Review of Singularity
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Autumn Shears
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Review of Singularity
[Following is a volunteer review of "Singularity" by Jayme A. Oliveira Filho.]
The concept of “Singularity” is a common one. The disastrous future of earth and space exploration as a solution. Humans are in danger of extinction as the planet has become too damaged to repair and continues to get worse. A scientist named Joseph discovers a new theory that would save humanity. If proven true, humanity would have a means to save themselves. With undying determination and hopefulness, his daughter Daisy and other scientists test theory. They discover an inhabitable planet across space and with a spaceship created by Daisy ready to depart for a better future. A typical story that appeals to people of the science fiction genre, but some things fall flat in this one.
There is a lot of telling and virtually no showing. For example, “Professors Heart and Christine were impressive scientists”, it’s nice to say that their impressive at their profession but the reader should be allowed to gauge that for themselves, not simply through a flat statement.
I would be more invested in the story if characters had characterization beyond them being “professors, scientists, assistant”. Have them interact with each other outside of work, show their nerves, them during leisure time (nobody is working 24 hours a day, they would die, unless they created some drug to keep them going which would also be a fun thing to add.)
Unless they are literal robots without the ability to express themselves, I want to know their fears, not just their hope. Make them feel like real people. Perhaps the main character could have a conversation with her father about their life.
The repetition of “prove the theory” and “prove her father’s theory” and constant mention of “theory” and “being correct” is utterly mind numbing and aggravating because I want to know more but there is nothing to be given. The main characters emotions are all tied to “proving her father’s theory” which is disturbingly obsessive, or the authors attempt to remind the readers like children with serve ADD.
Another example, “Earth has sustained irreversible damage”, explaining in a little more details to help the reader visualize the situation, such as “99% of previously functioning farms were barren and were not likely to produce without significant climate cooling” or “the ocean level sunk approximately half the continents and the countries therein” would be more interesting. Specifics help worldbuilding, numbers and descriptions that compare the now and the future show the reader their dire position. Describing the scientific elements: meteorites, climate and theories are only interesting to a certain degree. I really don’t want to say that the story drones on without much excitement, but it does. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Chapters 8, 9, 10, and 12 are brief for brevity’s sake and I enjoyed them the most.
Chapter 7, 9, 10, “Frenemies”, “Lunar Romance”, and “The Journey” respectively, have what I was looking for in at least chapters 2 through 6. A sense of these people being real by giving a means of connection with others. The last four chapters are significantly better because of the increased human connection.
Some other major things that are overlooked are whether the comparable elements of the new planet are habitable long term. If the air has too much or little nitrogen and oxygen, how would that affect them? What about seasons, water, gravity, soil, how’s the food situation? Knowing that they have no other choice, they should have also prepared suits and other means of protecting themselves since the scientist didn’t test these levels. In addition, how durable is the ship anyway? It’s all too convenient.
Overall, the lack of intimacy between characters and barely if at all a personality to speak of in the main body, and other interest beyond the mission to save humanity makes it very one note. But I will say that the authors already have a lot to work with so adjustments shouldn’t be too difficult. There are very few syntax errors. I recommend this as a short read but not an overall exciting one. I’ll give it 3 out of 5 because most of the work is there. Each chapter has its strengths and weaknesses. Needs some livening up for sure.
******
Singularity
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The concept of “Singularity” is a common one. The disastrous future of earth and space exploration as a solution. Humans are in danger of extinction as the planet has become too damaged to repair and continues to get worse. A scientist named Joseph discovers a new theory that would save humanity. If proven true, humanity would have a means to save themselves. With undying determination and hopefulness, his daughter Daisy and other scientists test theory. They discover an inhabitable planet across space and with a spaceship created by Daisy ready to depart for a better future. A typical story that appeals to people of the science fiction genre, but some things fall flat in this one.
There is a lot of telling and virtually no showing. For example, “Professors Heart and Christine were impressive scientists”, it’s nice to say that their impressive at their profession but the reader should be allowed to gauge that for themselves, not simply through a flat statement.
I would be more invested in the story if characters had characterization beyond them being “professors, scientists, assistant”. Have them interact with each other outside of work, show their nerves, them during leisure time (nobody is working 24 hours a day, they would die, unless they created some drug to keep them going which would also be a fun thing to add.)
Unless they are literal robots without the ability to express themselves, I want to know their fears, not just their hope. Make them feel like real people. Perhaps the main character could have a conversation with her father about their life.
The repetition of “prove the theory” and “prove her father’s theory” and constant mention of “theory” and “being correct” is utterly mind numbing and aggravating because I want to know more but there is nothing to be given. The main characters emotions are all tied to “proving her father’s theory” which is disturbingly obsessive, or the authors attempt to remind the readers like children with serve ADD.
Another example, “Earth has sustained irreversible damage”, explaining in a little more details to help the reader visualize the situation, such as “99% of previously functioning farms were barren and were not likely to produce without significant climate cooling” or “the ocean level sunk approximately half the continents and the countries therein” would be more interesting. Specifics help worldbuilding, numbers and descriptions that compare the now and the future show the reader their dire position. Describing the scientific elements: meteorites, climate and theories are only interesting to a certain degree. I really don’t want to say that the story drones on without much excitement, but it does. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Chapters 8, 9, 10, and 12 are brief for brevity’s sake and I enjoyed them the most.
Chapter 7, 9, 10, “Frenemies”, “Lunar Romance”, and “The Journey” respectively, have what I was looking for in at least chapters 2 through 6. A sense of these people being real by giving a means of connection with others. The last four chapters are significantly better because of the increased human connection.
Some other major things that are overlooked are whether the comparable elements of the new planet are habitable long term. If the air has too much or little nitrogen and oxygen, how would that affect them? What about seasons, water, gravity, soil, how’s the food situation? Knowing that they have no other choice, they should have also prepared suits and other means of protecting themselves since the scientist didn’t test these levels. In addition, how durable is the ship anyway? It’s all too convenient.
Overall, the lack of intimacy between characters and barely if at all a personality to speak of in the main body, and other interest beyond the mission to save humanity makes it very one note. But I will say that the authors already have a lot to work with so adjustments shouldn’t be too difficult. There are very few syntax errors. I recommend this as a short read but not an overall exciting one. I’ll give it 3 out of 5 because most of the work is there. Each chapter has its strengths and weaknesses. Needs some livening up for sure.
******
Singularity
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Digging for God by Tom Hillman
