It’s a very dragon-filled episode, as we kick off our December pick, A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent, actually by Marie Brennan. Also Temeraire. And Paul and Storm steal our idea but we decide we like them anyway. 

WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?    
Tom: Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, bitters and a brandied cherry    
Veronica: Hot Toddy with Bulleit Rye

    
QUICK BURNS    
    
Samuel R. Delany Named 2013 Damon Knight Grand Master Recipient    
George R.R. Martin shows what happens when dragons go to war    
Paul and Storm do an anthology with everyone you love    
Young adult readers ‘prefer printed to ebooks’    
Website Launch: THE APOCALYPSE TRIPTYCH Edited John Joseph Adams and Hugh Howey

CALENDAR 

    
TV, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES    
    
SHANNARA to become a TV series at…MTV?    
The climate of Middle Earth    
First scientific paper to be released in Elvish, Dwarvish and English    
Original Ballantine book cover concept art for J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings on eBay

   
Book Kick-Off    
    
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent (but actually by Marie Brennan)    

Alt pick: His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik    
    
BARE YOUR SWORD    
    
Tom and Veronica, 

I’ve been listening to the podcast for a few months now and am 
really enjoying it. I’ve backfilled a good number of the past 
episodes and watched most of the video shows. I listen to a 
fair number of podcasts, but S&L always skips to the front of 
the queue. 

I really like that it is both relaxed and professional at the 
same time. The quick burns are excellent. The show lengths 
are about right. I wouldn’t mind if the frequency of episodes 
was a little higher. 

Also, thanks for keeping the language clean. The amount of 
swearing in many podcasts makes me uncomfortable with sharing 
them with my daughters. This is especially lossy when the content 
would be interesting to them. I am aware that the school yard is 
full of colorful speech, but I am trying to promote a more varied 
vocabulary. 

I haven’t been able to follow along with any of the book club reads. 
The queue is already too long (and getting longer (curses S&L!)), but 
I still enjoy listening to you talk about the books. 

Originally I hated the theme music, but it is growing on me a little. 

Thanks (or curses) for the heads-up on the information about the 
non-attending member benefits of WorldCon (more things to read). 
I don’t understand you S&L was not in the running for a Hugo this 
year. Is it not eligible for some reason? 

Thanks for a wonderful podcast! 

–paul
    
Voicemail from Chris from Maine. Thanks!
    
ADDENDUMS    
    
We are proud members of the Boing Boing Podcast Network   

Borderlands Meetup Jan. 20 

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio. For a free trial and 10% off, go to squarespace.com and use offer code SWORD12.

Download podcast directly here!

This video is part of our re-release of the first season of Sword and Laser videos as they exit exclusivity. This episode originally posted November 30, 2012.

Download the episode here.

Subscribe to the video encores as a podcast, and in iTunes!

And of course get all the show notes at the original post from last year.

We talk with Peter V. Brett about his Demon Cycle books, the grim world of dark fantasy, his old HP iPaq and why he’s so big in Germany.

Peter V. Brett’s website    
About Peter V. Brett on Wikipedia    

To get in on the D&D action at ConFusion and possibly see Myke Cole’s head get shaved visit Worldbuilders.org.

And check out the Not Playing Podcast: 002 Die Hard on the Boing Boing Podcast Network!

Direct download link to podcast here!

Download the episode here.

Subscribe to the video encores as a podcast, and in iTunes!

And of course get all the show notes at the original post from last year.

Two big reasons to cheer on this episode. One, you backed us, you really backed us, and we have 12 glorious episodes of the video Sword and Laser authors guides coming next year. Two, author Ann Leckie joins us to wrap up Ancillary Justice!

WHAT ARE WE DRINKING?    
Tom:    Yorkshire Gold Tea
Veronica:    Water
    
QUICK BURNS    
    
We funded!! Thank you so much to everyone who backed the Season 2 Kickstarter. We’ll send out updates as we get details on things like add-ons and of course shoot dates and post dates for the shows!

Own William Gibson’s bomber jacket!    
Neil Gaiman wrote this fairy tale short film about a girl that can fly    
Crowdfunding an sf/f mag for teens    
Singularity & Co. is saving the sci-fi, one pulp novel at a time.     
The Top 101 Science Fiction Adventures   

CALENDAR
       
TV, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES    
Guillermo Del Toro’s TV series greenlit    
HBO no longer developing AMERICAN GODS    
Adaptation Watch: Robert J. Sawyer’s TRIGGERS Optioned for Film, Sawyer to Write Screenplay    
J.R.R. Tolkien Biopic Being Developed   

    
BOOK KICK-OFF    

A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan    

BOOK WRAP-UP    

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie    
       
EMAIL    
    
Dear Tom and Veronica (and Tom’s dogs)

Just dropping a quick line to say that I really enjoyed your Myke Cole interview – Myke came across as a really engaging, gracious and humble guy, and I’ve downloaded Control Point to Kindle so that I can make a start on Shadow Ops.

Thanks, as always, for Sword and Laser – I’m afraid that I’m struggling a bit with Ancillary Justice this month, but regardless of how I’m getting on with the month’s read, the podcast contains so much discussion of Sci-Fi/Fantasy as a whole that it’s a must-listen, each week.

All the best from the UK

Ralph aka slowfox
    
ADDENDUMS    

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio. For a free trial and 10% off, go to squarespace.com and use offer code SWORD11.

Download podcast here!

That’s right, we have only 3 days left on the Kickstarter! It has been an amazing month, and we can’t wait to bring Season 2 to you guys! 

But we are still trying to reach our second stretch goal, and we have some big things planned… including getting a certain someone to speak! Can you guess who?

We added a few new reward levels, in case you missed them:

$60 – A Sword and Laser stein. 

Suitable for filling with mead or romulan ale! (plus the DIRK & HEAT RAY and KNIFE & MASER level rewards).

$60 – Sword and Laser Kindle case or sleeve. 

Put your Kindle in a case that shows off your a member of the world’s greatest SciFi and Fantasy book club! (plus the DIRK & HEAT RAY and KNIFE & MASER level rewards)

$75 – USB Drive with all the audio and video episodes of Sword and Laser! 

(plus the DIRK & HEAT RAY and KNIFE & MASER level rewards).

So if you haven’t pitched in yet, or want to raise your reward level, now is the time!! Thank you!

We have the distinct pleasure of chatting with author Myke Cole about his Shadow Ops series, playing D&D with SFF authors and how he took on the challenge of writing from the POV of a 12-year-old-girl. Plus he offers free ass-kickings if you need writing motivation right now. It is NaNoWriMo, after all. 

Staffers Book Review (The link to Justin’s blog we promised!)

Podcast download link!

Downloadable versions of video.

Download the episode here.

Subscribe to the video encores as a podcast, and in iTunes!

And of course get all the show notes at the original post from last year.

Who’s the best? YOU are the best for making season 2 of Sword and Laser video possible. You also get to decide who’s the best by voting in the GoodReads best fiction polls for Science Fiction and Fantasy. And G. Willow Wilson is the best, because she won an award. Find out who else won awards and why we think Ancillary Justice might snag one too!

QUICK BURNS    
    
Goodreads Best of 2013 semifinals voting begins for all categories including Science Fiction and Fantasy books.   
Explore the original manuscripts from ‘Frankenstein’ in your browser    
This Group Wants to Build a Museum of Science Fiction in Washington DC    
WINNERS: 2013 British Fantasy Awards 
WINNERS: 2013 World Fantasy Award    
Massive anthology of Twenty First Century science fiction hits shelves    
The Campbell/Hugo Conversion Rate    
    
CALENDAR
    
BOOK CHECK-IN    
    
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Sucked in by the beginning! (no spoilers)    
The world vs First impressions    
        
BARE YOUR SWORD    
    
Songs that remind you of books    
    
TV, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES    
    
Orson Scott Card won’t see profits from the Ender’s Game movie    
    
Vote here!
    
ADDENDUMS

This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com the internet’s leading provider of audiobooks with more than 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times Best Sellers. For listeners of this podcast, Audible is offering a free audiobook, to give you a chance to try out their service. For a free audiobook of your choice go to audiblepodcast.com/sword.  

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace, the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio. For a free trial and 10% off, go to squarespace.com and use offer code SWORD11.    

Direct link to podcast file!

 Download the episode here.

Subscribe to the video encores as a podcast, and in iTunes!

And of course get all the show notes at the original post from last year.