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[[deleted user]]

I just published my new book, 'The Underground Taaqatwar' with Amazon and this is an excerpt from the book:
I
Gilbert was the immediate past president of the United States. It was during his era of presidency that the U.S. military attacked the Ali Abdulla terrorist group in retaliation to the attack and demolition of both the World Trade Center as well as the Pentagon. The U.S. military apprehended the leader of the Ali Abdulla terrorist group and slowly brought him to death. It was excruciatingly painful, and video of the torture was leaked, making him an example of what is to come to those who dare attempt another attack. News and videos on the various websites signified that all the plans for the attack on the Ali Abdulla group and the death of their leader were advocated by the former president Gilbert Maclean. This won him a lot of admiration from the public. He was considered a patriotic president who cared for the welfare of Americans, for he was a man who would not rest until he had attained his dream of peace his people had been so desperately craving.
Gilbert was characterized as an All-American individual. He was tall, with a slim but muscular frame. He was also fairly young to be a president, and had an almost perfect bill of health. He had the look of someone who had once been a farm boy. With dark blonde hair,speckled with bits of silver and maturity and intense blue eyed, he could charm even his worst of enemies. Gilbert was also known to be a dedicated and faithful man, who would never take his marriage for granted. In the public eye he was seen as the Golden Boy of the Oval Office, without so much as a scratch on his good name. But the impossible rumors became headlines when evidence surfaced proving that Gilbert was engaged in an extramarital affair with a lady called Fati during his second term. The headlines were dripping with venomous slander, as President Gilbert’s secret obsession for exotic women slowly leaked out to the public. His wife, Priscilla filed for divorce, but with his clean record and innocent boy demeanor, she reluctantly forgave him.
However, Priscilla’s boring lifestyle could not quench his thirst for exotic goddesses, and Fati to him was like Aphrodite to a hopeless peasant. He could not resist her raven hair, or her almond colored eyes and olive skin. So one night, eight months later, he finally gave in to temptation. There was a secret tryst between him and Fati while his wife was on vacation in Central America. Besides his Secret Service guards, who were incessantly posted outside of his home, no one was there to catch them in their sinful act.
Gilbert and Fati were focused on nothing else but the lustful endeavor they so longingly missed. Nothing and no one else mattered during that brief moment they had with each other. For hours, Gilbert made love to Fati furiously, and there was not a movement or a sound from the other side of the door. All of a sudden, the phone on the night stand rang, however, Gilbert wouldn’t dare stop to pick it up. After ten minutes passed by, the door handle began to turn and a figure cautiously appeared in the doorway; however, neither Gilbert nor Fati acknowledged the feminine silhouette that slid through the cracked door.
“You whore!” Priscilla shrieked in utter shock.
She stood and gaped at them for what felt to her like an eternity. Gilbert met eyes with his distraught wife, then threw Fati from atop his lap as he began scrambling about the bed, trying to hide his shame beneath the defiled sheets.
“Oh my God,” he shrieked. “Honey, you are home very early.. But I can explain! She… she came and… we, we had to talk and it just…” his voice trailed off as he sank back onto the edge of the bed.
As she repositioned herself on the bed, Fati gathered the sheets around her chest and turned to meet an icy glare shot at her from Priscilla. She quickly rose from the bed, grasping the rest of the bed sheets to cover her body as she tore away from the glare. Priscilla heavily made her way towards Fati with hatred in her eyes, while Gilbert sat on the bed, his face buried in his hands. Fati neared her handbag as Priscilla continued to advance towards her. The mistress turned her back, rambling through her purse.
“What? Looking for a phone? Why, so you can schedule your next home-wrecking appointment?” Priscilla grew angrier with each insult she spit at the young woman. “You are nothing but a filthy little whore. Wait, are you putting on a glove? What sort of vile-” She was silenced by the bullet that penetrated her left lung. Gilbert, suddenly in tune with the commotion that took place in the room quickly jolted from the bed.
“My God. What have you done to my wife…” Gilbert murmured as he stood over Priscilla’s lifeless corpse. “Do you realize what you just did?” he screamed. “Guards, Gua-”
Fati quickly turned the silenced pistol towards his face, with a menacing smile thinning her voluptuous lips. His jaws tensed instantly, eyes glued to the gun.
“Oh, but why so silent Mr. President?” she chided with malice in her tone. “You weren’t so quiet just a few minutes ago.” She smiled. “What? Dead wife got your tongue?” she chuckled.
“No, I think it might be the extremely long piece staring me in the face,” he stated in an exasperated voice.
“What? Are you jealous because mine is bigger than yours? Well, I’m just shocked. I thought I’d never see the day that mouth would shut. You know, always open in bed, flapping out in public, babbling on those podiums. Oh, the cameras do love that charming little smile of yours. Guess it really hurt the poor little peoples feelings when they found out that little innocent Golden Boy stepped out on his wife. Guess they see it as him stepping out on them as well. Shame too, happened right after you ‘single-handedly’ infiltrated the big and scary terrorist group, Ali Abdulla Group.” She paused, enjoying the confusion and fear dripping from his face. “Well wasn’t that you Mr. President? See, when you make such achievements like that on a national level, you should be sure to watch your back.”
He gaped at her the entire time but she kept on pointing the pistol at him.
“What are you talking about, Fati?”
“Let’s just say that when they say keep your enemies close, I don’t think they mean that close,” cooed Fati with a devilish grin.
He sighed with grief and regret as he glanced down at his dead wife.
“Now Gilbert,” Fati exclaimed, as she turned her back to him and took a few steps forward, holding the pistol behind her back. She rifled around in her purse.“Tell me the motto of the United States.” She whipped back around to him expecting an answer.
He stared deep into her eyes and gave no response. She hastened toward him, a second pistol in her hand. She stepped over Priscilla’s body, forcing him against the wall. She rubbed the tip of the silencer gently around his right temple, and then placed the murder weapon in his hand. He looked at her, confused as ever.
She chuckled with utter amusement. “Don’t worry you can’t do any damage with that thing. See Mrs. First Lady here stole my only bullet. Funny, it was actually meant for you. Luckily, I always carry an extra piece. Oh, and I’ll be needing that,” she said as she removed the silencer from the tip of his gun and added it to hers.
“Now come on Mr. President won’t you tell me the motto of this beautiful country,” she said in a voice as seductive as the first day he met her.
“In God we trust,” he mumbled.
She grinned, then bashed him on the side of the head with the handle of the pistol and quickly he fell to his knees. She commanded him to get up and raise his arms in the air. He drunkenly raised his torso from the carpet, feeling like he suffered a mild concussion, still clutching the empty pistol. As she positioned the gun directly between his eyes, he slowly raised his hands in the air.
“I know you trust in your God, so much that you must long to be with him. So let’s just say I’m here to do you a favor. But I don’t think you will be with him for long, you filthy sex-addicted nymphomaniac,” she said as she cackled victoriously.
With a sigh of sheer satisfaction, she stared into his eyes one last time before pulling the trigger. He fell to the floor, blood seeping from his brow onto the burgundy carpet. Fati dressed, and placed the second pistol in Priscilla’s cold, dead hand.
When she reached the precincts of the house, she met two guards, and stopped. One of them drew closer to her, whispering in her ear, “We didn’t know she was coming back today. Said her flight came in early.”
“Who?” she asked innocently.
“Priscilla” the guard replied.
The other guard chuckled, “Yeah we tried to call but I guess you both were kinda busy”
Fati gave him a sharp glare. He cleared his throat, “So, uhm, you ok? Did she catch you in there?
Fati smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. It’s Gilbert you’ll have to worry about.”
Puzzled, one of the guards said, “Alright then, miss, take it easy. See you.”
“Yeah I don’t think so.” Fati replied.
With that, she exited from the front door and drove off.
About ten minutes later, Rita Rice appeared; a renowned and seasoned lawyer. When Rita reached the precincts of the house, she met the guards and gave a smile. “Hello gentlemen, how are you today?” she asked.
“Doing well miss,” answered the first guard. One added, “Just doing our job as usual.”
“Wonderful! Who’s there, in the house?” she asked.
“They’re all there,” one of the guards answered.
“Priscilla just arrived early from her vacation. Wanted to surprise her husband,” the other added, as he slipped an uneasy look to his partner.
“Thank you gentlemen. Have a nice day,” she said, and proceeded through the front door.
“See you too.”
She entered the house and walked around the living room.
“Priscilla, I came to visit!” she called out.
But, there was no reply. She glanced around the living room and upstairs, but the place was quiet and nobody seemed to be there.
She ruffled her hair with her hand.
“Gilbert… it’s me, Rita.”
But once again, there was no reply.
The home was very large, but usually someone was always there to greet her, so she went out to the guards once again.
“Are you all sure they’re home?” she inquired.
“Yes ma’am, did you see them?” The guard asked.
“No, I shouted but no one answered,” she replied.
“Yeah, I heard you shouting. But… take it easy.”
Rita removed her phone from her handbag and dialed them, but no one answered the call. Rita became puzzled. The guards, beginning to feel anxious, decided to go check on the two.
“Ma’am, we are going to go check on them. We need you to stay here until we get back.”
“What? I’m confused. What’s going on?” She questioned as she followed behind them.
“Ma’am I said stay here,” answered the first guard, but Rita refused to listen.
“O.K. But stay behind us,” he demanded as he began to inaudibly speak into his wrist. Rita became very fearful, and stayed very close behind the guard.
They went back into the house, and two more men met them at the stairwell. The guard told them to search the downstairs while they advanced up the stairs. They checked all the rooms, passing the bedroom door. As Rita glanced over to the bedroom door, she noticed that it was cracked open. She peaked through the sliver of the opening, and say Gilberts naked foot lying on the floor. Fearfully she opened the door the rest of the way, witnessing the crime that took place. She stood there petrified.
“Ma’am you cannot walk into their private bed chambers.” They noticed the expression on her face. “Are you O.K. Miss Rice?” The guard asked.
She pointed into the room shaking, “No!” She screamed. “He killed my sister!”
The guards quickly stepped in front of her. “What the Hell happened here!” The first guard exclaimed.
The

[[deleted user]]

http://www.amazon.com/Underground-Taa...

[[deleted user]]

This is currently the most interesting and action-packed book:
http://www.amazon.com/Underground-Taa...

[[deleted user]]

Currently, this is the most interesting book with suspense, actions, violent and a bit of politics.
http://www.amazon.com/Underground-Taa...

[[deleted user]]

Currently, this is the most interesting book with suspense, actions, violent and a bit of politics.
http://www.amazon.com/Underground-Taa...

[[deleted user]]

Currently, this is the most interesting book with suspense, actions, violent and a bit of politics.
http://www.amazon.com/Underground-Taa...

[J.L.]

Hi! I'm a Fantasy author and new to Goodreads. Very excited to be a part of this group!

[Rob, Roberator]

J.L. wrote: "Hi! I'm a Fantasy author and new to Goodreads. Very excited to be a part of this group!"

But you didn't spam us over and over with links and excerpts..

[Tish]

Hello! My name is Tish. Have a couple of Goodreads friends here and have seen a few intriguing posts, so I checked out the group's webpage--very impressive! Loved Veronica and Tom's video about Assassin's Apprentice (finished that series in March). I've always loved to read, pretty much any genre, but fantasy is one of my favorites. I think of myself as not liking sci-fi much except that some of my all-time favorite books include the Foundation and Dune series and Ender's Game, so I guess I do like it after all. Currently reading Elantris and finishing up the Codex Alera series.

[Michael]

Hello! I am Michael from Germany. Discovered Sword and Laser sometime last year and joined Goodreads so that I could maintain some sort of reading schedule (where I am falling behind again). Love the fantasy genre - read LOTR when I was 11 - that was 33 years ago. Slowly getting in to the Sci-Fi genre as well, mainly through this podcast. Veronica and Tom - you are both doing a great and wonderful job. Keep it up. Keep it spicy. Keep it real.

[Chris]

Hello I'm named Chris

This is my first book club, I am definetly more of a sword type guy. I read about 2-3 books a month and am wishing ebooks were even cheaper...lol. I live in NN and work outside of Boston, MA. I learned of this through geek and sundry and look forward to talking books with all of you.

[J.L.]

Rob wrote: "J.L. wrote: "Hi! I'm a Fantasy author and new to Goodreads. Very excited to be a part of this group!"

But you didn't spam us over and over with links and excerpts.."

Sorry Rob!!! :)

[Emily]

Hello, I'm Emily.
I love sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction and romance especially, but I'll read a little bit of everything if it comes recommended! I'm looking forward to intelligent discussions and learn more about all the good stuff out there I haven't discovered yet!

[Ayesha]

Hi, I'm Ayesha. Long time bookworm. I couldn't tell you how many times I've heard that hated phrase "Oh, you like books? My cousin (brother, niece, 3rd uncle twice removed) likes to read too."

So, hello, all of you cousins, nieces and 3rd uncles. It's nice to finally meet you.

[Corbitt]

Hello! My name is Corbitt. I was introduced to the group thanks to Geek & Sundry and its sounds like fun. I've been trying to get back to more regular reading and this seems like a fun way to do so, also it'll be nice to have a forum for what I'm reading. I really can't recall being able to discuss what I'm reading with anyone since school. My favorite authors are George Orwell and Timothy Zahn.

[Travis]

Hi, I'm Travis and I'm really new to Goodreads so im still in phase of getting used to the site. I pretty much only joined Goodreads for this group. I used to read alot of young adult fiction in my pre-teen years, but then I started picking up comic books/manga instead. The asoiaf series has sucked me into the fantasy genre and now that i've finished book five i've been lost with trying to decide which fantasy books to read next. So thats basically why I'm here.

[Jon]

Hi I'm Jon, I came to the group through a friend recommending Vaginal fantasy, I then followed Veronica over to this group.
As a rule I've always been drawn to fantasy rather than "hard" science fiction. Although I did have an unhealthy passion for the shadowrun series when I was younger.

[Josh]

Greetings, all! My name is Josh Loomis.

I've been a fan of the "Sword & Laser" genres for quite some time, first introduced to science fiction by the works of Harry Harrison and Robert A. Heinlein when I was young. From there I expanded to the Sword side of things with C.S. Lewis and, inevitably, J.R.R. Tolkien.

I was so influenced by the genre that I started writing my own tales, a dream I pursue to this day. My current influences include Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, George R.R. Martin, Anthony Neil Smith, Stephen Blackmoore, and Chuck Wendig.

[David]

Hey. My name is David, and I've been programming since before computers had screens and playing table top role-palying games since the old Judges Guild stuff was photocopied by hand. In all that time, I've pretty much read a book a week in either the 'sword' or 'laser' genre, with a smattering of adventure and thriller to round me out. My vector to this group (and goodreads for that matter) was Felicia Day and her prolific commentary on [seemingly] all the things I like.

[Oscar]

Hello all, my name is Oscar. I think I read more Fantasy than Laser with a little thriller thrown in just to change things up. My favorite authors are Raymond Feist, David Eddings, Terry Goodkind, Clive Cussler and Robert Ludlum.

[Candace]

Hi everyone, my name is Candace and I'm relatively new to GR as well as S&L. I've only recently (over the past two years or so) realized how much I really freaking love some Sword and Laser, in all sorts of media, as well as (if applicable) in current events.

As time goes by, I find myself focusing more and more on the S&L genre, especially the "Sword" part. Since I have so much unexplored territory in S&L, I thought joining this group would be good for me to expand my horizons, as well as (hopefully) get to know some new folks :)

[Robyn]

Hi all, I'm Robyn
I was lucky enough to be brought up with Sci fi and Fantasy books at home and have been an avid reader of both since being little (Terry Pratchett was one of my first fav authors) . Currently reading Judas unchained by Peter F Hamilton love getting recommendations for new authors / books which is why I thought this would be a good group to join :) Look forward to discussing books with you all.

[Jer]

Hi group!

Since it said to, here's my intro. I'm Jer, and I crave genre fiction like Kumar craves White Castle (though, to be fare, I also crave White Castle like a crack addict). Fave authors include David Brin, Steven Brust, Jim Butcher (the Killer B's), & David Gemmell; but the book cases are stacked and my wife keeps making me donate to the library when they start to overflow. Like many others here I'm sure, I like to write as well.

[Eric]

Hello everyone,

My wife and I have been long time science fiction and fantasy fans. We have been to many conventions and meet many authors over the years. We have even been on the committees for these conventions from Worldcon to more local small conventions.

We are currently writing our first novel and will have it out in a few months.

Eric

[Cory]

Hey-Yo every body! My name is Cory. I like authors of books but I seem to favor series. For example, I enjoyed the writings of Mercedes Lackey and Jim Butcher but I've only read the books to do with Valdemar from Mercedes Lackey and the Dresden Files from Jim Butcher. So my favorite book series include, Harry Potter by J.K.Rowling, The Heralds of Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey, The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, and The Adventures of Jacky Faber by L.A.Meyer. I've recently gotten back into crazy reading sessions to balance out the studying I've been doing for school. I hope to publish books of my own some day. That might actually happen if I write.

[Tim]

Hi there are those who call me Tim. Not to be confused with the all powerful wizard from Holy Grail. As you can tell from my intro I tend toward the lighter side of both Sword and Laser. Xanth, Discworld and Hitchhiker's Guide as examples.
I've been a fan of Veronica's from Tekzilla. I have to thank Felicia Day for bringing her and Tom along for the ride that is Geek and Sundry. They have opened my eyes to so much I have missed.

[Rachel]

Hello! I'm Rachel.

I am so excited about this group! Ever since I discovered Sword and Laser, it has become one of my favorite things. Each time I watch an episode I have to add more books to my Amazon wishlist. I love Sci-fi and Fantasy and I'm glad there is a place to find out more about my favorite genre.

My favorite authors are C. S. Lewis, Orson Scott Card, Robin McKinley, J. R. R. Tolkein, Jill Williamson, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Scott Westerfeld, and Gail Carriger (my newest favorite that I discovered because of Sword and Laser).

Thank you Veronica Belmont and Tom Merritt!!!

[TC]

Hi group, I'm yet another Tom, but usually go by TC (especially when there are other Toms present).

Favorite genres are dark fantasy, science fiction & humour (Christopher Moore, Chris Hiaasen, etc). I love to read, to write badly, to ride old British motorbikes and run. My favorite writers change with the day. I'm neck-deep in GRRM's Ice and Fire series (finishing up Storm of Swords), and it's so good I want to give up writing altogether, b/c I'll never, ever be that good.

[Dave]

Hello, I'm Dave from Martinsville, VA. I am unfortunately too add and overwhelmed by all of the things I'm interested in to focus in on anything but I am slowly getting through Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. I love all things Fantasy/Sci-Fi and hopefully I can get my wife interested in this because she actually reads all of the books we're interested in. I will make a serious effort to read along at least once with everyone. I am interested in video games, retro video games, tabletop games, tech stuff, most Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV and movies (Once Upon a Time, Walking Dead, Dr. Who).

[Daniel]

Hello, I'm Daniel. I read science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and thriller, although my favorite genre is fantasy.

I prefer lighter and shorter fantasy series over the dark, epic, and seemingly endless ones.

My favorite authors are Frank Herbert, Jim Butcher, David Eddings (specifically the Belgariad), and Terry Goodkind (the first few SoT books anyway) to name a few.

I hope to learn about what other fantasy fans are reading and get ideas for my to-be-read pile. I'm focusing on reading self-published works right now, so I'm not sure how much I'll get out of this group, but it's always fun to connect with other fantasy readers and see what they like and don't like.

Disclosure: I am a fantasy author myself, but you won't hear me talk about my own books here (except in "approved" areas).

[Hélène]

Hi, I'm Hélène from France. Came to Sword and laser through Geek and Sundry and I'm now really addicted to it.
Came back to reading a lot this year but I never read that much of Sci Fi or Fantasy before. I went through Tolkien, Game of thrones and that kind of books a few years back, so I think myself as a fantasy fan rather than a sci fi fan, even if I read A LOT of star wars...
I'm really hoping to share with you guys, so I'll try to post as much as I can do, but I'm really not used to forums so be kind!

[Jeff]

Hi, I'm Jeff. Been a big reader since I was a kid. Enjoy reading many various genres, but fall back on Sci-Fi and fantasy as a break from other genres. Heard about Sword & Laser from my brother. I like the idea of a group that talks about many different books both well-known and less known authors and books.

[Tad]

My name is Larue, but I go by Tad. I am a lifetime avid reader and came here because of Geek and Sundry. Just finished Assassin's Apprentice and was pleased with the writing.

[Nathan]

My name is Nathan, I'm an author/indie-game developer and enthusiastic member of the speculative fiction scene in Atlanta, GA.

I enjoy both swords and lasers and tend to prefer them sheathed in high-dosage humor and/or surrealistic splendor.

Dragon*Con is next week, I cannot wait.

[John]

Hey, I'm John. I'm looking forward to discovering some great books as part of this group.
My favourite books are the Earthsea Cycle (though that changes regularly depending on my mood).

[Rae]

Hello, I'm Rae

I found this forum after seeing the video cast on the Geek and Saundry YouTube channel and then going back and listening to all of the old podcasts.

I am currently reading the Song of Ice and Fire Series, as well as working on rereading the Dresden Files in antisipation of the new book in Novemeber. I am also trying to reread the Wheel of Time series up the the new book so that I can read the new books as well. So many great book, so little time!!

[Melody]

Hi everyone. I'm Melody. :)

I only recently found S&L after discovering Geek and Sundry. I'm currently working as a systems engineer for a small fruit company out of Cupertino, CA though I've worked for many a company out of Silicon Valley. I have a background in Computer Science and Physics and back in college I worked for a Space Science group so the Big Bang Theory show really brings up memories.

I am an avid and voracious reader of Fantasy and Sci Fi and reading is one of my favorite hobbies. I've been reading ebooks now for probably over 15 years and was one of the early adopters of them mostly because if I had all physical books I'd be buried under them.

I've done computer work in various forms for over 20 years now. I'm also a huge proponent of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Classes) like those at Udacity and Coursera. I'm definitely a geek. I pretty much live and breathe technology. And the latest insanity I'm involved in is an international team attempting DARPA's Robotic Challenge which is to build a humanoid robot for disaster recovery and humanitarian relief.

I have two cats, Charles and LeLe, and I'm married to a wonderful guy named Neil who is a computer programmer by day and a Tubist whenever he can be. I, myself, am a vocalist and a (bad now) violinist AND I'm learning to play the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipes.

I'm also disabled and routinely use a walker though I sometimes break out the wheelchair. I'm a diabetic (since before I was 18) and unfortunately a dialysis patient. A little over three years ago I (finally) had acute renal failure and nearly died. I'm on a transplant list and I'm awaiting a phone call to let me know to get my butt to the hospital, but unfortunately there is a severe lack of donors in the northern California area. Luckily, till then, I'm still able to work so that keeps my mind off things. :)

I'm going to stop rambling now but to end things, a piping joke -- "Why do pipers march? They're trying to get away from the music."

I hope everyone is having a shpadoinkle day!

[Stan]

Hi, I'm Stan, and I read sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers, historical fiction, and history. I just finished "The Coldest War". I can't wait for the third book!

[Monica]

Hi! I'm Monica. I am more of a "sword" gal, but I enjoy some laser stuff.

I've read Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb. I also have read The Lord of the Rings at least a couple of times, as well as The Hobbit and one or two other Tolkien books. I enjoy the DragonLance books by Weiss-Hickman (primarily). I also have read a couple of Mercedes Lackey books, and have enjoyed them quite a bit. I especially like "The Fairy Godmother".

Not exactly apropos to this group, but I have enjoyed the Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel.

Anyway, that's about all I can think of right now. If you have questions of me, please do ask!

[Mitch]

Hey everyone. My name is Mitch. I stumbled upon The Sword and Laser podcast a few months ago when I decided to read more novels (rather than comic books) and was looking for a community to join.

I am definitely more of a Sword than a Laser, my favorite books being Never Knew Another by J.M. McDermott and The Magicians by Lev Grossman, but I love a good Star Wars novel every now and then.

[Grace]

I'm Grace. I work in sports and sports media out of Toronto, ON, a job that usually has me on public transit for at least two hours a day reading books.

I easily prefer swords over lasers, with JRR Tolkien, Robert Jordan and Patrick Rothfuss ranking among my favourites, though I've handled my share of lasers nonetheless. And true to my profession, I'm also a big reader of sports non-fiction.

I'm here because my bookshelf is running a little sparse on stuff I haven't already read and I'm always looking for new book recommendations here, there and everywhere. Looking forward to the challenge.

[Carrie]

Hi all! This is Carrie from Manila. I joined the group some time ago but never got around to posting here. I'm a wide reader but many of my favorite books growing up were fantasy and sci-fi stuff--Tolkien, Frank Herbert, CS Lewis, Mary Stewart (for her Arthurian series), etc. Some later favorites are Connie Willis, Philip Pullman, David Mitchell (esp CLOUD ATLAS), China Mieville. I read to enjoy either the language or story. All my favorites rate high in both! Love the show, V&T!

[Richard]

Hello one and all. I'm Richard and mainly a sword with laser leanings. Listened to the podcast for over a year but only just joined Good Reads. As a lorry driver I mainly read audio books, is that reading?
My main favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and McCaffrey, Anne and Todd. Recently discovered Trudi Canavan and really enjoying her books.

[Adam]

I'm Adam. Library professional. I love scifi and that makes the rare fantasy book that strikes my fancy all the more enjoyable. Joined up here for reading recommendations. I also like to read about genres I'm not too familiar with so I can still make recommendations to patrons.

[Joshua]

Hi, I'm Joshua and I like SF/F. I joined the group so I could know more about the wonderful world of wreading... reading. I like swords combined with lasers, so what's that? Science Fantasy?

[Andrew]

Hi, I'm Andrew from the UK. I found the show through the Geek & Sundry channel and thought it was a great way to get me reading more. I'm still a few shows behind (just finished Hyperion) but am trying to avoid skipping ahead.

I'll read any genre but my all time favourite books are usually more in the fantasy area and include the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett, The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb and Otherland by Tad Williams (sci-fi but reads more like fantasy). I have other favourites but those three series are ones that hold a special place in my heart and that I can return to again and again.

[Tarl]

I am Tarl Telford, longtime writer and dreamer. I have known all my life that I wanted to write books. It took numerous failed screenplays, a few dead-end game designs, and thousands of pages of brainstormed worldbuilding to get me to this point today. And it's a good point.
This summer (2012) I published my first novel - a prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. See, everyone knows Oz, and everyone thinks they know the story. This is thanks to MGM, but Baum came first. His story served as the mystery that inspired my novel.
The Witch Queens was motivated by my annotating Baum's book and finding too many hanging plot threads. I had to write a story that tied them up. Along the way, I discovered that there is a history that has been hidden for more than 100 years. Oz is a land powered by dreams. Human dreamers have a powerful impact, even to the point of being called wizards.
I've always been a dreamer. My favorite books blend belief or spirituality with heroic adventure. Good triumphs, but not until it has been pushed and broken and reconstituted as a more powerful hero with the will to do right, because it is right.
This is me. My bookcases sag because I like heavy books.

[David]

Um, so I'm introducing myself. I don't expect anyone to read or reply to my introduction, because I'm sure not going to read over two thousand posts that are apparently already in this thread. But anyway, my name is David Ward. I like watching S&L on G&S. I've always loved reading science fiction and fantasy. And writing such. And... hopefully I'll be able to get into reading and posting here on goodreads.

[Rob, Roberator]

David wrote: "Um, so I'm introducing myself. I don't expect anyone to read or reply to my introduction, because I'm sure not going to read over two thousand posts that are apparently already in this thread. But ..."

I won't claim to have read all of them, but I have read most since I've joined. I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

Anyways, welcome.

[Tim]

Hi my name is Tim and I am long time laser and sword. I've read both on and off for years, now a days I read more Sword than Laser.

Looking forward to this group.

Found out about it from Geek & Sundry when one of my friends had me watch a few episodes of Table Top with him.