The Sword and Laser discussion

Hey everyone!

I know we haven't had the wrap-up / kick-off episode yet (it'll be coming in about a week or so) but if you want to get a head-start on the next book, it's going to be Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis. We discussed it on the show a bit, and it was also recommended to us by Cory Doctorow.

I was very excited about this one, and I actually dug into it already... and finished. Heh.

Hope you enjoy this one, it's one of my new favorites.

Is this going to be like any of those "And Zombies" books (or "World War Z" or whatever it was)? If it is, I think I'll take this opportunity to finish up Infinite Jest prior to the next book. For some reason, the zombie craze never jumped at me.

Ian Tregillis has a fan page here on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Also, here's a link to a thread where Tregillis discusses the upcoming audiobook versions of the Milkweed Triptych on Audible(can't happen soon enough): http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...

terpkristin wrote: "Is this going to be like any of those "And Zombies" books (or "World War Z" or whatever it was)? If it is, I think I'll take this opportunity to finish up Infinite Jest prior to the next book. For..."

Zombies were cool until people got the idea that you can survive the zombipocalypse. In zombie stories, the bleakness should go to 11, but most writers only push it to 6.

The author explains it on the Whatever blog. It's too bad he didn't use the iceships.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/04/13...

terpkristin wrote: "Is this going to be like any of those "And Zombies" books (or "World War Z" or whatever it was)? If it is, I think I'll take this opportunity to finish up Infinite Jest prior to the next book. For..."

No, not at all!

Dang it, you guys are making it tough for me to keep on my schedule with IJ! ;) I'll try to pick this one up, after I finish Free.

Aww, a bit bummed there's no Audible version. Oh well.

terpkristin wrote: "Dang it, you guys are making it tough for me to keep on my schedule with IJ! ;) I'll try to pick this one up, after I finish Free.

Aww, a bit bummed there's no Audible version. Oh well."

What's IJ? And c'mon, we've given you two months! :P

Veronica wrote: "What's IJ? And c'mon, we've given you two months! :P"

Infinite Jest. A thousand-page tome, about 900-some-odd of which are main pages, the other 100+ are footnotes (or footnotes to footnotes). I'm on page 630 right now. Though I do most of my reading on the Kindle, I have it in print, as well, and it finally looks like my bookmark is closer to the end than the beginning....

And Bitter Seeds is Kindleable -- if that is even a word (maybe you have to drop the "e"?). Finally, as a new member, I can be in synch. I hope it is good...

Alas, without Audible, I have to pass, as I've got Audible credits, but my book budget, either e-book or print, is maxed out. It's a book I'm looking forward too, even. Sigh.

I agree that without an audio or paperback version, I generally pass on the book. But it looks like there will be audio eventually: http://www.iantregillis.com/index.cfm....

Yikes, $12.99 on the Kindle, and there are already a ton of books that I want to get right now... and I'm a poor collage student to top it off....

The book looks VERY interesting, but there is a bit of a "result" spoiler in the description, so beware. No actual facts, but the "tone" of resolution, which I would rather have not known.

But still just ordered it! Hmmm, do I read this now so I can discuss it with the group, and put of the third Abercrombie book til after? I think so. :0)

BTW, would this be sword or laser or something else entirely?

BTW, would this be sword or laser or something else entirely?

Hmm. I would say it's alternate history science fiction. Except... there's also magic. So, really... it's both?

I'm having trouble locating a copy in my town. In the past, when I'm not in any hurry, I've always Amazon'd my books, and it's taken a week or two. Anyone use a quicker method to get books(no e-reader, or expensive next-day air)?

For some reason Borders doesn't stock it, but B&N does.

George wrote: "Alas, without Audible, I have to pass, as I've got Audible credits, but my book budget, either e-book or print, is maxed out. It's a book I'm looking forward too, even. Sigh."

I'm in the same boat. There are only a handful of authors I'm willing to pay hardcover prices for. I just can't justify the price on a guy I've never sampled before -- especially for a first novel.

I'm passing on this one too :( I want to read it, but am too cheap to dish out for hardcover! I am sure it is going to be one I'll want to lend to my sister, so I don't want to get an electronic version...

I'm in. I usually resell hardcovers on eBay anyways.

Poor or not, I'm getting it! I want to be able to read a book at the same time with the sword and laser group and I am! :) I might be a week or so till I get it but I'm a very fast reader and I only have two days of school left. :D

If I get a Nook for my birthday next week, I'll make this my first e-book download. Otherwise, I'm out. It sounds good though. Maybe my library will get a copy.

I'll probably be in, but I'm trying to finish what I'm currently reading first. The good news is that I have less than 300 pages left, and have been reading at a good clip lately. Since I haven't seen a TWG wrap-up podcast yet, I figure I have a little leeway on time. ;)

Nope - never buy hardcover as I keep my books for life and can't afford hardback prices.

Heho

Yeah...$13 for an eBook. I'm not willing to pay that much on principle.

*shakes fist at Tor*

Maybe it could be called "Laser Sword", Veronica?

Either way I'm a bit gunshy about "Bitter Seeds". I love Cory Doctorow and have all his books, however his recommendations turn out to be less than stellar and when I saw "If you like Windup Girl, you'll love this" on Amazon combined with reviews saying the author had trouble fleshing out characters and relies on well-worn plot devices--Well, I think I'm with Jason G, $12+ for an e book is just too much!

Maybe we could read an ACTUAL Cory Doctorow book? He has a new one out and they are always released as free e-pub versions for those who can't afford to blow their book budget!

I think V or T need to change the information in the "Currently Reading" section of the front page of the group

Paul

I am new to the group and going to read the windup girl next week, not sure if I will pick up bitter seeds yet, still have so many books in my library queue to read yet and they dont carry this one, and I am a cheap ass

Excellent! This was already on my to-read list, since I was intrigued by Doctorow's description of it on the show.

I was intrigued too after Cory mentioned it on the podcast. Started it today, and am hooked after the first couple of chapters.

So far (9%), so good. Actually, pretty darned good. I've reached the point in the book where I usually decide to quit or keep going -- and this is a definite "keep going." Tregillis has done a nice job revealing what is going on bit by bit, giving us engaging characters, and other good stuff. Hope others enjoy this, too.

Very interested! I’m just catching up after a long (not-my-fault!) absence and wanted to double check on things. Is Bitter SeedS the book for May or June (or both)? Will we be reading Forever War (like its listed in the to-read shelf)? If so, when? Thanks guys!

Angela wrote: "Very interested! I’m just catching up after a long (not-my-fault!) absence and wanted to double check on things. Is Bitter SeedS the book for May or June (or both)? Will we be reading Forever War (..."

Bitter Seeds is indeed the next book, although we're still awaiting the wrap-up Podcast for The Windup Girl, which should be coming out shortly. If you're quick to get through a book, you could pound out The Windup Girl and be right on track :0)

The Forever War was actually read last year from August to October, prior to the move to Goodreads- so there's no threads on it, unfortunately. Here's a link to the S&L bookshelf:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/booksh...

The Forever War is the current book in the Goodreads Hard SF group.

Alright, just finished Infinite Jest. Procured Bitter Seeds on the Kindle, will start it tonight or tomorrow.

Done with Bitter Seeds. I'd offer it to any of you to borrow, but I got it from my library.

I just picked up the book via the iBook store. It is next on my list while I finish up a purely sinful exercise in modern pulpy sci-fi from Ian Douglas' Semper Human.

I'm pretty geeked about reading this one. I like alt history and WWII is a gold mine for the topic....

I'm a bit confused about people saying they're going to pass on this book because they can't afford it. Do you people not have LIBRARIES? As soon as it was thrown up on the page, I went to my library website, special ordered it, it got here two days ago, and whammo! No money spent, book to read!

Matt wrote: "I'm a bit confused about people saying they're going to pass on this book because they can't afford it. Do you people not have LIBRARIES? As soon as it was thrown up on the page, I went to my libra..."

+1

I've had it ordered from my library website ever since Veronica and Tom announced it as the next selection but I think two people had it held before me. I really hope it gets here soon so I can read it before V&T discuss on the podcast.

Matt wrote: "I'm a bit confused about people saying they're going to pass on this book because they can't afford it. Do you people not have LIBRARIES? As soon as it was thrown up on the page, I went to my libra..."

Yeah same here. My library didn't have it yet so they put in a special order for me. It's the second book I've gotten from them where I was the first person to check it out!

Matt wrote: "I'm a bit confused about people saying they're going to pass on this book because they can't afford it. Do you people not have LIBRARIES? As soon as it was thrown up on the page, I went to my libra..."

Yeah. I thought about doing that too. My local library does not have it. Tried the country library and they will do interlibrary loan, but I don't know when I will get it. I think I am waitlisted too...:(

I waited until I had my iPad so I could try out the iBooks platform. I'm enjoying it so far, but I don't think it is easily classified into one genre (it fits into S&L, but also almost everywhere else!).

I was having trouble getting this book through the interlibrary loan system, and lamented so to my mother. Today she surprised me with a copy of my own for no particular reason other than that she loves me :)

Just finished. Woah.

I'm happy that I'm finally reading a book on schedule with the podcast!

Richelle wrote: "I was having trouble getting this book through the interlibrary loan system, and lamented so to my mother. Today she surprised me with a copy of my own for no particular reason other than that she..."

Awww!! :)

Hey all! First post to S&L... :) Trying to get my Goodreads up to snuff...

Anyway, totally digging this book so far. I was a little scared as this is my first attempt to give up the Kindle for digi reading on the iPad and did not want to kill a good story b/c I was trying to learn a new medium. So far, so good. I am able to get into the story enough that I am actually forgetting the medium used to read the book.

I am really enjoying the story, though I find myself wishing that I had a stronger background in Geography so that I could place these town's locations w/ a little more accuracy. :)

Awesome!

David wrote: "Done with Bitter Seeds. I'd offer it to any of you to borrow, but I got it from my library."

Dude, you've got a nice library. Mine still doesn't have a copy of it.

Philip wrote: "David wrote: "Done with Bitter Seeds. ... I got it from my library."

Dude, you've got a nice library. Mine still doesn't have a copy of it."

I suppose you're right. Right now I just got in line for the audiobook version of World War Z. Hard to believe that I'm in the heart of conservative Utah.