Singularity (DeSmedt novel) explained

Singularity
Author:Bill DeSmedt
Country:United States
Language:English
Release Date:November 8, 2004
Media Type:Print (hardback)
Pages:524
Isbn:0-9745734-4-2
Dewey:813/.6 22
Congress:PS3604.E759 S56 2004
Oclc:56103731

Singularity is a novel by Bill DeSmedt published by Per Aspera Press in 2004. It is DeSmedt's debut novel and explores the theory that the Tunguska event was caused by a micro black hole.

Synopsis and publication

Released in 2004, Singularity is both DeSmedt's and the publishing house's debut novel.[1] Singularity is the first novel in the Archon Sequence series about the Tunguska event. DeSmedt's second and third novels in the series are Dualism (2014) and Triploidy (2022).

On Barnes & Noble's science fiction and fantasy list, Singularity ranked fifth.[2] On Mysterious Galaxy's bestsellers rankings, it ranked seventh.[2]

Plot summary

It is based on the theory that the Tunguska event was caused by a micro black hole.[3] Trying to locate weapon of mass destruction, Marianna Bonaventure is an American in the United States Department of Energy's CROM (Critical Resources Oversight Mandate) who has to work together with the outstanding analyst Jonathan Knox.[4] [5]

Reception

The Seattle Timess Nisi Shawl wrote, "DeSmedt's clear descriptions of everything from the core of a typical star to the sinister device an assassin uses to mimic a wolf's bite make it easy to follow his swiftly swooping story line".[1] Robert Folsom praised the book in The Kansas City Star, writing, "The dialogue would be another matter; it's very scientific. But De-Smedt has managed a neat trick: Conversations are lively even though they're peppered with accurate physicist's jargon. The thriller aspect of the book helps."[3]

The San Diego Union-Tribunes Jim Hopper called the novel "a stylish technothriller".[6] The Fayetteville Observer said the novel was "a science fiction thriller [that] will appeal to readers who enjoy Michael Crichton".[4] Danica McKellar praised the book in an interview with the New York Post, stating, "It's my favorite science fiction thriller. It's got everything - great characters, suspense, action, romance, and you just might learn something about black holes along the way."[7]

Referring to how Earth's gravity could have sucked in a black hole, John R. Alden wrote in The Plain Dealer, "Singularity takes this bizarre possibility, adds a cast of exotic characters, whips in a blitzkrieg plot and bakes it all into a hugely entertaining near-future thriller. James Bond would have loved to star in a story such as this."[8] In a mixed review, Publishers Weekly said, "The sexual chemistry between Marianna and Jonathan adds spice. Exotic hardware, lifestyles of the rich and notorious, double- and triple-crosses and a slightly rushed and facile conclusion all make a respectable if not outstanding first effort."[5]

Awards

The novel was awarded the "Gold Medal for Science Fiction" as part of Foreword Magazines "Book of the Year Awards".[9] It received the Independent Publisher Book Awards's "Ippy prize for Best Fantasy/Science Fiction novel of 2004".[9]

About the Author

Bill DeSmedt is an American author and software engineer.[10]

Notes and References

  1. News: Shawl . Nisi . 2004-11-28 . The nerd gets the secret agent in taut science-fiction thriller . . 2023-05-07 . https://archive.today/20230507083135/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/106B06432B81DC09&f=basic . 2023-05-07 .
  2. Hoffert . Barbara . Burns . Ann . 2005-03-15 . Winter Wonders, Spring Hopefuls . . 130 . 5 . .
  3. News: Folsom . Robert . 2004-12-05 . Frontiers of the mind - Three first novels should get these writers off to a good start . . 2023-05-07 . https://archive.today/20230507083142/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/106CC4AA7A0ACCFB&f=basic . 2023-05-07 .
  4. News: Olsen . Lisa . 2007-07-18 . Disaster stories offer guilt-free thrills . . 2023-05-07 . https://archive.today/20230507083219/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/11A7B7822001F840&f=basic . 2023-05-07 .
  5. 2004-10-25 . Singularity (book) . . 251 . 43 . . 2023-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230507090007/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-9745734-4-1 . 2023-05-07 .
  6. News: Hopper . Jim . 2004-12-12 . There's blood on the sand and on the asteroids as well . . 2023-05-07 . https://archive.today/20230507083158/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/106FBA8CDA827987&f=basic . 2023-05-07 .
  7. News: McKellar . Danica . Danica McKellar . 2008-08-24 . In My Library - Danica McKellar . . 2023-05-07 . https://archive.today/20230507083203/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/122D64CE97C96AA0&f=basic . 2023-05-07 .
  8. News: Alden . John R. . 2004-11-07 . Black hole hitting Earth grabs readers of thriller . . 2023-05-07 . https://archive.today/20230507083221/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/106413F4405E7D0F&f=basic . 2023-05-07 .
  9. News: Hartley . Lara . 2006-09-08 . New adventures in podcasting land . . . 2023-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230507084546/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press/124189206/ . 2023-05-07 .
  10. News: 2022-09-12 . DeSmedt, Bill . . 2023-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230507084930/https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/desmedt_bill . 2023-05-07 .