The Sword and Laser discussion

I am in the Orange County area. If anyone is interested in meeting up to discuss the S&L books on a monthly basis I would love to do some meetups.

Christina, I am. :)

I figured you might be on board. :)

I'm in the OC too! I'm definitely interested.

Sandi wrote: "I'm in the OC too! I'm definitely interested."

Yay! So glad you are interested Sandi! I have always thought it would be fun to have some S&L person to person meetups!

I'm in OC too... Love to go to a meet up. If we get rolling, maybe we could get Tom to drive through the orange curtain for one!

Excellent! That would be so awesome to meet Tom. Where abouts in OC do you guys live and what days would be good days for you guys in terms of a meetup? I live in Costa Mesa.

I'm in Lake Forest, but the county is small enough I can go anywhere. I have a meeting on Thursday nights and church on Sunday morning. Other than that I'm open.

Hello everyone, I too would like a meet up as I live in Long Beach, in the shadow of the Orange Curtain. Monday has always been my preference since it is the slowest night in regards to public places such as bars, café & coffee joints.

I'm in OC too and any night except Thursday would work for me. There are a number of B&N stores in the OC so we could pick one and meet in the coffee shop.

Stephen wrote: "Hello everyone, I too would like a meet up as I live in Long Beach, in the shadow of the Orange Curtain. Monday has always been my preference since it is the slowest night in regards to public plac..."

Long Beach is more like OC than it is like LA.

Tuesdays through Thursdays are bad nights for me. Most other nights I can work with. Weekends are also fairly good depending on the dates.

I work in Laguna Niguel. Mondays after 3 are good for me. An occasional weekend morning or Friday night may also work. Looking forward to it!

This would be awesome! I have a busy schedule, so I don't want people to plan around my availability, but if I can make it, I bet it would be super fun!

I am so glad this is generating interest! And I hear you about the busy schedule, Tsedai.

I'm in Orange County but work in LA - El Segundo to be exact. I'd like to join but it will depend on timing. Glad to see so much interest, though - great idea!

I propose the following date, Aug. 18th , a Monday 7ish pm, at

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
791 S Main St #100 CA 92868,
which seems to be the most central location.
( Plus the Angels are out of town, so light traffic)
How many are going to do The Name of the Wind read or re-read. One of my favorites. 12 days of progress to discuss if you start now.

I think I could do that date. Good eye on making sure the Angels aren't playing. Any chance we could maybe move the time up a bit, say 6:30? I work up in Anaheim, but live in Costa Mesa, so I figure I can just hang up here before the meetup, but either way. I have read the book before and loved it, but I am currently listening to the audio book as a refresher since it has been awhile.

Works for me.

That's the one across the street from the Main Place Mall, easy to get to, just off the 5, 22, or 57 freeways.

I'm on about page 320 so may be finished before the 18th :)

I'm in the OC too! I might be able to make the 18th. That Barnes & Noble on Main St. is where I got my copy of NotW signed :)

I might be able to make that too! I read Name of the Wind last year, so I was going to read other books this month, but I will do a quick refresher before coming to the meet up if I can make it. The location is great too.

I can do the 18th, but count me as a maybe. I work in Laguna Niguel, live in Oceanside. 7 is late for me but I'll try. I started the book and won't finish by then. :)

Update: I will finish... it's very good!

Time is flexible, so 6:30 pm is now the official time unless an earlier time is required.

I'm out - on vacay untIl the 19th - actually watching the Angels play at Fenway on the 18th! I'll look forward to the next one though! Nice that we got a mention on the podcast! Sounds like Tom might be interested in coming down!

Sorry for all the exclamation points! I usually reread before posting! But obviously didn't!

For Josh to post an Event...

Monday 8/18, 6:30 pm, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 791 S Main St #100, Anaheim, CA 92868.

Thank you!

Alright the event is posted, it lists me as the organizer but I am anything but that, still I count only 5 or 6 so far we can all be Founders. Check it out in the events tab & please respond. Sorry about the description, I got carried away. See everyone on the 18th, wear something swordy or laseree.

I have to pass on this but will consider future events. Please keep 'em coming!

I put myself as a maybe. Forgot that I'm flying back home Monday and not Sunday. I would definitely like to make future ones if I miss this one though.

So I missed the first meet, but I am up for future ones.

I missed it too... Out of town - but I'd love to hear how it went!

It went great!!! Very nice chat. There was also talk about when the next meetup could possibly be held so I think we are going to be able to make it a regular thing.

Yes, was fun. Location and time are great for me so I should be able to make any future meetings too.

I thought it was awesome! I'm going to try to make any future meetings if my schedule allows.

The sword & laser book pick for Sept. is Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang, which is a complete unknown to me. I plan on reading it. Anyone else?

I always read the pick - so I'll be in. I like that most of the picks are unknowns to me, it opens up new authors and series that I might not have considered.

I've ordered mine and I'll start it when it gets here (which might not be until the start of September). I'm excited - it looks really different compared to a lot of the other picks so far this year.

There is only one Monday night Angel Game on 9/15, so that leaves 9/22 & 9/29. I vote for 9/29 because Ted Chiang is new to me, but any Monday is good for me.

If I am able to come this month, which I hope I am, 9/29 would be better for me as well.

That sounds good to me. I should be able to go unless work hours change before then.

Just a note, if you get the Kindle version of Ted Chiang for 7.99, you can also get the audio for 3.98. So far there are three votes for 9/29 so unless there is a strong counter demand for another date...

29th should work for me too.

I'm in for the 29th... Same place about 7?

6:30 pm was the time, but people can trickle in.

If anyone has a Los Angeles County Library Card the library by way of Overdrive has purchased both the ebook & Audio of Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life.

September 29th 6:30 pm at
Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 791 S Main St #100, Anaheim, CA 92868.
Is now on the event tab. If you are in the area but dread the freeway commute, leave early & check out the $2 Movie theatre across the street in the Mall of whatever, I do not remember what it is called. A yes or maybe response will help in how many chairs & table grabbing should be going on. See ya all then.

So, did you guys have the meetup this month? It has been awful quiet on here, so I wasn't sure.

Yes, last night. 6 people in attendance this time and we had some good discussions.

EDIT: I even got out of there without buying any new books!

And everyone was so nice. The issue of chair availability was tight but worked out in the end. I think Oct 27th is a nice evening for the next meet up unless there are strong objections.Alif the Unseen is the Oct pick.

Oct. 27 sounds good to me.