Tag Archives: military

Dreamland

Posted on August 19, 2016 by smellincoffee

Dreamland: Travels Inside the Secret World of Roswell and Area 51© 1998 Phil Patton336 pages “What would happen if the U.S. government opened its doors to us and let us see all that was going on? Depending on what is … Continue reading →

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The Red Badge of Courage

Posted on July 7, 2016 by smellincoffee

The Red Badge of Courage© 1895 Stephen Crane170 pgs Stephen Crane practically introduced Civil War historical fiction, writing this tale set during a war that was ended six years before his birth. The Red Badge of Courage is the account … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Green, Blue, and Grey

Posted on June 18, 2016 by smellincoffee

Green, Blue, and Grey: the Irish in the American Civil War©  2009 Cal McCarthy325 pages Three cheers for the red, white, and blue! For the green flag of Erin so true.. The music of the Civil War reflects the sheer … Continue reading →

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

Cyber War

Posted on June 10, 2016 by smellincoffee

Cyber War: The Next Threat to Our National Security and What to Do About It© 2010 Richard Clarke, Robert Knake320 pages Soon, the ultimate tool will become…the ultimate enemy! So said the 1982 trailer for Tron, a heavily dated computer … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

When the Eagle Hunts

Posted on April 15, 2016 by smellincoffee

When the Eagle Hunts© 2002 Simon Scarrow274 pages The Emperor Claudius is determined to make good the conquest of Britain, but his supply fleet sleeps with the fishes. The only Romans to survive a wintry crossing of the (English) channel … Continue reading →

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Master and Commander

Posted on April 15, 2016 by smellincoffee

Master and Commander© 1969 Patrick O’Brian411 pages This morning, in a quiet courtyard, I finished Master and Commander, the first book in Patrick O’Brian’s Napoleonic naval stories.  These have been recommended to me ever since I finished Horatio Hornblower, though … Continue reading →

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This week: the usual suspects

Posted on February 8, 2016 by smellincoffee

Well, dear readers, it’s another month! I have a serious itch for science and science fiction at the moment, so I have no less than five potential science reads stacked up now, and three potential SF books. Among the numbers…Domesticated: Evolution in … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Warriors of the Storm

Posted on January 24, 2016 by smellincoffee

Warriors of the Storm© 2016 Bernard Cornwell320 pages “May God strike me dead this moment if I lie!”I drew Serpent-Breath, her blade scraping loud and fast on her scabbard’s throat.“Lord Uhtred!” Æthelflaed called out in alarm. “No!” Uhtred of Bebbanburg is … Continue reading →

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Future Crimes

Posted on January 24, 2016 by smellincoffee

Future Crimes; Everything is Connected, Everyone is Vulnerable, and What We Can Do About ItPaperback subtitle: Inside the Digital Underground and the Battle for Our Connected World © 2015 Marc Goodman608 pages “It’s not safe out here. It’s wondrous, with treasures to … Continue reading →

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Forgotten Ally

Posted on December 19, 2015 by smellincoffee

Forgotten Ally: China’s World War II© 2013 Rana Mitter467 pages Two years before a mad painter’s schemes plunged the world into war, China was fighting for its life.  It began the 20th century at a crossroads; the old imperial order … Continue reading →

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