The Sword and Laser discussion

We cast The Devils, try to apologize to Ruth, and recall other food-related romantasy. Plus, Veronica has a shameful tequila revelation.

https://www.swordandlaser.com/home/20...

I like how the cover art came out. Like a medieval Ghost Rider.

“Try to apologise to Ruth”?! But Veronica says she stands by what she said before! Talk about a nonpology.

Fyi I have now finished watching the last few episodes of Murderbot with my husband and we both enjoyed it very much. I do however re-assert my right to watch whatever televisual entertainments I choose, in the company I choose.

If Veronica wants to make amends for her relentless Ruth-bashing, she can promise to buy me a drink as and when we’re ever in a bar together - possibly at WorldCon in Dublin in 2029.

It was my first time joining a live recording that was mostly focused on a book I actively disliked. As was true all the years I just listened to the podcast after it was released, it was still a fun experience. The podcast is enjoyable whether or not you even read the book at all. Certainly there have been plenty of books over the years I didn't read. In fact, if I read a book club pick in the past, it was usually well after the podcast. (Or I had read it before it was a pick.)

I think it's pretty noteworthy that Tom & Veronica create a book club podcast that's always fun, engaging, and interesting whether a listener reads a particular book or not.

It probably should have been a clue to me that I had abandoned Abercrombie's debut novel even if I couldn't remember why or much of anything about the novel. That's pretty unusual for me to do and even rarer when I'm past the 75% point. (I still had a bookmark in it, so I could see how far I had gotten when I pulled it off the shelf to confirm it's the book I remembered starting.) With The Devils, I wasn't just 'meh' like I have been with some club picks. I actively and at times viscerally disliked the experience of reading it. I rarely abandon fiction novels of any genre once I start them. Given how quickly I read, I can't recall another instance where I didn't at least read a third to half of the novel. Early in reading this one, I set a mental intention to at least read a third of The Devils before giving up. But as I approached the 20% point and my experience hadn't improved, I asked myself why I was putting myself through this when I had so many other books I knew I would enjoy. I had no good answer to that question.

Ruth wrote: "I do however re-assert my right to watch whatever televisual entertainments I choose, in the company I choose..."

Preach!

I almost got away unscathed until Tom pointed out that I only admit it because I can't keep up the lie. It's not that I say anything or act nervous... But when I've seen something my wife hasn't, I can't help watching her watch the show to see her reaction when something crazy or funny happens, and that gives me away.
But like Ruth's husband, my wife doesn't care. She prefers that I watch ahead of her rather than irritate her to watch something she's not in the mood for.

Sorry to hear that Veronica has to deal with the spectre of betrayal if she dares to watch something behind her partner's back. Ruth, we should pity her rather than get upset that she's judging you. She just isn't free to watch what she wants when she wants like we are! 🤣🤣

Ruth wrote: "“Try to apologise to Ruth”?! But Veronica says she stands by what she said before! Talk about a nonpology.

Fyi I have now finished watching the last few episodes of Murderbot with my husband and w..."

Ladies, ladies, there’s an easy solution to this, here in our troubled world full of discord and misunderstandings…

THUNDERDOME

BTW, I think the first segment is coming dangerously close to being renamed “What is Veronica hate-drinking?”

Every story of mine getting in trouble begins with " We were drinking tequila and..."

Trike wrote: "Ruth wrote: "“Try to apologise to Ruth”?! But Veronica says she stands by what she said before! Talk about a nonpology.

Fyi I have now finished watching the last few episodes of Murderbot with my ..."

Alternatively, taking inspiration from previous Sword and Laser pick Jade City:

Veronica Belmont, I offer you a clean blade!

Scott wrote: "It was my first time joining a live recording that was mostly focused on a book I actively disliked.

I am struggling with the book (I think it's the wrong entry point for me but I'll put that elsewhere), but I a bazillion % agree that even when I'm kind of ambivalent on the book, I LOVE the show and am totally engaged. I'm looking forward to the wrap-up episode, at which point I may decide to fully abandon the book. For now, it's cooling its heels in my queue while I read other things.

For Vigga, I kind of envisioned the woman who played Lisbeth in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, including all the tattoos, but with hair kind of shoulder length and raggy.

Ruth wrote: "“Try to apologise to Ruth”?! But Veronica says she stands by what she said before! Talk about a nonpology.

Fyi I have now finished watching the last few episodes of Murderbot with my husband and w..."

Done.

Apropos Ruth Bashing: I need advice from Veronica for a purely theoretic scenario: let's assume the girlfriend of someone named ... Uhmm ... Yann suggested watching Gilmore Girls and I ... I mean Yann .... Said yes but failed to tell her he has binged the whole series already two times. Is it too late to confess to her her by season 4?!

Jan wrote: "Apropos Ruth Bashing: I need advice from Veronica for a purely theoretic scenario: let's assume the girlfriend of someone named ... Uhmm ... Yann suggested watching Gilmore Girls and I ... I mean Y..."

“Accidentally” quote lines from an episode you “haven’t seen” yet. Tell her you’re psychic.

Monkey monkey underpants! It’s a big bag of weird up there! Copper boom!

Well... That would definitely be a choice 😅

Idle hands are the devil's workshop.

I am exactly like Tom in relation to action scenes. He described the feeling I have just like how I would. "ok, ok, let me know when we get back to plot." But I do like the kinds of stories that tend to have such action scenes. I just am not particularly entertained by the actual choreography of the fight or battle or whatever. It's weird but it's real.

Katie wrote: "I am exactly like Tom in relation to action scenes. He described the feeling I have just like how I would. "ok, ok, let me know when we get back to plot." But I do like the kinds of stories that te..."

I’m exactly the same! I like action movies but the actual action parts are not always that interesting. I suppose I enjoy fast-paced high-stakes storytelling.

On the subject of accents. I've never heard a non-Australian do a good Aussie accent.

If I hear a good Aussie accent on a foreign TV show/Movie, I am never surprised to find they are an Aussie.

What about RDJ in Tropic Thunder? Or Nicholas Hammond in Ladies in Black?

And! Yahoo Serious in Young Einstein! WAS THAT REALLY A TASMANIAN ACCENT?!? He even says "Oi'm uh Tasmanian!" BUT IS HE REALLY?

Trike wrote: "What about RDJ in Tropic Thunder? Or Nicholas Hammond in Ladies in Black?"

RDJ. No. I haven't seen Ladies in Black, but Nicholas has lived in Oz for the last 40 years and might be able to do a passable Aussie accent. I think I could still tell. 😉

John (Taloni) wrote: "And! Yahoo Serious in Young Einstein! WAS THAT REALLY A TASMANIAN ACCENT?!? He even says "Oi'm uh Tasmanian!" BUT IS HE REALLY?"

It wasn't a Tassie accent. He's a New South Welshman.

mcbain_thats_the_joke.jpg

Ruth wrote: "Trike wrote: "Ruth wrote: "“Try to apologise to Ruth”?! But Veronica says she stands by what she said before! Talk about a nonpology.

Fyi I have now finished watching the last few episodes of Murd..."

Convince Veronica it is a knife fight and show up with agun