Comments on: Singularity

By: Bill DeSmedt

Bill DeSmedt — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:20:19 +0000

Steve,
I’m sorry to hear about your problem with ep #14. I’ve passed your post along to Evo Terra. Meantime, did you try clicking on the page’s “Report a problem with an episode” link?
Best,
Bill

By: Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:14:48 +0000

Singularity Episode 14 was posted without any title in the ID3 tag, this completely locked up my Sandisk MP3 player!! luckily it was on the SD card not the main drive, otherwise I would have had to reformat it to get it working again! As it was I had to go through every folder on the SD card deleting one at a time until I found the faulty one. Please take more care! I’m really enjoying the story, but don’t like my hardware getting messed up!!

By: Travis

Travis — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:55:21 +0000

Excellent book! Reminds a bit of one of my favorite movies.

By: Arri

Arri — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:22:12 +0000

Hey Bill and everyone else,
I listened to Singularity a couple years ago. Loved it then. And have just listened to Dr. Jack’s Seminars and Singularity again.
This is such a fun book, holds up great, and continues to dazzle the imagination especially after the seminars. Wow! I think it will remain one of my all time favs.
Some of the tech gear talk and post 9/11 sentiments will pin it to the early 2000s but that’s fine.
You all have got to give this a go. I guarantee you will discover real characters, great story and telling, and thought provoking concepts. I bet you like it!
I’m so jonezing to find out where the characters go next. Let’s hope the sequel Dualism appears soon!
Kia ora,
Arri

By: Lyallp

Lyallp — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:46:22 +0000

Loved this book.
A really cool twist to an old mystery.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 02:00:59 +0000

Bill, just outstanding work on Singularity! Can’t believe it took me so long to discover. I was completely blown away by the great combo of physics and fiction. Can’t wait to hear the latest on Dualism, or Duality as many posters refer to it

By: Slava Bazhenov

Slava Bazhenov — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:43:46 +0000

Dear Bill,
I wanted to say how much I appreciate the book that you have written and soapbox seminar episodes, that you have done. As you might have noticed from my name I am from Russia. I am also a huge fan of physics (came from my experience of studying physics in American school) and your soapbox episodes just helped me to figure out some things I was puzzling over for quite a while! Your analogies are simply great) When I first read about Singularity I wasn’t sure if I wanted to listen to it. There are a lot of science fiction stories that do not really rely on science at all. Furthermore, American understanding of Russian culture turns out to be quite stereotypical and that’s quite understandable. Old Soviet times and all of that. It was such a surprise and relief to find out that you used both science and description of Russian culture just the right way. So thank you for big time investments, for writing about Russia and for explaining science to me not only by formulas but also with helpful analogies.
Take care,
Slava

By: Bill DeSmedt

Bill DeSmedt — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:43:13 +0000

Nilos — Thanks for the kind words, and the pointer to the videogame. I don’t *think* there’s any connection (certainly none I’m aware of), but I’ll check it out. Bill

By: Nilos

Nilos — Sat, 01 May 2010 21:25:17 +0000

Hello Bill, gorgeous tale you’re telling there, thanks for the long hours of much needed escapism, into something that might be more science than fiction, but lets not go there, and enjoy it from a distance. I just wanted to add my 2 cents, and make you aware of, if you arent already, that there’s a “Singularity: Last Resort” videogame being made out there, watch the trailers if you will, it surely rang more than one bell as i saw it, does your fiction have anything to do with it, even remotely? Otherwise keep up the good work, thank you again.

By: annoyance

annoyance — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:18:11 +0000

just finished listening again. I had forgotten how good the narration was. This is an exceptional story.

By: Leif

Leif — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:16:49 +0000

OK, the nice thing to say is: BILL! You need an editor.
For everyone that might not know, “brobdingnagian” means “large.” Some other words that come to mind are OBFUSCATORY and PONDEROUS as regards the size of the waders needed to make it through this tale. Why do the details of quantum theory, mostly irrelevant to the plot, have to be related in such an excruciating manner complete with difficult Russian and South Texas accents. Cripes! how about an [American] narrator, at least, or preface or a glossary. A Vulcan mind meld . . . anything. Hire a reader. Cut 20%.
And when the action is hopping? I do not need ten dollar words tying my shoelaces together. GET WITH IT, dude. Great yarn, but I just could not make it through the kidnap sequence, of all things. Couldn’t stand the excitement, I guess.

By: Arri

Arri — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Hi Bill,
Very much loved my Singularity experience. You/it made me think/learn more than I have managed to motivate myself to do in quite some time. Much quality though processing continues…
Thanks for your efforts, re-efforts and attention to details. It was well worth it. (PS not to worry about the love scene. It all played like real life sometimes does. Boo hoos to the prudes. nuff said.)
And finally, I knew that music well from somewhere but never could recall where. Had to laugh out loud when you revealed it! Good choice.
And finally finally, So hoping you find the energy and inspiration to get Dualism out.
Treat yourself to a pint of the black stuff with the donation.
peace out,
Arri

By: Bill DeSmedt

Bill DeSmedt — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:12:08 +0000

Hey, lara, Tim, ex2bot, & Willhud — Thanks for the kind words. And, on the off chance you’re among those who’ve thought about how Singularity would play on the big screen, well, now you can cast it! Just log on to http://storycasting.com, create an account, and assemble your Singularity dream cast. Enjoy! Bill

By: lara

lara — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:36:52 +0000

this book was fabulous. the science seemed topnotch – at least to this non-scientist and i was fascinated enough to listen to dr. jack’s seminars. really good stuff!

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:28:00 +0000

Pretty neat little story. Loved the sciene, didn’t love the love story so much but it was well written and well told. Not for kids, which is a shame since I think a kid who is interested in blackholes and stuff would get a kick out of the story.

By: ex2bot

ex2bot — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:32:25 +0000

Bill,

I’ll add my voice to the many to say how impressed I am with the book so far (I’m on chapter 11). Hard sci + well developed characters and world-eating black holes — what’s not to love?

I intend to donate to podiobooks and to buy your books.

Thanks!
Bot
New Podio and DeSmedt Fanbot

By: Willhud

Willhud — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:39:06 +0000

Just finished Singularity and wanted to tell you how much I loved it!!!!! Can’t wait for more.

By: Bill DeSmedt

Bill DeSmedt — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:54:42 +0000

Hey, Claudia & Bruce — thanks for the raves!

(Claudia — don’t tell Steve Jobs, but the intro/outro piece is actually one of the Garage Band demo songs provided with iLife. It’s called “Glide.”)

By: Claudia

Claudia — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:54:54 +0000

Opps–hit return too soon.

I initally gave up on Singularity because the beginning seemed boring/slow. I liked the book much better when I wasn’t multitasking while listening.

I look forward to Dualism if only to see what new adventures top the freaky time travel of book one. My fondest Singularity memory is the way the hospital room arc was resolved.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:30:09 +0000

Hello,

What is the intro/outro song called?