Review of Singularity

[Adrian Bouknight]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Singularity" by Jayme A. Oliveira Filho.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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“Singularity” by Jayme A. Oliveira Filho and Jayme S. Alencar takes us on a journey of human survival and resilience in a time when the Earth's climate is on the verge of collapse. This narrative follows Joseph Silva, a brilliant astrophysicist with qualities reminiscent of Albert Einstein. Silva develops a theory on space travel centered around the hypothesis that mankind might be able to travel through a wormhole to reach distant habitable planets. This idea emerges while he is spending time with his beloved daughter, Daisy, who is jumping on a trampoline in imagery that reflects Einstein’s theory of general relativity and the bending of the fabric of space-time. Decades pass, and Daisy eventually lands a position working for NASA. She vehemently defends her father's theory against criticism from the broader scientific community. The narrative continues through the eyes of Alexander, Daisy’s son, who then puts his family’s theory to the test. In the face of a collapsing ecosystem on Earth, Alexander, his loved one, Sofie, and their unborn child put their family legacy to the test by traveling to a distant planet named Canaan to start anew.

The book does a good job drawing on the intersection of science and faith. However, I wouldn’t recommend this book to people seeking academic perspectives on either field. The concepts portrayed by the characters in the story didn’t quite align with the consensus views of the scientific experts or with contemporary Biblical scholarship. For example, at one point in the story, Alexander presents a scientifically concordant view of the Book of Genesis, although this perspective is disfavored among scientists such as Carl Sagan, who is also referenced in the same chapter. Alexander also presents a defense of Genesis but does not reflect on its ancient Near Eastern context. It is a work of science fiction; however, so we have to accept the genre for what it is, not what we would like it to be. Regardless, the book still presents a high view of both areas of study.

Fans of popular movies such as Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” or people who enjoy the intersection between science and faith will appreciate this book. Readers of “Singularity” are drawn into the challenges and emotional turmoil of global catastrophe. The authors excel at referencing climate-related challenges that we face today and projecting them forward into the future to produce a story that is both futuristic and contemporaneously familiar. The pace of the narrative is relatively fast, which has pros and cons. On one hand, there isn’t much character development or personality arc, given how quickly time passes from one page to the next. However, for readers in a hurry, or those looking for a short science fiction story that doesn’t require too much time investment, this is a fun option.

While I commend Filho and Alencar’s references to popular scientists and Bible passages, I believe that the story could have been more enjoyable had it been about twice as long and included more detail of events between chapters. Even toward the end, during the grand finale, it feels a bit short-lived, and the details that I was hoping to find inspiring and enjoyable to read about, are left undescribed and unmentioned. It felt like I had waited patiently to reach the final chapter of the book, only to be left with very little detail about the planet Canaan, whether it be about it's flora or fauna, grand waterfalls, or its crisp cool air as the first settlers stepped off their ship. Alexander worked his entire life to reach this finale, yet there is very little detail about the excitement of him and his crew. The book could also benefit from some grammatical and typographical editing, though the story is still easily understandable and well conveyed.

That said, “Singularity” explores themes of courage, community, love, and the intersection between science and faith. The story touches on modern politics and challenges related to climate change and industrial consumerism. Despite my critiques of the pacing and somewhat vague details of the narrative, Filho and Alencar’s writing was still enjoyable. For these reasons, as a fan of science fiction, and as a scientist myself who also enjoys studying Genesis and the Old Testament, I personally enjoyed this story enough to give it 5 out of 5 stars.

In conclusion, “Singularity” is a testament to Filho and Alencar’s storytelling experience. Delivering a fast-paced and enjoyable science fiction narrative with adventure, good moral lessons, and frequent references to popular science, this novel provides an immersive journey into the future through the eyes of scientists standing on the shoulders of family tradition and sound scientific methodology.

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Singularity
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[Gerry Steen]

This sounds like my kind of science-fiction book. Not too long. I enjoy the blend of science and religion. As a Christian, I believe that both can co-exist. Any contradictions between the two disciplines, I am quite comfortable ignoring. Science is always evolving as is Christianity. It was great that Alexander was able to continue the legacy of his mother and grandfather and finally reach Canaan. If you gave this story a 5-star rating, I believe this story is worth spending time with. Great review! Thank you.

[Mona Alves]

Really good in-depth review. I can tell you have a lot of knowledge not only about the topics in question, science and faith, but also about the sci-fi genre, which really added value to the review. Appreciate the criticism on the book's faults as well.

[Elizabeth-Tush4Christ]

This book presents a united front on the family's approach to science and faith. I like that the test began as a theory and transformed into reality as they embarked on the journey. I appreciate the way you critically examine the book and juxtapose it with what is obtainable in reality, without detracting from the intriguing storyline shared by the author. I also like that the book is brief yet enjoyable, especially considering that most books in this genre are usually quite lengthy. This review is great like others I have read from you, looking forward to more.

[Kshitija Sonawane]

One of the movies I have always admired Interstellar. Within the science fiction and scientific information there, it showed a bond of family I really enjoyed. I can see the same bond here. You did a good job with the review.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

Aha, you're a scientist! That's why you're drawn to this genre, nice. At first, I thought this book was a lot like Exodus that you reviewed previously, but it's very different. Faith and science get coupled together often in science fiction, and it seems to work for this novel.

[Alissa Nesson]

I love science fiction, and I’m generally ok with stories that entwine the story with faith, though that isn’t really my thing. This sounded like such a great story, but it was actually one of the few books that I ditched because I hated it. It was a while ago, so it’s hard to remember exactly why, but I get very frustrated with a text that is full of errors. So that may have been part of it, but it wouldn’t have been the only reason, because I get a lot of books that are full of errors on here. However, this was another great review from you. You clearly understand the ideas well and I always enjoy your style. Thanks!