the beginning of the year and now that my books are ALWAYS on my phone I can read everywhere. Just starting "Game of Thrones" (I know I know!) today, lets see where that leads me =) I was reccomended here by my Friend Tom (notthatTom or the otherTom) and am holding back on the Podcast so I dont spoil the books. I look forward to listening!

[Tom]

Mike wrote: "Hello, Im Michael. As a child I read Tolkien, Anything Star Wars related, Michael Moorcock, and Tanya Huff. Reading took a hard turn for a number of years after getting the desire forcably burned f..."

Awesome, I finally convinced you to join the dark side. :)

[Chaines72]

Hello, I'm Chris. I currently live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am active duty Air Force and therefore spend a lot of time traveling, hence love to read. I've always been a huge sci-fi/fantasy fan but since my youth have never really read much of either. This is my attempt to broaden my reading library. I am currently reading Game of Thrones and loving it.

I am also an avid listener of podcasts and audio books on audible. I listen to This Week in Tech, MacBreak Weekly, and multiple other TWIT network podcasts. Additionally I would call myself an amateur gamer and thoroughly enjoy a good RPG game. Currently and continuing to play Fall out New Vegas and occasionally when I feel like thinking a bit harder, Portal 2.

I look forward to interacting with the group.

Take care,

Chris

I look forward to interacting with the group. Take care.

- Chris

[Jeromy]

hello! I am Jeromy. I found the podcast a few months ago and have been following ever since. I have been an avid reader since i was 10 or so when my father gave me a copy of Pawn Of Prophecy by David Eddings. I have been hooked on fantasy ever since. I go through spells where i read a ton then fall off for a while. I just finished A Dance With Dragons last night. cant wait for the next one.

thanks for the great podcast, it has turned me on to a few good reads already, Joe Abercrombie's and Patrick Rothfuss's books. I am looking forward to more.

Jeromy

[Dustin]

Hello I'm Dustin.

I got pulled into fantasy (and reading in general) when I was ten by The Lost Years of Merlin but was chased into Sci-fi by my grandfather who said I was wasting time on "that dribble" or something like that. There I spent a year or two reading mostly Michael Crichton and was then brought deeper into fantasy by Dragon Champion & Mistborn: The Final Empire and have slowly been adding to both lists over the years. Reading the The Ender Quartet Box Set (I'm one of the odd ones who prefer the sequels to the original), Dune, Hunger Games, His Majesty's Dragon and so on.

[Austin]

Greetings fellow sci-fi fans.

My name is Austin Parris, I have been listening to the sword and laser podcast for the better part of a year as I am a huge Tom Merrit fan and have a lot of the same tastes in crap he does.

I have only been able to read a couple of the group books as I am in school and any time I have to spare must be spent reading school books.

I was spurred to finally join the group after A Dance with Dragons came out. As the Song of Ice and Fire series is my favorite EVER!@# and I wanted a place to discuss as I am the only one I know that reads the books.

[Roger]

Hello, I'm Roger.

I am a Fantasy and Science Fiction lover because of Scholastic books in Elementary school. When I was in the 5th Grade I ordered Empire Strikes back because I thought the cover was cool. My best friend purchased the book at a local bookstore and he and I would trade his book back and forth between classes. When my copy arrived via the book mobile I had already finished it thinks to my friend.

After that I began ready the Xanth novels by Pierce Anthony and I was hooked. Of course I graduated to Tolkien, Asimov, Norton and others and have loved the genre(s) ever since!

I look forward to meeting and chatting with others in the S&L community and reading books together with them!

With my nose in my kindle.
Roger

[Karen]

Hello everyone! I just discovered your group. Swords and Lasers! That's for me, although I am more of a sword person myself. I'm an avid reader of fantasy and sci fi and I am also a writer, the author of The Steel Queen, the first book in an epic fantasy saga set in a medieval world.

[William]

Hello I'm William. My friends call me Big Wyll. I love books based on modern times with a scifi or fantasy twist. I am a big fan of John Scalzi and Suzzane Sullivan, Rick Rodian, and Anita Blake. (You will have to forgive my spelling. I don't care enough to correct it) I've listen to the latest Sword and Laser podcast and I love it. I am hoping to get great book recommendations from Swords and Lasers.

[Skip]

Hi I'm Skip

I just realized that I hadn't posted a hello since we moved and so this is it.

I've been called Skip for the last 24 years. I'm Skip or Skiplives or Skip L. Ives pretty much everywhere on the internets. By day (and many nights) I'm a tax guy working with unregulated investment vehicles. I also teach a graduate class in Partnership Tax.

I've been hooked on Sci Fi and Fantasy since I read the graphic novelization of the Tripod Trilogy in Boys Life. That lead me to golden age SciFi, and then to Tolkien.

Authors I like in genre include Robert Jordan, Jim Butcher, C.J. Cherryh, Brandon Sanderson, Michael Stackpole, and Vernor Vinge.

I just finished reading A Dance with Dragons and Ghost Story.

[Chris]

Hey fellows,
I've been a listener for a few months now and decided I needed help from the community broadening my book horizons. I just finished the Hunger Games, which I had to follow up by watching Battle Royale, fun read in any case.
I'm also and voracious TWiT listener, and audible fan(I have a lot of time at work to entertain my ears while my hands are busy.)
Glad to be here.
Chris

[[deleted user]]

Hi - mitch here - also a school reading sci-fi-reading dork (a long time ago). I would welcome a thread/chat with anyone writing or reading near-future sci-fi/paranormal novels.

I still read Asimov, Heinlen, Clarke, Herbert etc but I write more that I read now. I'm having fun with an indulgent and thoroughly uncommercial TWO AND A HALF MILLION word monster called the Nexus. The Nexus series draws on myth, science, fantasy, the paranormal and theology in equal measure (plus a dash of Wiccan ancestry) to explore some interesting concepts about sentience and existence - also from the point of view of ordinary people in a small town who find themselves at the centre of extraordinary events.

I've also whacked out the Ka-Ching guitar guide and the sixth Nexus book is nearly complete (Shrines). Before the final trilogy is written, three stand-alone novels are now under way; Mute, Light-Father and Ghost Army, the latter I'm basing on my experience as a domiciliary carer. I'm going to publish a 140pp poetry anthology this called 'The Long Grim'. Writer's block? - nope, never heard of it. Commercial success? - nope, never heard of it. I am encouraging, editing and helping others e-pub on Smashwords and Kindle.

Look forward to some 'hi's and pointers! Mitch :-)

[Nathan]

I've been reading scifi/fantasy for nearly as long as I can remember, and have gone through so many phases - pure sword & sorcery, the D&D/Forgotten Realms novels, Star Wars, etc. as a kid, moving into harder science fiction and the epic fantasy of guys like Jordan and Martin as I got older.

In the last few years, my tastes have definitely shifted generally to various 'punk' genres - steampunk, biopunk, cyberpunk - and post-apocalyptic fiction. Fantasy-wise, I've been reading things more in the vein of Scott Lynch and Peter V. Brett lately, as well as novels that I'd loosely consider urban fantasy (I was into Jim Butcher for a while, but he disappointed me. *sniff*)

I've taken up writing, too, so there are a couple of my books floating around here and there, and another on the way. In the meantime, I'm constantly searching for new things to read - more fuel for the fire, so to speak.:)

[Max]

Hey, I'm Max.

Had been listening to you guys for a while, awesome podcast, I love new book suggestions.

Everything started with Tolkien for me. I even wrote a paper on Silmarillion in college. Read a lot of diff authors over the years. Patrick Rothfuss is a recent favorite.

[Antti]

Hey all,

I've been a listener for a while, after hearing the mention on the Major Nelson's podcast (I'm also a huge game geek).

I've been mainly a sci-fi fan, specially of the old classics and hard fiction, since my reading 'career' started around '86. Fantasy genre is also very familiar to me, because I first learned English by reading Weiss&Hickman Dragonlance series, instead of my school books. Steampunk is also something I enjoy as a sort of lighter reading, but I'm really not limited to any genre. Story and characters define a worthwhile read for me.

Right now I'm going through audiobooks like crazy, since my work for now allows me to listen to them for nearly 8 hours per day.

[Ewan]

Hey everyone, I'm Ewan. @ewanlindley if you ever wanna get hold of me.

I just started listening to the Sword and Laser after hearing Tom rep it every once in a while on TWIT.

I just finished Daemon and FreedomTM as well as A Dance with Dragons and my really regular rereading of A Wheel of Time and i'm now reading SnowCrash.

Im loving the shows and loving the wealth of suggestions so keep 'em coming.

[Michael]

Skip wrote: "I've been hooked on Sci Fi and Fantasy since I read the graphic novelization of the Tripod Trilogy in Boys Life. That lead me to golden age SciFi, and then to Tolkien. "

Welcome :)

This is why I read just about everything here on S&L... I have been trying for years to remember what this trilogy was.

I remember reading City of Gold and Lead and never got to book 3 because for whatever reason and then I forgot all about it until recently. Thanks for reminding me and now I got to find the books somewhere since they are not in kindle yet.

[Alyssa]

Hello everyone!

I'm Alyssa, I'm from Knoxville, TN, and I discovered The Sword and Laser by Googling online fantasy book clubs. :P I've been a big fantasy/sci-fi fan for as long as I can remember. The first books I fell in love with were The Hobbit and The Last Unicorn, both read while I was in elementary school.

A few of my favorite authors are Neil Gaiman, Guy Gavriel Kay, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Timothy Zahn, Frank Herbert, and Douglas Adams. I'm also a big fan of YA and children's fantasy. Most recently I have devoured Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games and Graceling by Kristin Cashore.

I thought The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss was one of the best fantasies I've read in a while, and I'm eager to get my hands on The Wise Man's Fear. I've also just started the A Song of Ice and Fire series, and I'm watching the HBO show based on it as a companion to the books.

I read more fantasy than sci-fi, but I would consider myself more of a laser-wielder. At the heart of it all, and especially when it comes to movies and TV, I'm a sci-fi geek.

Looking forward to participating and getting to know everyone!

[Trike]

Hi, I'm Doug.

I like reading. I sometimes go through books as if I were a fire and they were, er, books. Except I'm like a totally non-destructive fire. Cool, you know? Like the other side of the pillow.

That's it: I'm a cool pillow fire.

[Colleen]

Hi, I'm Colleen. I've been listening to the Sword & Laser podcast for a while now, and finally got around to joining the group here on GR. I'm looking forward to reading along with the group. My favorite authors are GRRM, Patrick Rothfuss, Jim Butcher, and Sara Douglass.

[Josh]

Hi everyone! My name is Josh, and I'm a writer. My book, Poisoned Star, is a sci-fi novel that came out last weekend. Here's the blurb if you're interested:


Treya Third has as simple life. She pilots a Poisoned Star, one of the Foundation’s most powerful warships. She lives in space, separate from the rest of humanity. When the Foundation orders her to kill, she does it. When they order her to murder whole colonies, she obeys. Anything else would mean torture and death.

After the humans send in a fleet to retake one of their star systems, Treya’s Poisoned Star is dispatched to destroy them. In every other fight, her warship has triumphed. Except this time the humans have a new weapon. Worse, someone manages to sneak aboard her ship.

But the stowaway doesn’t try to sabotage or destroy her Poisoned Star. As the hours pass and she continues her hunt, Treya begins to learn more about her life before the Foundation kidnapped and reprogrammed her. Those answers might lead to something worse. Surrounded by enemies, questioned by allies, and running out of time, Treya must choose between a mysterious past and an uncertain future.

[Nathanael]

Hey everyone my name is Nate and I am hoping that this club will help me discover new authors. I actually posted a recommendation challenge in the general section if anyone is interested. I just started the Dark Tower series.

[Dave]

Howdy all! I'm Dave and finally breaking into the digital world of discussion groups. The first book I fell in love with was Moby Dick (my mom read it to me when I was in 3rd grade). At some point I got my hands on Tolkien, Piers Anthony, Michael Moorcock, Bradbury to just name a few. My love of reading influenced my career path as I am a high school English teacher. In fact, I was able to create a course called Literature of the Fantastic where we study horror, sci/fi and fantasy.

Looking forward to reading and participating in many discussions!

[AJ]

Hello all: my name is Amy Jo and I'm new.

I've been enjoying discussions from the sidelines up until now, so I figured it's time to finally introduce myself. I've been a fantasy lover since before I knew how to read (well, in reality, my first exposure was Tolkien when my dad read me The Hobbit at bedtime), but later I became a fan of science fiction as well.

I'm currently reading A Dance with Dragons. I must say I'm loving George RR Martin and the entire series so far. When I'm done with that and waiting for the next one (who knows how long that will be!), I plan on trying out Patrick Rothfuss and his Kingkiller Chronicles.

A few other favorite authors are Neal Stephenson, Cat Valente, Ursula K. Le Guin, Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, China Mieville...

Keep up the good work with the podcast. I'm hoping to dive into discussions in the future. I'm also relishing all this fabulous inspiration for new reads!

[Markt5660]

Hi, I'm Mark and I've been reading mostly SF and Fantasy as long as I've been reading anything substantial (The first "novel" length story I remember reading was The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet).

I still have my membership to SFBC that started back in 1975 (and was oddly upset when they switched accounting systems about 10 years ago and I lost my original account number).

Like a lot of others, I ended up here after listening to Tom and Veronica on episodes of TWiT.

[Gregory]

Greetings,

I've been doing a little lurking here but mostly listening to the podcast and it seems this is an excellent community. Community is important.

In first grade the teacher was going to read a book to the class and gave the class a choice, either The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe or something else. I was the only one who raised their hand for the something else.

As perhaps you could tell, I was a dipshit it in first grade. I got hooked almost immediately and have been reading fantasy and science fiction ever since.

Over much of the last ten years, I've been doing most of my reading via audiobook to the point where I don't have an audiobook folder in iTunes but a music folder.

Then recently I bought a kindle and spent a day curled up reading Hunger games in part because of the S&L recommendation and in part because it was freakin' awesome.

So now I am here to read and share and share and read.

Thanks for having me.

[Ryan]

Hi my name is Ryan and I've been listening to the podcast off and on for a few months. I've really been trying to read more recently and trying to get involved more with "what's new" in books. My favorite genres are cyberpunk, fantasy and space opera. I haven't read too many space operas though.

[Keith]

Realized I came in, all blustering about how much I hated A Dance With Dragons but at least it taught me a lot about food, and neglected to properly introduce myself. I'm Keith, and despite my Dance With Dragons rage, I'm generally a laid back sort of person.

Favorite authors include Ian Banks, Alistair Reynolds minus Absolution Gap, Bruce Sterling, William Gibson, my fellow Kentuckian Rudy Rucker, three books worth of George RR Martin, Verner Vinge, Louis McMaster Bujold -- and plenty of others.

I write, I read, I drink and make whiskey. I watch a lot of obscure cult films from around the world and then make people listen to me ramble about them, because people need to know about Filipino midget spies and Turkish Batman movies

[Suncani]

Hi I'm Emma , I've only been reading Sci-Fi and Fantasy for a year or so but I've really enjoyed what I've read so far.

Particularly enjoyed, Rivers of London by Ben Aaronavitch, The Broken Kingdom by N.K Jesmin, Jaine Fenn's series, Cold Magic by Kate Elliot and anything by Liz Williams.

[Doug]

Howdy-howdy. I'm Doug, a web designer with a librarian for a mother. Always joking that my industry is killing hers... Good times.

[Otto]

Howdy, I'm Otto.
I started reading sci-fi in High school, cutting my teeth on John Carter, Star Wars novelizations, and Stephen King.
Nowadays, I've been reading a lot of popular series (Ice & Fire, Inheritance, Hunger Games, and -ugh- Twilight), catching up on a few classics (Asimov, Tolkien, Bradbury, Clarke, Alexander), and lastly, following a few favorite authors that aren't necessarily in the S&L genre (Dan Brown, Grisham, Koontz, Clancy).
I've been listening to the S&L podcast for a few months now. I heard about it on the TWIT podcast. Finally I broke down and quit my lurkin' and joined the forum.

About me -
I grew up as a major Star Wars fanboi. I was so desperate for Sci-Fi that I actually watched Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and Battle Beyond the Stars ...and thought they were good.
I knew I wanted to be involved in the genre when I grew up. Fortunately, my dreams came true in 2000 when I was hired to work for a game company and was able to help create the most popular Sci-Fi franchise of the last decade (ask your boyfriend if you don't know what I'm talking about). But I'm hoping to avoid questions about our game or what we have up our sleeves for our next IP. I'm here to talk books and discover new stuff to read. :o)

[Lou]

It took me I while, but I finally realized this is the best group ever. Mainly because it has a companion podcast, which is really well done! Thank you V and T for the hard work you are putting into this. I hope to figure out how to best utilize a goodreads group. To often I am an observer and not a participator.

[T.K.]

Hi All,

I've been listening to the S&L podcast for a while, and I think you guys are great.

Just finished Caleb's Crossing (historical). Currently reading a 2010 Year's Best SF short stories anthology. Planning to read Fuzzy Nation next.

TK Kenyon

[Sam]

Hey all,

I've been listening off and on to the podcast, nearly since the beginning (Unshapely Things, I think). I'm looking to be more active in the Goodreads forums, and I thought the best place to start was posting here.

I'm more inclined to the sword genre, especially big world building (Tolkien, Martin, Jordan), but I've also enjoyed many of the laser reads.

Looking forward to more discussions.

Sam