The Sword and Laser discussion
Introduction and welcome thread!
Hi, I’m Verylene, avid reader. I recently discovered the podcast and am loving it. Thought I would try out this month’s pick This is How You Lose the Time War and join in on the discussion.
I'm Charles Craig, a longtime SF & F fan. I'm primarily a reader, a fan of Ian Banks, Roger Zelazny, Tim Powers, Vernor Vinge, AE van Vogt, Andre Norton, and a host of others. I've been at it for a while. I can still remember my first SF novel: "Sargasso of Space" by Andre Norton, unless you count "Dr. Doolittle Goes To The Moon," which you really shouldn't.I guess the most science fictional thing about me other than reading lots of SF books and watching lots of SF movies and TV shows is that I married a woman who went to Dragoncon as a tribble. I didn't know about that until years later when I saw her picture of her in the costume in "Newsweek" and I recognized her by her legs, which were the only visible part of her in the photo (she has nice legs).
I used to be an editor, now I'm a writer. I also enjoy going to coffee shops, which I'm ... not doing, thanks to the current plague. I hope to buy an electric bike when I can put the money together. Cars are so yesteryear.
Hey there, I'm Paul. I'm a library assistant in a midsized Canadian city, and irritate my coworkers about having to try more Sci Fi and Fantasy to little or no avail.I'm a pathetically slow reader with a love for huge books, so I guess I'm something of a literary masochist.
Favourite modern authors include Neal Stephenson, Alan Moore, and N.K Jemisen. Favourite older writers are Asimov, LeGuin and Clarke. I'm eager to read Brandon Sanderson and Kim Stanley Robinson, but I feel like I need time to stop first. I was going to read them during COVID when I got told to stay home but then daycare got cancelled a week later and my reading ambitions were crushed.
I've been listening to the podcast for the last couple of months, and have been following along with Gideon the Ninth and TW, and have really enjoyed the virtual comradery of hearing how other people are reacting to what I'm reading, and I'm eager to participate more now that I'm not around other bookish people all day.
See you around!
I'm katie. I'm a librarian so I'm surrounded by books all day, which is super awesome. But unfortunately it's not my childhood dream of being paid to actually read all day. lol.I am a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, with a bit of a favor towards sci-fi lately. I started listening to this podcast a few months ago and have read a few things that have been discussed (but not necessarily in-sync with the hosts reading it. So now I'm maybe going to start paying attention to this group, and on purpose picking up the book picks here, since they seem to coordinate well with what I like.
Mod
Belated welcome to Paul and welcome Katie.
Hi everyone! I'm Michael. I'm an avid reader of SF&F, and I'm really looking forward to joining a community of people who share that interest. In the circle of people I know, it feels like it's hard to find anyone to talk to about books at all, let alone speculative fiction. I'm not really active online, but it seems like this is a friendly corner of hyperspace, so I'll take the plunge!I'm pretty omnivorous when it comes to reading, but here are five of the authors who excite me most: Kim Stanley Robinson, Brandon Sanderson, Ursula Le Guin, Jorge Luis Borges, Ted Chiang. And I can hardly wait for the last Expanse novel to come out!
Hello everyone. I’m Anna. I’m fan of fantasy and sci-fi. Avid reader since childhood. A librarian by profession. I’m looking forward to reading books with you all.
Mod
Hi guys,I'm Ellie. I'm a huge fan of worlds full of complexity and magic. I love stories with especially dark elements that even tap into a little bit of horror.
I recently finished a zoom book club during covid and now I came across you guys as my passion lies with fantasy & sci-fi.
Looking forward to reading the books and joining in on the discussions with you.
Hi and Welcome, Ellie! Twill be engaging to hear your take on the books you read!
~j
Mod
Hi Tommy and welcome!I like what you are reading right now (according to your goodreads links). I hope you will review them.
Hi, I am Sonja, 44, from Saarbruecken/Germany. I love the podcast and would like to participate in the discussions about the books as well.I enjoy reading SciFi, Fantasy, Crime, YA and a lot more. I prefer English over my own language German, but there is no real reason to this.
Looking forward to getting to know you all!
HiI'm Nick, I'm new to this group and new to Goodreads.
I'm addicted to good fantasy, classic horror, innovative since fiction and great crime thriller novels. Particularly like stories that mix those genres. My last book was House of Leaves which I thought was weird brilliant and disturbing. I've recently self-published a couple of my own novels & joined twitter to discus writing and books @HollowKingbooks will follow back anyone who follows.
Hi!I am Chris. I’ve been listening for a while and decided to jump in and start interacting!
I am a psych doctoral student, professor, and therapist in training. My research is on queer identity. I am also a freelance consultant who has worked with companies like Marvel.
I love sci-fi fantasy, especially when its inclusive. My favorite this group has read are How to Lose the Time War and A Memory Called Empire.
I’m excited to get to know everyone!
Hi, I'm Richard DeVall, author of several sci-fi novels, yet to write fantasy - although I've read some great ones. Just now I'm reading I Call Him, Him - by Scott Kimak and so far so good. Thank you for accepting me into this group and if someone can recommend a good sci-fi book from a self-publisher such as myself please let me I'm in the mood for a good one, I'm almost finished with the book I'm reading.
Hi. I'm Cathy.I am a life-long fan of speculative fiction and being newly retired, I now have much more time to indulge my reading habit. Nice to meet you all! I am looking forward to interacting with other readers.
Greetings, all the new peeps and new Stephens. 😊
Cathy wrote: "Hi. I'm Cathy.I am a life-long fan of speculative fiction and being newly retired, I now have much more time to indulge my reading habit. Nice to meet you all! I am looking forward to interacting..."
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Hi Cathy, lovely to have you among us.
I look forward to reading your reviews.
!ciao!
Hi I'm Dean. I've just joined and listened to the last podcast, mainly for the bookclub. I've always had a deep fondness for high fantasy worlds both straight adventures and farce in fantasy clothing. My favourite authors include Terry Pratchett, Stephen Donaldson and Ursula Le Guin.
Hi I'm Harold. I came to S&L via the Overcast recommendations feature and I've been really enjoying it. Love both Tom and Veronica, of course, from other contexts.Joined the group to keep up with the new reads, and generally start reading/listening more. Seems like really neat, vibrant community
Rob wrote: "Welcome Harold."Always good to meet another fellow reader of this genre.
Hope to see you in discussions sometimes.
~ janet
Howdy!My name’s Hugh and the dachshund currently asleep and twitching on my belly is named Arthur, after The Once and Future King.
I’m right now absolutely smitten with The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe. As for favorite authors of the Sword and Laser persuasion, I’d name Ursula LeGuin, Michael Moorcock, and PKD.
Thanks for allowing me to join!
Hugh wrote: "Howdy!My name’s Hugh and the dachshund currently asleep and twitching on my belly is named Arthur, after The Once and Future King.
I’m right now absolutely smitten with The Book of the New Sun by..."
Greetings! Dog pics are encouraged.
Hi, I'm Tim. Just discovered the podcast and loving it. I'm a writer/podcaster/musician from Columbus, Ohio. My first novel was published in August 2020.When not reading sci-fi by John Scalzi, Kameron Hurley, or Mary Robinette Kowal, I can be all over the place - lots of history books, music bios, etc.
Mod
Still a newbie here. I’ve just finished The September pick - where’s the discussion?
^ There's a folder with discussion threads in it. I just bookmarked a view of the Goodreads site I liked, you can do that too. The main Goodreads page is a little hard to deal with.https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
Hi, I'm holdouttrout (first name is Jess), sort of new - I joined this group some time ago but only posted anything today and figured I'd better put something in the intro thread, too. I'm on the Discord and fairly quiet there, too. My favorite long-time authors include Lois McMaster Bujold, Robin McKinley, Diane Duane, and Jo Walton. I love books that make me cry and books that make me laugh and adore books that do both.
My name is Fish Phillips and I am a write-aholic. Based in Atlanta, GA, I produce standalone science fiction / thriller / horror novels which start out as feature screenplays. I enjoy reading similar books to what I write, but also enjoy non-fiction science reads.
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...
thanks for the Welcome Rob. Capclave always occurs around my birthday. Usually just drive over for that one - but I actually got to meet the "Dean" or maybe demi-god of Alternative History, Harry Turtledove at Capclave a few years ago. Brought the Guns of the South (where the South wins the American Civil War with the help of some Ak-47s from the future). It is just mind boggling that I get to meet some folks that have written and starred in SF and Fantasy TV shows I have watched for years. Met George RR Martin at Balticon a few years ago as well! Hope to meet the Sword and Laser Hosts sometime if I ever get out West again.