The Sword and Laser discussion
Introduction and welcome thread!
Hi! I’m Eva from Indonesia...umm i don’t know what will i say but it doesn’t matter cause no one will read my comment😂 Btw i look forward to see some recommendations for fantasy novel😁😁
Mod
Evaria wrote: "Hi! I’m Eva from Indonesia...umm i don’t know what will i say but it doesn’t matter cause no one will read my comment😂 "
Nope. No one. 😉
Evaria wrote: "Hi! I’m Eva from Indonesia...umm i don’t know what will i say but it doesn’t matter cause no one will read my comment😂 Btw i look forward to see some recommendations for fantasy novel😁😁"
Welcome, Eva! Take a look at the Bookshelf for past fantasy suggestions!
Hi, I'm Alex. I probably veer more laser at this point but I aspire to be more sword. Interested in book recommendations, commentary, and discussions of genre. Glad to be part of a diverse group of book lovers. Hi Veronica and Tom! I have your faces tattooed on my back. I'm kidding, but hopefully I got your attention :)
Evaria wrote: "Hi! I’m Eva from Indonesia...umm i don’t know what will i say but it doesn’t matter cause no one will read my comment😂 Btw i look forward to see some recommendations for fantasy novel😁😁"
Well, maybe one or two people will read it. Another place to look for fantasy is this year's Sword challenge over at
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...
Just click on anyone's total books read to see what fantasy titles they've finished.
Hi! I'm Joe.I only just discovered Sword and Laser through the Hugo Awards. I listened to the one episode mentioned in the Voter's Packet, loved it, immediately subscribed, listened to the newest, and decided that I loved the idea of the community Veronica and Tom have helped build.
Also - congrats on being a Hugo finalist!
I've been a genre blogger for more than a decade, first at my own individual blog (Adventures in Reading, which is mostly defunct) and now as a writer / editor at Nerds of a Feather (we're also a Hugo finalist for Best Fanzine! Yay!).
I've been reading science fiction and fantasy for some thirty years now. I love the genre conversations that can happen on twitter, but right now a lot of what is on twitter and facebook is just kind of making me mad and increasing my stress level - so I wanted to give this community a shot. I kind of miss the days of message boards and even blogs regularly interacting with each other.
Mod
Alex (sorry for delayed response) we have several recommendations threads from over the years, but if there is a specific type of book you're looking for you can always make your own. To find the existing threads you can check out this query
With regards to other discussion if there is something SFF related you're itching to talk about and we don't have a thread, feel free to start your own thread.
We have sections for:
Non-Book of the Month discussion
TV & Movies
SFF News/Events
as well as a general section for Misc Discussion that may not fit into one of those categories.
There is also a FAQ thread that will hopefully answer any other questions/get you aclimated with the group. If not, please let me know.
Hi, I'm Jon. I've been listening to the podcast off and on for years but more frequently this year. I've been intrigued by your selections this year so I thought I'd dive in mid-way through 2018 and see what it's like.
I've been on GoodReads for 10 years, but have been a life-long avid reader of fantasy (epic fantasy is my first love) and science fiction (space opera being my favorite subgenre there). I quit buying print editions over 5 years ago and almost exclusively read ebooks or listen to audiobooks, the only exception being out-of-print selections, like my current tome Islandia, which is a Best Novel Finalist for the 1943 Retro Hugo Awards.
I'm expecting my first grandbaby within the next ten days so I'm a bit distracted from my reading at the moment.
Looking forward to reading adventures with S&L!
Jon
🔥 I am 30 years old.
🔥 I am a high school graduate of 2007.
🔥 I love to read & write.
🔥 I love you all who support me.
❤ s o c i a l m e d i a ❤
→ Instagram : goodread2018
→ Twitter : goodbooksco
🔥 I am a high school graduate of 2007.
🔥 I love to read & write.
🔥 I love you all who support me.
❤ s o c i a l m e d i a ❤
→ Instagram : goodread2018
→ Twitter : goodbooksco
Mod
Greetings to all of you. I am new to this site. I joined the site with intentions of using it just to log in books that I have read because I wanted to keep track of them. But then while browsing through the site, I noticed that it is quite unique from other social media. The community is great. I am a fantasy book fan that has been reading books by Feist/Brooks/Hickam/Goodkind/Eddings and more since I can remember. I think I started off with Dragonlance. You get the point. Nice to meet you all.
Hi,I am Stjepan Varesevac Cobets from Croatia. I am an indie writer. I'm writing science fiction and poetry. I'm glad I joined the group. I still like to read a lot of the most sci-fi and fantasy books but also all the good books.
Regards,
Stjepan
Mod
I am Stjepan Varesevac Cobets. I am an indie writer. I'm writing science fiction and poetry. I'm glad I joined the group. If you want to see what I'm writing, you can look at my author's page...."
Welcome Stjepan.
Please remove the link to your author page, or I'll have to delete your post.
You should also read our rules about self promotion in the FAQ
Thanks.
Rob wrote: "Stjepan wrote: "Hi,I am Stjepan Varesevac Cobets. I am an indie writer. I'm writing science fiction and poetry. I'm glad I joined the group. If you want to see what I'm writing, you can look at m..."
I deleted the link. I did not intend to violate the rules. I'll read it FAQ. Sorry :)
Mod
I am Stjepan Varesevac Cobets. I am an indie writer. I'm writing science fiction and poetry. I'm glad I joined the group. If you want to see what I'm writing, you c..."
No problem. Thanks for updating your post. Usually people come in here, drop their links and never return/reply.
Rob wrote: "Stjepan wrote: "Rob wrote: "Stjepan wrote: "Hi,I am Stjepan Varesevac Cobets. I am an indie writer. I'm writing science fiction and poetry. I'm glad I joined the group. If you want to see what I'..."
I'm glad I came to the group. And to be able to participate in the communication :)
HiI'm Pam, I am British and have been lurking for a while now. I am both sword and laser but probably more sword. I have found loads of new authors here, mainly by reading the "what else are you reading" posts.
My main reason for posting today is that there are masses of price drops coming through from ereaderiq for Amazon uk some of which are for omnibuses such as the 7 Raven books for £3.99 and David Brins uplift 2nd trilogy £3.99.
Hope other people find and grab these.
Mod
Hi everyone!I discovered the podcast earlier this year and have been meaning to join in the group since then but podcasts == listening (1.5x) while driving & forgetting by the time I get to a computer.
I've been an avid SFF reader since I was younger. I think I graduated from The Unicorn Queen series into Charles deLint and C. J. Cherryh and it snowballed from there. Now I'm a SF author and my TBR pile is higher while my time to read is more compacted than ever. And then podcasts came along. Curse you, podcasters!
Oh, that reminds me: I'm a podcaster, too.
Hey all—I’m James and have been quietly on the fringe of the group for some years now. I’ll be at WorldCon this week and figured I ought to make formal introductions in case the opportunity presents itself to say hi at the Con. I’ll read anything in any genre (I’m currently on an Enid Blyton kick, with a stack of intel and critical thinking books waiting in the wings) but have an especial fondness for SFF.
My entry drugs were Moorcock (Elric, specifically), Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Robert E. Howard, Lloyd Alexander, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. My favorite SF book is Dune and favorite fantasy in Lord of the Rings.
Among recent works, I’m really enjoying the novella revolution at Tor.com—Martha Wells and Matt Wallace et al—and in any genre the best things for me this year so far were My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry and A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman.
Mod
Hi all, I'm Razvan.I've been a reader my whole life (26, not that much), but for the last 5-6 years I've read almost no other genre besides SF&F. I love books and movies and TV shows and from movie podcasts and shows on YouTube, I've arrived at the S&L podcast and from there, I discovered the group on Goodreads. First books that really made an impact for me regarding the SF&F genres I think was the Orson Scott Card's Ender saga for SF and LOTR for fantasy. The rest is history. I'm now reading Abercrombie's First Law trilogy, which I find amazing (how have I missed it?).
Hi, I'm Conor. I'm a lifelong fantasy fan, loving all things David Gemmell, Terry Pratchet, R.A. Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, Terry Brooks, Tolkien etc. I'm a DM for two Dungeons and Dragons 5E campaigns, running over 2 years and counting now. I live with my wonderful wife, two of my three amazing daughters, a dog and a snake.
I am a photographer and an author. Recently published my first book and am writing the next. Found this place as you have an AMA with R.A.Salvatore, no way I'm missing that!!! lol
Mod
Hi, I'm Scott. I live in the UK. I'm a life-long FSF fan, and I'm a huge computer geek.
Hi! I'm Chip, a long-time reader of Fantasy and SciFi, but a 1st-time book clubber. In 2006 I started writing short book reviews for every book I read (have since ported them all to Goodreads). It is a practice I highly recommend. Great fun to look back and remember books, enjoy your thoughts from years ago, and cringe at your old-you writing style.
Hi all! My name is Matt.I've been a big fan of sci fi and fantasy for quite a few years. I grew up with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, so those were my starting points. However, one of my favorite books I read as a kid was HG Wells' Invisible Man, so that was probably my true start.
It wasn't until I was into my late teens browsing the Sci-Fi and Fantasy section at Barnes and Noble that a random stranger (thank you sir) suggested I read Eye of the World. From there I was hooked and opened to the whole genre. Since then I have read multiple series and am always looking for new suggestions.
Hello,I'm new to the group, found out about it through some other podcast mentioning it, I think. Always looking for more sci-fi/fantasy reading. I have been trying to go through many classics, including attempting to read every Hugo Award winner/nominee (I'm about 30% through) and I have read all of the top 200 scifi novels on this list: http://scifilists.sffjazz.com/ (excepting one that is so out of print it is over 100$ to acquire anywhere--and yes, it does irk me I can't get it).
I have a strong preference for sci-fi but a weakness for epic fantasy (like Wheel of Time). My favorite author is probably David Weber if we're talking fiction (Dietrich Bonhoeffer for overall favorite).
Looking forward to reading through more books!
Hi! Sounds good, and similar to my own interests!
Mod
Hello, I've been listening to the podcast for a couple months now, and it seemed to me time to stop just lurking here. I've got the new bookclub pick on hold at my local public library, and I'm looking forward to joining the discussion. I like sword books and laser books, especially if they also contain pirates. Nice to meet you all.
Hello everyone!I'm an author who listens to the podcast. I reached out to Veronica about promotion opportunities and she directed me to the Goodreads group!
I feel super lucky to find and join this community, and I posted my promotion in the self-promotion section. Thanks so much again! I'm looking forward to lurking around and saying hi. :3
Greetings fellow SFF fans! I am an anthropomorphic Red-Eyed Tree Frog from Lancaster, Pennsylvania (though I originally hail from the Black Marsh). I've always loved fantasy fiction, and in the past several years have become more and more interested in science fiction as well. I enjoy swashbuckling space operas, epic struggles between black and white magic, and everything in between. I particularly enjoy short fiction of both the sword and laser varieties, especially any anthologies edited by Gardner Dozois (RIP) or Jonathan Strahan. Favorite Swords: Brandon Sanderson, Terry Pratchett, K.J. Parker, Matthew Hughes
Favorite Lasers: Stephen Baxter, Rich Larson, Bruce Sterling, Aliette de Bodard, Nancy Kress, Bill Johnson
......basically the author of whichever short story I've loved most recently. Can't wait to join the discussion!
Hello everyone, just another longtime lurker who has decided to maybe actually join in on some of the discussions around here.My reading tendencies are generally more laser than sword, although I've found the umbrella category of 'speculative fiction' as the best descriptor of the kinds of books I usually go for.
Mod
Hi, I'm Pat, a long time SF fan. My favorite SF writers are Ian Banks and Vernor Vinge (among many, many others) and my favorite fantasy writers are Tim Powers and Roger Zelazny, though my favorite work of fantasy is "Little, Big" by John Crowley. I write sexy SF, and my favorite writer of sexy SF is John Norman, though to be honest, the pool is not large there.
Hello my dear human friends, I am Ashraf Abdullah from Bangladesh. I am currently an author and I wrote two books and they are online. I am a lone human in this timeline so I write while exploring my mind. Life of words going into the future... be happy...
Hello, I'm Dana. This is the first actual book group I've been a part of, even though I've been on the site for more than a decade. I am an American expat living in The Netherlands. I've lived in Canada previously before. I like traveling around. My favorite authors are Peter S. Beagle, Tiffany Reisz, Tolkien.
I haven't read any science fiction in aaaages so I thought this group would be fairly helpful. Good to meet you all!
Hi everyone -- I'm Bill. I just read my first book with the group -- The Calculating Stars. I loved reading through everyone's comments on that book, and I've been enjoying the podcast also. I've read way more 'sword' than 'laser' over the years, and I'm looking forward to reading along with everyone.
Hey, there! Been enjoying this podcast for years, as well as the various others Tom and Veronica have been on over the last decade or so. Have a lot of love of the literary world ever since being exposed to a library in elementary school (awesome librarian!) and pretty much living there (as well as bookstores) ever since. Now, finally emerging from the shadows, I've decided to jump in and start reading books with y'all. Trying to catch up on The Calculating Stars before the month ends, but will at least be right there with ya for Harry Potter #1 (how have I never read that?)
A bit of a slow reader (or at least, not the best at setting aside quality book-readin' time), but sure am looking forward to hanging out with likeminded sci-fi/fantasy fans!
Hi, I am Melissa and I have been following the threads for a couple of months but never saw this one.I grew up in a household where my very logical mother stated on a regular basis that she is from Saturn. So she got my brother and I reading science fiction and fantasy books at birth.
Even after all this time, my favorite book is the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. 42 is a way of life.
Of course, the fact that the last person to post on this was 2010 is probably why I and many many others missed it.
Mod
I grew up in a household where my very logical mother stated on a regular basis that she is fr..."
Welcome. But while this post was created in 2010, I last posted here 10 days ago.
Mod
I think she got to the bottom of page 1 and didn't realise there were another 85 pages after it ;-)
The Sword and Laser
Books mentioned in this topic
Ghosts of the Scattered Kingdoms (other topics)The Sword of Shannara (other topics)
Shadow & Claw (other topics)
A Canticle for Leibowitz (other topics)
A Canticle for Leibowitz (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Wade Garret (other topics)Gene Wolfe (other topics)
John Scalzi (other topics)
Richelle Mead (other topics)
Brandon Sanderson (other topics)
More...
My name's Cristina and I'm in New York. I'm 27 and I enjoy writing, playing video games, cooking, running, and reading (duh).
I enjoy reading a decent variety of stuff, from fantasy to thrillers to horror to YA. I also really enjoy some nonfiction - I recently (belatedly) read Bad Feminist and loved it, and I'm currently reading (also belatedly - I don't read with the times often!) Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives. I'm not yet big into Sci-Fi, but I'm hoping I can find some I enjoy soon (I read Starship Troopers and Hitchhikers this year, and while I get the love for both and they were enjoyable, they weren't quite my usual cup of tea).
Looking forward to reading along with you all!