You want it, you’ll get it. Just remember. You asked.
S&L REWIND December Book Club: ‘The Hobbit’ Kick-Off
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 December 7, 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.
New book trailer from Scott Sigler – Pandemic
Friend-of-the-podcast Scott Sigler has released a majorly creepy (and NSFW) book trailer for his Infected series finale, Pandemic! Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments!
San Francisco Meet-Up, Jan 20th at Borderlands!
Hey everyone!
If you’re in the Bay Area, please come join me and Tom at Borderlands Books on January 20th at 5pm. We’ll be reading selections from the Anthology, discussing the current book pick (TBD), and then heading across the street for adult libations afterwards!
The event is free, but we’ll have plenty of copies of the February book pick on hand to purchase. Plus, Borderlands is awesome, and you won’t be able to leave the store empty-handed!
If you plan on attending, please RSVP on the Goodreads event page! Hope to see you there!
YouTube: 7 Questions with Tom Merritt
I took a little time to make a quick casual video answering a few questions left over from the brainstorm hangout last week. You can watch the video or read the answers or both. Thanks!
Q: Will you continue doing a Frame Rate show? -Multiple people
A: Yes. Some kind of show about the ability to watch what youw ant, where you want and how you want it on any device you please is in the works.
Q: How are we paying for all of this? I really dislike the host endorsement style of ads on a number of podcast these days. Are there viable alternatives? – @rosscbrown
A: Good question. Host read ads have a weakness, especially when the host isn’t directly plugged into the sales process. But it has so far proven to be the most reliable way. However, I’ve had some good success cord funding smaller shows, and lately a bigger show like Sword and Laser. There’s also something like patron, and of course merchandise where you actually get something solid for your money besides the programming. So yeah, looking at all of those.
Q: Can we crowdfund a new background / studio for you in the new year? A break from the twit mise-en-scène might be nice. – anonymous
A: Maybe? I love the fireplace. Maybe change the shot a bit though so it isn’t exactly the same. All options open there. Now that I’m allowed, I’d like a second camera too for guests and such.
Q: Are you looking to do anything outside of the podcast / webcast realm? Like public speaking gigs, etc. ? – @Xanthus
A: Yes, a little. I want to keep writing and self-publishing my silly little books. Maybe someday I’ll get good enough to send one off to a real publisher. And I’ve talked to a guy about booking speaking gigs at colleges and conferences. We’ll see how that goes. I’ve done a little of that before, so I’d like to see what’s available, what works, and what I seems valuable to do.
Q: Long form interview show? – @jccalhoun
A: Possibly! It kind of depends on what I do with the daily tech news show, but it definitely could be an element of that. We used to that as supplemental episodes of Buzz Out Loud.
Q: Is Leo still on your Christmas Card list? – @millgroup
A: Ha ha. If I ever get it together enough to have a Christmas card list, Leo will be on it.
Q: How many webcast / podcast shows would you be interested in doing at any one time? – @Xanthus
A: Honestly no more than I have. TNT and Frame Rate together, the way I did them, were a full time job. Then I do Sword sand Laser every other week, although that’s been becoming weekly. Plus Current Geek will be a weekly. The other shows I do are all seasonal. If anything I need to cut down and focus on fewer.
Be in on what’s next for Tom Merritt
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Autopilot S3E09 – Space 1999
Autopilot S3E09 – Space 1999
The crew of Moonbase Alpha must struggle to survive when a massive explosion throws the Moon from orbit into deep space.
S&L Podcast – #154 – A Natural History of Dragons
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
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
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.
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Download podcast directly here!
S&L Video REWIND – “The Dirty Streets of Heaven” Wrap-Up
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.
TNT 897: Compelled by This Monstrosity
Hosts: Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Iyaz Akhtar, and Jason Howell
Spotify free for mobile, Apple tracks you in stores, 23andMe gives up (a little), and more.
Guest: Darren Kitchen
Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/tnt.
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Check out the full show notes for today’s episode.
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Thanks to Cachefly for the bandwidth for this show.
Running time: 46:10