The Sword and Laser discussion

Our January 2022 pick will be Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

Let us know what you think about the pick

Working on this one now. I'm not quite sure the disparate elements are gelling quite yet, but it's interesting.

£9.00+ for the Kindle edition of an author I never heard of?
Someone has a bad attack of wishful thinking.
Don't care how good the reviews are - or maybe I will wait until this discussion is complete, and then decide - but not now!

@Alan - library?

Also, why do people feel compelled to say they're not going to read a book? I don't mean this in a mean way but... no one really cares if any one of us decide to skip a book.

Rick wrote: "@Alan - library?

Also, why do people feel compelled to say they're not going to read a book? I don't mean this in a mean way but... no one really cares if any one of us decide to skip a book."

Why not? It’s a book club, I’m ok with hearing your reasons for not joining the read.

I’m also passing on this, for different reasons (due to trigger warnings about rape and sexual assault).

I’ve never heard of it before and it looks really intriguing. I think I’m in like three read alongs for January, but I’m going to try to join in.

It looks interesting and a mix of genre.

Our 5th trans author and 22nd POC. The 8th with Asian ancestry.

I've been wanting to read it this book, I've heard great things about it, but I'm waiting until it's a bit more affordable. 12 euros for the ebook, and a whopping 30 euros for the dead tree edition! I'm all for supporting authors, but these prices seem excessive..

I've never heard of this book so I'm excited to try it.

Rick wrote: "@Alan - library?

Also, why do people feel compelled to say they're not going to read a book? I don't mean this in a mean way but... no one really cares if any one of us decide to skip a book."

It is newish (September 21 publication) and our second new release in a row. My library has the audiobook but it looks like a 9 week wait which doesn't help much.

Not available at the library in print yet as new releases usually take several months to show up.

Hm, so, not sure every library does this, but I got this month's book on a one-week ebook read while on hold for the main, longer line. I didn't get a notice, but rather kept checking in because I knew they do this. Also could have gotten Leviathan Falls that way but decided to wait as the line was getting short, then once it came in read it in five days anyway.

As for the specifics, assuming your library does this you don't see the notice from the Hold screen. Rather, you have to click into the individual book listing and catch it when it comes up. It helps to be an obsessive Internet hound and check several times a day. Er, so I've heard.

Rob wrote: "Our January 2022 pick will be Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

Let us know what you think about the pick"

Oh, you really don’t want to know what I think of it.

Trike wrote: "Oh, you really don’t want to know what I think of it."

Now I really want to know what you think 😉 So I looked 😜

"This is the most bonkers mashup of sci-fi and supernatural I’ve encountered outside of comic books." -Trike

2 Star isn't a terrible rating. 😉

Tassie Dave wrote: "Trike wrote: "Oh, you really don’t want to know what I think of it."

Now I really want to know what you think 😉 So I looked 😜

"This is the most bonkers mashup of sci-fi and supernatural I’ve enco..."

The best part was actually the comment on his review. That's what I wanted to like.

Made ya look. 😈

Ha Ha Ha!!

This has been on my radar anyway so I’m happy to give it a try . As ever when the ebook is expensive, I’ve used an Audible credit to pick up the audiobook.

Tassie Dave wrote: "2 Star isn't a terrible rating. 😉


Not at all, in my ranking 2 stars is just substandard and I have rated 11 books that way this year. For me 1 star is terrible and I even have a special exclusive shelf for 'abandoned 0 stars' for the truly dire.

Another book that I can't get from the library for a few months. I don't mind missing a S & L pick every now and then, but I hate it when have to miss month after month in a row.

This was one of my top 3 for the year. I'd consider it hopepunk. It does wander a bit and the pacing is erratic. Also, prepare to be hungry from some of the food descriptions!

For context, my other top two are Nghi Vo (all of her books can't pick just one) and Harleen by Stjepan Sejic.

Jacqie wrote: "I'd consider it hopepunk."

Hope… punk?

Is that like “happystabbed”?

Trike wrote: "Jacqie wrote: "I'd consider it hopepunk."

Hope… punk?

Is that like “happystabbed”?"

🤣 It’s a thing! “Punk” being here used to mean “genre”

grumble grumble *inaudible* grumble grumble

Ba Humbug!!

Yup, we have come to the point where hope is subversive. It's sort of a response to grimdark, sort of it's own thing of writers writing optimistic or comforting SF/F because they want to see more of that out there. Becky Chambers ( who I usually bounce off) is sort of the unofficial queen of it.

Ima start a genre called punkpunk.

Trike wrote: "Ima start a genre called punkpunk."

Too late

https://tropedia.fandom.com/wiki/Punk...

I meant puñkpuñk.

The audio is good (except for a lack of pauses at the start of a paragraph)..

(Autocorrect….. idiot to audio)….

I'm on chapter 18 (the last chapter for "April") and reading the Audiobook. So far I am enjoying things. I agree this is a mashup of two very disparate genres so far, but I am very much enjoying the characters and their interaction. Katrina, Shizuka, and Lan are, to me, very well characterized. I also really liked some of the secondary characters, especially Lucy Mattia and Shirley.

I'm willing to forgive story issues if I like the characters and they're believable. So far, this book has banked a hell of a lot of credit with me given how much I have liked the characters.

The month has begun, go forth and discuss!