The Calculating Stars (Lady Astronaut Universe, #1)

by Mary Robinette Kowal

Even geniuses can be stupid when they’re scared.

Do I have to explain the glories of a fresh cup of coffee? The deep redolent steam rising from the cup woke me before the first gloriously bitter drop even touched my lips. Not just bitter, but caressing waves of dark alertness.

Besides, there was a disturbing consistency to how data presented by pretty young women was treated.

That tsk had been a masterful use of a single noise to convey disappointment and resignation.

We had a saying: Engineers caused problems. Computers solved them.

He was engaged in trying to figure out how to fold my panties, and it seemed to be taking more effort than a differential equation.

“I find that … yes, sir, I find that hard to believe, sir. I find that hard to believe.” If Mark Twain had been an idiot, this man might have been his embodiment. “I find that very hard to believe.” One might think he found it hard to believe.

There is something about having your legs over your head that makes you need to pee. This makes it into none of the press releases, but every single astronaut talks about it.