Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

The Last App

Posted on September 19, 2024 by smellincoffee

If there was an app that could crunch all the numbers of your medical history, diet, lifestyle, etc, and predict how many days you have to live — would you try it? The Last App opens with that premise, featuring … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Flash Back

Posted on September 18, 2024 by smellincoffee

Sam is a cybersecurity expert in the employ of DARPA, who discovers an envelope marked with a general’s name sitting on his dresser. Spooked by the idea of someone invading his home, Sam delivers the envelope to his higher-up and … Continue reading →

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

The Book Thief

Posted on September 12, 2024 by smellincoffee

Ever read a book narrated by Death? I have, sort of, only Death didn’t know he was Death. He accidentally walked into the job, but that’s another story. But this is a book narrated about Death proper, and he’ll have … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Kinfolk

Posted on September 11, 2024 by smellincoffee

It’s the early seventies. Come to rural Park, Alabama, a town that don’t have much goin’ on except its occasional American Legion meetings, a place that ain’t even on most maps. There’s a fella, Nub, and everyone knows he’s the … Continue reading →

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

Teaser Tuesday Time

Posted on September 10, 2024 by smellincoffee

“You mean you ain’t going to drink no more?” “I mean I’m taking it one day at a time.” “But if you don’t drink no more, then how come you got beer in your refrigerator?” “Hard to say goodbye.” “And … Continue reading →

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DNA is Not Destiny

Posted on September 9, 2024 by smellincoffee

When I first learned about DNA, I formed a very elementary notion of it being a bit like lego blocks: this bit was the blonde hair, that gene was green eyes, that sort of thing. Later on, as I began … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The Dispossessed

Posted on September 6, 2024 by smellincoffee

So you say you want a revolution? Well, brother, you must be the revolution. Shevek of Anarres is a brilliant physicist who is on the cusp of a breakthrough that could revolutionize humanity’s use of space and time, but he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

The Calculating Stars

Posted on September 5, 2024 by smellincoffee

The night is young and you’re so beautiful, can’t we get into the swing of – what was THAT?! The Calculating Stars opens with a rocket scientist and a math genius/former WASP pilot having a romantic night in the mountains, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Disaster!

Posted on September 3, 2024 by smellincoffee

I stumbled upon this title nearly twenty years ago while touring my community college’s library and checking out what it had to offer. I found a couple of titles (Disaster! and Good Life in Hard Times: San Francisco’s Twenties and … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

First into Nagasaki

Posted on August 28, 2024 by smellincoffee

George Weller, a reporter for the Chicago Daily News, arrived in Japan only to be told that its southern islands were off-limits to reporters, dashing his hopes of being able to see what this new super-bomb had done to Nagasaki. … Continue reading →

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