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What if the cataclysmic Tunguska explosion of 1908 was caused, not by a meteor or a comet, but by a microscopic black hole?

... Well, like as not, you already know that story -- the one told by Bill DeSmedt in his award-winning novel/podcast Singularity. What you may not know, though, is the story behind the story: the science behind Singularity.

Surprisingly (or maybe not), you can learn a lot about primordial black holes and the Tunguska Event and black hole radiation and the Big Bang on the pages of Singularity. And you don't have to take our word for it: some world-class physicists think so too:

"Bill got the vast majority of the physics right, which is highly unusual -- especially in a book that is such a good read."
-- Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, California Institute of Technology and author of Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy

"Singularity is an uncommonly good science thriller, quite free of the poetic license some writers take with the laws of nature in order to put together the yarn."
-- Jacob D. Bekenstein, Professor of Theoretical Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem and discoverer of black-hole entropy

"As a specialist in black hole astrophysics, I would have to say that this is one of the most creative uses of primordial black-hole theory in science fiction."
-- Scott A. Hughes, Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Now, for the first time, the real-life counterpart of Singularity's resident cosmologist, Doctor Jack Adler, steps up to explain what it is all these scientists are raving about, in his "Soapbox Seminars" -- an informal look at the hard-core science behind the novel.

PS: Doctor Jack's got about fifteen or so of these seminars planned out so far, but that's subject to change -- and you could change it. If you've got a question about the science behind Singularity, send it to Jack at doctorjack at soapboxseminars.com. Jack will incorporate some of your questions into upcoming Seminars, and the all-time best question will win a hardcover copy of Singularity, signed by the author, Bill DeSmedt.

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Audio Quality: Out of 11 ratings

Narration Quality: Out of 11 ratings

Writing Quality: Out of 11 ratings

Overall Rating: Out of 11 ratings

By: Bill DeSmedt
Hey, Steve -- Thanks for the kind words about Doctor Jack (and Singularity). I'm glad you enjoyed them. As to Dualism, if it were a movie (I should be so lucky, right?), it'd be in post-production now -- all done but the editing. Hoping to have it in the can by the end of the first quarter of 09. Thanks for asking! S novym godom, as Sasha would say! Bill

By: Steve
I won't pretend to understand everything Jack had to say, but this is definitely one of my favourite podiobooks. Although I could not understand 100%, due to your 'down-to-earth' manner of speech, I would say I got 90% of it. Thank you so much, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. To others reading this post: If you enjoyed singularity, and if you didn't that's because you haven't listened to it yet! (it is impossible not to like) go look it up on this site now and enjoy that before attempting to listen here, if you enjoyed Singularity, you will find Dr Jack's Soapbox a very pleasant appendix to the main act. Thanks again Bill. Any ETA on Duality? When can I purchase a copy?

By: Evo Terra, Podiobooks & Podcasting for Dummies | Words To Mouth
[...] Dr. Jack?s Soap Box Seminars [...]

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