Author Archives: smellincoffee

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About smellincoffee

Citizen, librarian, reader with a boundless wonder for the world and a curiosity about all the beings inside it.

The Answer is No

Posted on November 20, 2024 by smellincoffee

I’ve gotten to really like Fredrik Backman this year, and by happy luck his short story “The Answer is No” was available as a ‘first read’ for Amazon prime subscribers. It’s the story of a happy loner named Lucas, who … Continue reading →

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WWW Wednesday + Long and Short Prompt + Sci Fi Prompt

Posted on November 20, 2024 by smellincoffee

WHAT have you finished reading recently? The Gulf, a big ol’ history of the Gulf of Mexico, which I’ve fallen for completely. I don’t mean beach-combing and eating shrimp & grits, I mean just being smitten by the energy of … Continue reading →

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What If? 2

Posted on November 19, 2024 by smellincoffee

A few years back I read a silly science book called What If? in which the author of the webcomic XKCD (known for its math and science humor), tackled preposterous questions with scientific seriousness. On seeing the sequel available via … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday: Random Goodreads Picks + Teaser Tuesday

Posted on November 19, 2024 by smellincoffee

Today’s treble-T is the oldest-published books on our TBR list but that sounds like work and I’m in grad school so I abstain. (Courteously.) Instead, I’m going to ask AI for ten random numbers, check those numbers against my Goodreads … Continue reading →

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The Illustrated Man

Posted on November 18, 2024 by smellincoffee

I’ve read to encounter a Bradbury piece that didn’t give me food for though, and The Illustrated Man is no exception. A collection of short stories framed by a mysteriously-tattooed stranger showing off his array of colorful and ever-changing ‘illustrations’, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Morgaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!

Posted on November 17, 2024 by smellincoffee

I’m having a great weekend — yesterday was 12 solid hours with family and friends — and now I’m off to a Morgan Wade concert with the lady friend. Will be back with books & such (The Illustrated Man and … Continue reading →

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Rise and Reign of the Mammals

Posted on November 15, 2024 by smellincoffee

Mammals, we learn in elementary school, are warm-blooded critters who give birth to live young, produce milk, and are noted for their hair. Only….as we get older, we learn about marsupials and platypuses and whales and realize the story of … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Hello, Everybody!

Posted on November 13, 2024 by smellincoffee

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a host of technologies released that utterly transformed society, and few as dramatic as radio. Hello, Everybody! is an engaging history of the early decades of radio, filled with some dramatic, unbelievable … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

WWW Wednesday + Get to Know the SciFi Reader Tag + Mystery Prompt + SciFi Prompt #13

Posted on November 13, 2024 by smellincoffee

My, this will be a busy post. WWW Wednesday WHAT have you finished reading recently? Hello, Everybody! The Dawn of American Radio. WHAT are you reading now & WHAT are you reading next? I included those questions together because I … Continue reading →

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American Carnage

Posted on November 12, 2024 by smellincoffee

I fell out with both wings of the old uniparty in the mid-2000s over the war on terror and its attendant police state, which both parties supported despite some gum-flapping on the part of the Dems during the Bush years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments