Tag Archives: science fiction

The Island of Doctor Moreau

Posted on June 17, 2023 by smellincoffee

“It was not in eating the apple that I sinned, but in overstepping the mark set for me. ” – Adam, Paradiso.   Adrift at sea,  a young biologist named Prendick – who had taken to natural history to relieve … Continue reading →

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Farming for xp and fields

Posted on June 16, 2023 by smellincoffee

More short rounds today, bringing together a lite SF title and a collection of Wendell Berry’s farming essays. First up is Craig Anderson’s Level Up, a title in the relatively new field of ‘litrpg’ in which video game elements are … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews, science fiction, Society and Culture | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Memes on Tuesday: SF and rebellion against horror

Posted on February 28, 2023 by smellincoffee

First up, Tuesday Teasins’, this time from Michael Warren Davis’ The Reactionary Mind. This week’s top ten list is a ‘genre freebie’, so I’m going to go with Ten Near-Future SF Tales. (1) & (2): Daemon and Freedom, Daniel Suarez. … Continue reading →

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Upgrade

Posted on November 28, 2022 by smellincoffee

Upgrade© 2022 Blake Crouch352 pages Growing up, Logan Ramsey idolized his brilliant mother, a cutting edge bioengineer. Then a tool of her device that worked perfectly in proving trials killed over two hundred thousand people by accidentally inducing a global … Continue reading →

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The Every

Posted on November 9, 2022 by smellincoffee

The Every© 2021 Dave Eggers608 pages Nearly ten years ago, Dave Eggers published The Circle,   about the rise of an uber-corporation whose products had transformed not only the digital world, but were beginning to shape society as well.  Think … Continue reading →

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Dark Matter

Posted on September 20, 2022 by smellincoffee

Dark Matter© 2016 Blake Crouch352 pages Jason Desseys is a first-rate physicist, one who could have earned his place in the history books alongside Feynman,  Planck, and Hawking.  He chose instead to focus on an unexpected role as a father, … Continue reading →

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Recursion

Posted on September 19, 2022 by smellincoffee

Recursion© 2019 Blake Crouch324 pages Imagine a sudden headache, a nosebleed, and the instantaneous arrival of a lifetime’s worth of memories that are yours — and yet, not. Imagine remembering being married to someone for decades, having children with them, … Continue reading →

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August 2022 in Review

Posted on August 31, 2022 by smellincoffee

It’s…er, been a while since I did a monthly update. Science Survey Doing well! The science survey for 22 is completed,  with sixteen titles fulfilling my twelve categories. I’d like to finish the year with at least 20 science titles, … Continue reading →

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The Kaiju Preservation Society

Posted on August 9, 2022 by smellincoffee

The Kaiju Preservation Society© 2021 John Scalzi268 pages I don’t know what a kaiju is, but John Scalzi’s name is on the cover so, I’m sold. At least, that’s…what I thought. Turns out John Scalzi isn’t always at his John … Continue reading →

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Recalled to life

Posted on August 8, 2022 by smellincoffee

Er. hi. Been a while. Today marks my partial return to work, as I’ve been readjusting to life the last few weeks. I’ve been reading steadily, but have not been home (lots of housesitting), and typing reviews on my laptop … Continue reading →

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