Author Archives: smellincoffee

Unknown's avatar

About smellincoffee

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

Armistice Day

Posted on November 11, 2024 by smellincoffee

Although we in the US honor those who served in the Armed Forces today — and well we should, for such service is both honorable and laudable — we should by no means forget that originally here, and elsewhere broad … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 3 Comments

SciFi Prompt #8: O Captain my Captain!

Posted on November 8, 2024 by smellincoffee

Today we’re talking about our favorite captains in science fiction. And….since it’s me, it’s all Star Trek with a little Firefly. Also, I’m off to Pensacola for a four-day weekend. Live long and prosper. #1-5: Anson Mount’s Captain Pike I…love … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Firefly: Lifesigns + SciFi Prompt 7

Posted on November 7, 2024 by smellincoffee

SciFi Month prompt #7 is, “What’s your favorite SF book read in the last year”, which is easy: Influx by Daniel Suarez. The ending was too “make this a movie, you guys, Michael Bay will make it EPIC”, but the … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

WWW Wednesday + SciFi Prompt 6

Posted on November 6, 2024 by smellincoffee

WHAT have you finished reading? Firefly: Life Signs. Just about, anyway. WHAT are you reading now? American Carnage: on the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War, a history of the populist takeover of the Republican Party from the late … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Beauteous Truth

Posted on November 5, 2024 by smellincoffee

I encountered Joseph Pearce over a decade ago via a podcast on literature: he is a man whose life was transformed through literature and the grace he experienced through it. His passion seeking the ‘good, the true, and the beautiful’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Classics and Literary, Religion and Philosophy, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top Ten Tuesday : It’s cold out, pull up the covers + SciFi month prompt

Posted on November 5, 2024 by smellincoffee

Today’s TTT is “Top Ten Covers with ______ on them”, and for the mystery noun is…BICYCLES. But first, teases! “I’m guessing you didn’t slip a sedative into my drink and drag me all theway out into the boondocks and drape … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , | 17 Comments

SciFi Prompt #4 — and, the worst novel I’ve read this year

Posted on November 4, 2024 by smellincoffee

Today’s SciFi prompt is “Little Blue Dot”, or books about coming and going from “this fragile Earth, our island home”. Contact comes to mind immediately, and given that today is Carl Sagan’s birthday, I can’t imagine a better response.  Contact … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

The War of the Worlds as witnessed by Teddy Roosevelt

Posted on November 2, 2024 by smellincoffee

There came suddenly a blinding flash of flame from the pit, andanother and another, and the whole delegation met with a terrible instant death, forty souls in all. The fiery beam also ignited adjacent trees and brought down a portion … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

SciFi Prompt #2: Astronavigation

Posted on November 2, 2024 by smellincoffee

Today’s prompt for SciFi Month is “AstroNavigation”, or discussing the books that got us into science fiction. I’ve talked about that a bit before, but what follows is a shorter/sweeter iteration. What book got you into science fiction?   This … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

SF Month 2024: We Are “Go” for Launch

Posted on November 1, 2024 by smellincoffee

This month I’ll be participating in SF Month 2024, with a focus on science fiction: in addition to my reading, I’ll also occasionally participate in the prompts that are posted, combining them with Top Ten Tuesdays and What are You … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , , | 15 Comments