The Sword and Laser discussion

Our pick for next month will be: The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge.

This one was out of print for awhile, but looks to be available in all the usual formats now. I'm probably going to opt for the audio book format myself, mostly because it looks to be another longer book and I'm still only halfway through reading this month's pick.

What does everyone else think?

Oh, nice! I read this for a different book club at the beginning of the year; it's definitely an interesting book with a fascinating setting. I won't reread but I look forward to the discussion.

Looks like a great choice!

I'm going to read this, but it's a bit odd to me that I've never heard of it before. The book came out when I was active in fandom and I was into hard SF. Well, the book is self-listed as hard SF in the description anyway. Will see how it goes. It's part of a trilogy so if I like it, bonus!

I ran a buddy read for this one on another GR group earlier this year. I'm looking forward to seeing what the S&L gang thinks of it. :)

I just hope that Tom and Veronica remember that Vinge is pronounced with two syllables (Vernor Vinge is her ex-husband).

And John, it won the Hugo in 1981, so not sure how you missed it either. :)

My library doesn't have it, and there's no chance I'm giving Macmillan my money, since November 1st is when they start their ludicrous 'Libraries only get to but 1 ebook for the first 8 weeks of a new release' policy, because they (falsely) claim that libraries canabilize their sales. For more info. on that: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
I'll be sitting this one out.

John (Taloni) wrote: "I'm going to read this, but it's a bit odd to me that I've never heard of it before. The book came out when I was active in fandom and I was into hard SF. Well, the book is self-listed as hard SF i..."

Only heard about it before myself because it was up for a vote in December 2014 but lost to The Sparrow for the January 2015 book pick. One issue people had at the time was it being out of print, so it is good that the availability issue was resolved.

It isn't available as an eBook in some markets. It's not available in Oz and the audiobook & paperback/hardback are ridiculously expensive.

But we should all know the trick of changing your location to the US marketplace to get it, then change back, by now ;-)

(view spoiler)[For Kindle.

Log in to your Amazon account.
-> Manage your content and devices
-> Preferences
-> Country/Region settings
Change to US store

Buy book and download.

Change back to your country. (hide spoiler)]

David wrote: "I just hope that Tom and Veronica remember that Vinge is pronounced with two syllables (Vernor Vinge is her ex-husband)."

Yes, It rhymes with 'stingy'

Tassie Dave wrote: "Yes, It rhymes with 'stingy'"

So, like the bees? Joan Ving-ee? *ducks, runs for cover*

John (Taloni) wrote: "Tassie Dave wrote: "Yes, It rhymes with 'stingy'"

So, like the bees? Joan Ving-ee? *ducks, runs for cover*"

Yes like the bees. If they won't give you any honey ;-)

Michael Whelan's cover art for the paperback edition is pretty well known. Prints used to be available at his website. Sold out now.

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleri...

I didn't read this back when it came out, but I distinctly remember that cover from back then. I was visiting a lot of book stores at that point in time, and I don't remember if it was pre or post the Hugo win, but I do remember this being prominently displayed. I may have even thought about buying it a few times, but never pulled the trigger.

Edit:

Doh, what I meant was when it was re-released in 2001, I remember it being prominently displayed (I jumped the gun because of Rob's link), and this was obviously post Hugo win.

Cover art for the British paperback goes in a different direction...

This is sci-fi, right? I’m kind of lost as to where we are in the pattern.

Marisa wrote: "My library doesn't have it, and there's no chance I'm giving Macmillan my money, since November 1st is when they start their ludicrous 'Libraries only get to but 1 ebook for the first 8 weeks of a ..."

Lots of used copies of this book available. Check out a used bookstore.

Yes, The Snow Queen is a science fiction novel (though it's a loose fairy tale retelling too).

I had a chance to see Whelan's original cover art in a fantasy art show last year. The details are incredible.

That British cover, though. I can’t.

Mark wrote: "Cover art for the British paperback goes in a different direction..."

Geeez! *reaches for eye-bleach*

Artist for the UK pb is Peter Andrew Jones

http://www.peterandrewjones.net/iacg.htm

I couldn't find this cover on his website, which has an extensive archive of his artwork, but is incredibly difficult to navigate. Maybe someone else will have better luck ;-)

I think the British version must have had an alternative title 'Snow Queen of Gor".

AndrewP wrote: "I think the British version must have had an alternative title 'Snow Queen of Gor"."

😂

Mark wrote: "Cover art for the British paperback goes in a different direction..."

Dang. I've seen less explicit covers on porn movies.

For readers who like their books without distracting cover art...

I always loved the cover of this book.

I clearly remember very much enjoying TSQ literally decades ago. However, I find that I remember very few details. Time for a re-read then.

Am I the only one who could not find a Kindle copy?

Silvana wrote: "Am I the only one who could not find a Kindle copy?"

It's not available in Australia either and a few other markets. You can get it off the US store.

See my earlier post (Message 9)

Tassie Dave wrote: "Silvana wrote: "Am I the only one who could not find a Kindle copy?"

It's not available in Australia either and a few other markets. You can get it off the US store.

See my earlier post (Message 9)"

Thanks, Tas....I did that, and it's not working. The only copy available is from Audible. Oh well, my November is packed already, I'll just lurk.

I read it when it came out because it was a very big deal. I had the worst time getting through it, for some reason, and ended up listening to it (which helped). (I'm thinking it might have been narrated by Flo Gibson, who was a major narrator back then.) Anyway, I was *determined* to get through it! I never did figure out why it gave me so much trouble.

I'm going to give it another try, see what I think all these years later...

Joan Vinge was guest of honor at a con I helped run. She was pretty cool. (Vernor Vinge was GOH a different year. Also pretty cool.)

I bought a used book for it but it is very brittle, so I hope it last. The planet is called Tiamat in the novel , with two suns. So somebody was impressed enough with the novel to use the name again. So that is a good sign for me,

Stephen wrote: "The planet is called Tiamat in the novel , with two suns. So somebody was impressed enough with the novel to use the name again. So that is a good sign for me,"

I’m not sure what you’re referring to here. Tiamat is an ancient goddess, while The Snow Queen is a Hans Christian Andersen story.

Those have both been used numerous times in other works.

No UK ebook 😡 ! I tried the change-location trick but the US ebook is $11.99 atm which... seems really expensive for how old it is.
I think I’ll try to find it at my new library, failing that, the audiobook is available, and I have plenty of Audible credits. Or second-hand is also an option.

Trike wrote: "This is sci-fi, right? I’m kind of lost as to where we are in the pattern."

We are at magic space laser swords that work because of "science "!

(Quantum Whooo)

Why was this out of print for so long? Licensing/rights issues, or did it just not sell?

The Snow Queen was in print from 1980 to 1990, reprinted in 2001 and 2005. Tor reissued the book in 2015. It hasn't been continuously in print, but it's had a good long run.

^^^ Think it's pretty clear he's referring to this very popular book: Tiamat's Wrath. And the authors certainly know their SF.

Thank you John. I am only 20 pages in and the British cover nails it.

John (Taloni) wrote: "^^^ Think it's pretty clear he's referring to this very popular book: Tiamat's Wrath. And the authors certainly know their SF."

Ah. I would’ve guessed either the D&D use or the Final Fantasy one.

Sitting this one out. None of the library resources I have access to have a copy, nor do any used bookstores in my area. (Heads up for my fellow Minnesotans: this includes every Half Price Books in the state.) Not grabbing me enough to go out of my way.

Hmmm. Think I'm going to sit this one out. Still toiling through October's read and not really up for another 20 hour audiobook epic!

Stephen wrote: "Thank you John. I am only 20 pages in and the British cover nails it."

Okay, I'm convinced. I'll spend an Audible credit for it. Ha ha!

Ian wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Thank you John. I am only 20 pages in and the British cover nails it."

Okay, I'm convinced. I'll spend an Audible credit for it. Ha ha!"

The snow queen is callipygous.

Trike wrote: "Ian wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Thank you John. I am only 20 pages in and the British cover nails it."

Okay, I'm convinced. I'll spend an Audible credit for it. Ha ha!"

The snow queen is callipygous."

Is she supposed to be the Snow Queen?

Yes, I did look up the meaning of callipygous ;-)

I figured Airenrhod (sp?) would be the figure in the back, if you squint maybe possibly she's in something like a sledge? I'd peg the male figure for Herne, and the presenting woman for one of the Hegenony folks, like Jerusha, but the whole thing is pretty 😳

Beth wrote: "I'd peg the male figure"

I’m torn about whether to tell you why this is funny.

No need, I'm sure I get it.

(Yakkity Sax plays)

Oh, I love this book. I also love The Summer Queen. I bought them because of Whelan’s art on the covers.

I was worried I’d weeded my copy because I still haven’t read it but nope, here it is! (And you can see some of my other spec fic V's)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Q90hUga...

Beth wrote: "I figured Airenrhod (sp?) would be the figure in the back, if you squint maybe possibly she's in something like a sledge? I'd peg the male figure for Herne, and the presenting woman for one of the Hegenony folks, like Jerusha"

I have just got to the scene depicted on the UK cover (12% in) and you are correct. The 3 people are Herne (Starbuck), Airenrhod (Queen) and Jerusha (Police Officer)

Slight spoiler (view spoiler)[It's a power play by the queen to show that she is charge.

Slightly more spoilery (view spoiler)[ Although the cover has the gun part wrong. Jerusha takes the gun off Starbuck, as a power play of her own (which pisses him off), while standing.

Even more spoilery (view spoiler)[Not really I just wanted to have another nested spoiler tag ;-)

(view spoiler)[Like this :-) (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]