Tag Archives: news

#124. Anticipating 2013 — What We’re Looking Forward To (w/ Stina Leicht)

15 Jan

Science fiction and fantasy galore!  For our first episode of the year, author Stina Leicht joins us to talk about the movies, television shows, and books we’re looking forward to this year.  There’s some bickering, the giggling, and a whole lot of SF/F love.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Note:  If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show!

Here’s the episode (show notes are below):

Episode 124 — Download (MP3)

Intro and Discussion (0:00 – 1:01:20)

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2013 Movies Mentioned:

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2013 Television Shows Mentioned:

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2013 Books Mentioned:

You can also support this podcast by signing up for a one month free trial at Audible.  Doing so helps us, gives you a change to try out Audible’s service, and brings joy to everyone.

Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0).

That’s all, folks!  Thanks for listening.  See you next week.

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Linda Nagata Reaches For Twenty Reviews: Can you help?

21 Apr

Nebula Award-winning author Linda Nagata wants to hit twenty reviews on Amazon.com for The Dread Hammer and Hepen the Watcher, the first two books in her Puzzle Lands series.  From Nagata’s website:

Author Stephen Harper Piziks, a fellow Book View Café member, says that:

“Amazon makes recommendations based on the number of reader reviews a book gets. When a book reaches 20 reader reviews, Amazon’s computer starts recommending it. The content of the reviews doesn’t matter–only that the book got reviews.”

To test Stephen’s theory, I’m following his example and launching a contest to encourage you to help me by writing an Amazon review of either The Dread Hammer or Hepen the Watcher, or if you’re really into it, of both! The review doesn’t have to be elaborate. A couple of sentences conveying your general opinion should do it, though of course longer coverage is fine too.

To sweeten the pot, she’s going to give away free books to one international and one U.S. reviewer. All you have to do is leave a comment with a link to your review! In the pot:

The selected USA commenter will receive EITHER a print copy of both Puzzle Lands books OR a print copy of any ONE of the Nanotech Succession books OR the Tor® hardcover of Memory.

The selected non-USA commenter will get to select any two of Mythic Island Press LLC’s ebooks.

Admit it.  That sounds pretty awesome, right?  You can find free samples here.  Both books are available on Booktopia, Powell’s, Book View Cafe, Amazon and Barnes and Noble in print and/or ebook editions.  You can find links to all these places here.  The ebook is only $4.99!

Have at it, folks!

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Episode 93 — Defining Urban Fantasy, Plus Doctor Who Companions and Dying American SF

26 Mar

This week’s episode is an impromptu discussion about some fantastic topics (thanks a lot, Stina Leicht, for making us ramble like buffoons).  On today’s show:  Paul Weimer forces us to attempt, albeit at the last minute, urban fantasy; Doctor Who finally has a new companion, about which we feel like bitching; and apparently science fiction in American TV is dying (yes, we’re not playing the “SF is dying” game; specificity is everything).

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Note:  If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show!

Note 2:  Because we only briefly covered defining urban fantasy in this episode, we are going to bring it into our interview this week with Stina Leicht.  Expect more discussion then!

Here’s the episode (show notes are below):
Episode 93 — Download (MP3)

Intro and Discussion (0:00 – 33:44)

Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0).

That’s all, folks!  Thanks for listening.  See you next week.

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Episode 92 — The Amazing Amazon and the ‘Problem’ of Faith in Science Fiction

20 Mar

When do we draw the line in Amazon’s publishing war?  Who really suffers from the battle?  And why is Faith so important in science fiction?  Is Faith necessary for realistic SFF?  These questions are our focus for this discussion episode.  If you have any opinions on these topics, leave a comment!

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Note:  If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show!

Here’s the episode (show notes are below):
Episode 92 — Download (MP3)

Intro and Discussion (0:00 – 32:26)

Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0).

That’s all, folks!  Thanks for listening.  See you next week.

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Lit Bits: Adam Christopher Signs Two Book Deal w/ Angry Robot

20 Mar

Here’s the press release:

Following the hugely successful launch of his debut novel Empire State earlier this year, Angry Robot has signed Adam Christopher for another two titles.

Christopher revisits the world of the Empire State in a sequel, The Age Atomic, to be published in May 2013, with Hang Wire – a tale of ancient gods and serial killers – to follow within a year.

The deal included world English rights in physical and electronic formats and was negotiated by Angry Robot editor Lee Harris and Christopher’s agent Stacia Decker of the Donald Maass Agency.

New Zealand-born Christopher, who now lives in the UK, said: “I’m delighted to be back for another visit to the Empire State! Rad Bradley is
a character close to my heart, and as soon as he reappeared on the page and started throwing punches, I felt like an old friend had returned… albeit one I’m obliged to put through the wringer again! Angry Robot continue to impress with a kick-ass roster of authors and titles, and I’m thrilled that The Age Atomic and Hang Wire will be part of it.”

Editor Lee Harris said: “I couldn’t be happier to have more of Adam’s books on our list. Adam joins a very exclusive club – he is now one of only three authors to have placed four books with Angry Robot. We’re thinking of getting them membership cards.”

Empire State was launched in January to widespread acclaim. Adam’s second novel – Seven Wonders – will be published worldwide in September 2012.

This is incredible news indeed!  I haven’t had the opportunity to read Empire State, but it is on my list of “must reads for 2012.”  If anyone would like to leave a quick opinion about the book, feel free to do so in the comments.

I should also say how lovely it is to receive emails from Angry Robot that are almost always positive.  Every time they send me something, it is either about new books, new deals with authors, or new imprints.  That tells me that they’re doing something right over in their UK offices.  Congrats to Adam and everyone else involved at Angry Robot.  Here’s to 10,000 more books from them all (yes, I mean that; you hear me, Adam Christopher?  10,000 books.  Start writing…).

Go Kiwis!

 

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