We get to know one of the two women character’s exact weight right up front (if you’re a man who writes, don’t do this unless you’re somehow subverting this yuck), and the use of her character goes downhill from there (she just has to sleep with the author insert character, etc). The off-the-shelf Cold War espionage thriller plot hasn’t aged very well in general — but some of the talk about what it was like to grow up with that was pretty okay. And there is a whole unfortunate (racist) thing with an “aged shaman” and hallucinogens. That said … the stuff about the black holes is interesting (even how the shaman story had clues) and seemed to have some okay science (just guessing that it was okay as I’m not a particle physicist) that was especially timely when this was written. Time travel stuff is almost always a bit of a problem child, it gets so silly. I always love the reclusive tech person trope.

This espionage story is a lot of fun. And I'm sure it would have been Stephen Hawking's favorite spy novel. And you can tell how central the physics is to the story by the fact that, if I told you any more about the physics, it would be a spoiler!

Listen and you will not want it to end.

Thanx I really enjoyed this book please give us more

Well worth the time to listen. I'm looking forward to more by this author.

Sci-fi meets James Bond type of adventure. Great listen. Loved the prologue.

This book is somewhat unique in the sci-fi genre in that the "sci" part is realistic and believable. Overall though the story is just so-so. It's not bad, but nothing that will keep you up all night either. The ending was predictable, but still turned out good. The reader has a very droning, monotone voice which doesn't help either...a more dynamic reader could have done a lot for this story.

this is a great book. the author makes everything so the listener can understand what is going on.I look foward to dualism the sequal to this book

Bill's book and voice are great to listen to. I discovered this podcast when searching for a free science fiction podcast for a car trip. This is now part of my collection. My only issue is that the music at the start and finish of each podcast is louder than Bill's spoken voice.

I enjoyed every minute of this book.

This is one if the best science fiction novels I've ever read (listened too). Wonderful combination of well developed characters and legitimate science. A pure joy. I can't wait for the next novel. Thank you for putting in all the hard work.

This book is boring through and through, Bills voice will make you fall asleep and the story is uninteresting. I dont think I could grasp what was going on in the story at any one time. The only thing this audiobook is good for is to help you fall asleep at night. Trust me none of the other reviewers no what they are talking about, except for the ones that agree with me.

id recommend this in a heart beat, the author reads and writes amazingly. after reading his bio im really impressed by this guy. This story has such a good balance to it. As posted before it will keep you up late! get it get it get it!! thats all ill say i cant do it much more justice than what others have written! maybe you can though. so suscribe, listen, and post your opinon.

Bill delivers one of the most well written sci fi podcasts I've ever listened to. There is so much accurate science behind the story that you can really believe some of the more far fetched ideas. Bill has a great way of developing the characters so you can really identify with all of them. Well done without all the sounds effects and music that can become distracting in a lot of other podcasts.

I love the science: the story about the Texan is exciting. The other two threads are a bit boring and I have to admit I stopped listening at chapter 15 -- fully intending to finish it later. The narrator (and writer) is a bit monotone and it's hard to follow at times. It's good enough that I'll finish it eventually.

Best Podiobook I have listened to so far.

I have read some of the other reviews and can understand some of their points. However, I still have to rate this as one of my favorite sci-fi books ever. It is so hard to develop an exciting plot from real historical events and hardcore astrophysics.....but Bill DeSmedt does it. Considering that this novel is a rookie outing from a small publisher, I think it is amazingly mature. I sincerely liked and cared for the four main characters (Knox, Marianna, Mycroft and Adler). I loved the back stories of Marianna and especially Knox. DeSmedt provides an EXCELLENT explanation for Jack's unique skills and outlook on life. I wish that Mycroft and Adler had been developed a bit more....but I am picking here. Beyond that, the conversations seemed realistic to me. So often I think there is no way “that” character would have reacted “that” way or said “that” there. I rarely encountered that in this book. The relationships between Knox and Marianna and then Knox and Adler flowed naturally for me. The science was first rate. (Apparently it was reviewed by the likes of Kip Thorn of Cal Tech.) Using Adler, he explains in simple terms very hardcore topics in a way that a layman can grasp with little effort. The actions scenes were a bit jerky(?) at times but really were not a major distraction. Frankly, I liked them and the overall pace of the book. My favorite action scene was involved the tarmac scene at the airport. As far as the podcast, again, for a rookie effort, I was very impressed. The production values were high. The voices were excellent....especially those of Adler and Mycroft. A point I have to agree with is that possibly the foreshadowing was too much. While the climax is very exciting, I had no difficulties in predicting the resolution if you only paid attention. I wonder if there wasn’t a better way to camouflage it somehow. I cannot wait for the sequel, Dualities, and to revisit this group of characters again. I will buy the book in print when it returns.

I am a scifi / fantasy freak since childhood. I love this book so far and I've only heard 3 episodes. His writing style feels polished and his descriptive style is wonderful. Many of the podiobooks are fun but they aren't all as well written as this. Thanks to the author for a great story!!!!! I am hooked!

At first I thought it was going to be amazing, a new favorite.  The premise is top-notch, and the book did a great job setting it up, linking it to real history, real science and also to slavic myth.  We are presented with a host of compelling characters with intriguing back-stories and interesting quirks.  A brooding sense of mystery and and suspense builds as we are fed tiny hints about who knows what and what their goals might be.  Lots of cool near-future gadgets fill out the arsenals of agents of plausible-sounding government agencies.  On top of all this, the writing was very good. And then it all goes to hell!  Reading it, you'd think that DeSmedt wrote the first third of the book, then watched a marathon of James Bond movies which influenced the the second third, then started actively packing in clichés at the end in hopes of easy adaptation into a Hollywood popcorn script. The villain is brilliant and devious, except that his plan is obviously doomed to failure due to a glaring flaw that readers will see ten chapters out but he and all his scientists are too dumb to think of.  In fact, the brains of all the characters seem to simply shut off whenever the story requires them to do something stupid, which is often. The female protagonist is set up as an intelligent and emotionally deep character, but she quickly degrades into a cliché movie vixen whose physical attributes are described again and again and again and again, and, although she is supposedly a seasoned secret agent whose discipline never fails her, she just can't control herself when it comes to sex with the nearest breathing male.  Horniness is ultimately her most memorable characteristic. The story ends with a giant red digital clock counting the down the seconds until the end of the world, not once, but TWICE in the same scene.  The villain walks into a room containing a naked black hole with the intention of tossing something into it. (Guess how that works out.)  The heroes battle henchmen with laser rifles.  The whole mess ends on a sickly sentimental note about love being the most real thing in the universe. Why can't a story start good and stay good?!  Why must I be disappointed over and over again by stories that start with a brilliant premises and end with lazy clichés?!  Why must the narrator's description of a woman as attractive always mean she will hop in the sack with the hero? Don't waste your time reading or listening to Singularity. Read up on the Tunguska event and make up your own story: It will have a better ending.

I am 8 chapters into the book so far and I have to say it has been exciting. If I did it again, I'd skip the prologue because I don't like to know where the author is going, I like to be surprised, but the prologue gives away the entire direction of the book (the write-up probably does too, I don't read write-ups). The plot is slowing down a bit, but sounds like its about to pick up again. I'll stick with it. I enjoyed learning how stars and black holes are made, a good bit of science, but not too much. One of my favorite aspects is the reader. He has a way of making each character unique. Before the text reveals the character, I already have identified him through the reader, and not because it's cheesy, but because it's well acted. If I release a book, I'll find the guy and persuade him to read mine too. :)

This is an excellent espionage thriller cleverly disguised as Sci-Fi. It is a realistic view of the ongoing cold war that captures the imagination and keeps the reader hook to the end. Also, his Russian accent is a spot on match. It's a wonder that it doesn't have more readers.

overall i liked the book though the reader's voice is too soft and monotone at first and it makes it hard to get into especially at the beginning when the story is kind of slow

But by the middle I was riveted! A wild ride in physics and SF, and even a bit of romance, so rare in hard sci fi!

Ever have that college art history proff that just drones on and on? That's how this is. Seemed like it would be a cool story, but this was classic monotone, "Ben Stein a la Ferris Bueller's Day Off" style of reading.

I've listened to several podiobooks, and this is the best by far! Extremely interesting, it kept me wishing I could listen to it at all times. A wonderful story, and well read, without all of the annoying "special effects" that other stories have. Enjoy!

Any fan of heart-pounding action, cutting-edge science and a well-crafted story should not miss Singularity! The prolouge is a little dry, but give it a chance, once it picks up steam, it never stops. Without a doubt, one of the best sci-fi books I've ever listened to.

A fantastic blend of science fiction, science fact (very well explained in laymen's terms) and intrigue. Strong characters and an engaging plot. Plenty of cliff hangers and surprises to keep you listening late into the night!

This book does a great job of backing up a fantastic story with what I can only assume is really good scientific information. DeSmedt does a recites the narrative with a calm dignified voice that I really enjoy, and he has one of the best Russian accents I've heard. He also doesn't make the mistake of trying to affect a female voice like some other authors do. I found this to be an altogether great listen, although you'l be hard-presed not to just listen to all fifty chapters in one sitting. Thanks, podiobooks.

Singularity to this date has been a excellent story and well produced podcast. The voices he uses are quite good, and I am enjoying the plot. Plus there is a quantum mechanical fireside chat and who doesn't love those. Its well worth the subscription. I'm hooked.