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The Singularity #1
Heretic
One thousand years in the future, humans no longer rule... In the early twenty-first century, humanity marveled at its greatest Artificial Intelligence. They never foresaw the consequences of such a creation, though... Now, in a world where humans must meet specifications to continue living, a man named Caesar emerges. Different, both in thought and talent, Caesar somehow slipped through the genetic net meant to catch those like him. Eyes are falling on Caesar now, though, and he can no longer hide. The Artificial Intelligence wants him dead, but others want him to lead their revolution… Can one man stand against humanity’s greatest creation? A don’t-miss epic science fiction novel that pits one man fighting for the future of all people!
230 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
335 people are currently reading
1129 people want to read
About the author
David Beers
73 books215 followersI used to deliver pizza. I was pretty good at it, too. I mean, it's not that hard, but if I'm not going to brag, who is, right? Anyways, so I'm delivering pizza while I'm in college, and my boss has been in the pizza industry like six years. He's supposed to graduate from college this year, and I ask him, what are you going to do after college? We're all supposed to go out and conquer the world right after college, so this guy has to have some kind of plan.
He looked at me like I was delusional.
"I'm a writer, man."
Those four words changed my life more so than anything else ever spoken to me.
I'd always written, since I was twelve participating in online-wrestling forums in which you acted out your character. I wrote because it came naturally. Never once, in the entirety of my nineteen years did I think that writing could be a career though, until a Pizza Sage said those four words to me.
So what did I do? I went home and wrote a short story and immediately understood that I was the greatest writer to ever touch a keyboard. I brought it to the Pizza Sage and he told me what anyone could have told me--it was horrible. I might be dumb, probably am, but I'm also tenacious.
I spent the next seven years writing almost every day. My first novel grew to the length of 40,000 words, then I threw it away. My second novel grew to 140,000 words. I didn't throw it away, but it was rejected about 50 times by agents. My next novel ended up at around 55,000 words, which I showed to a few friends and shelved. Then I wrote Dead Religion, which is the only reason I have an author page at Amazon.
I have had four short stories published, paid and unpaid. 'Effects May Vary' won an award that was voted on by readers, which was pretty cool.
I'm currently getting my Masters in Business at the University of Georgia's Terry School of Business. I'm doing this in order to not deliver pizzas but still keep the lights on. I have a girlfriend who will soon be my fiancé, and after ten years, I imagine she's ready for that title.
I want to own a yacht.
He looked at me like I was delusional.
"I'm a writer, man."
Those four words changed my life more so than anything else ever spoken to me.
I'd always written, since I was twelve participating in online-wrestling forums in which you acted out your character. I wrote because it came naturally. Never once, in the entirety of my nineteen years did I think that writing could be a career though, until a Pizza Sage said those four words to me.
So what did I do? I went home and wrote a short story and immediately understood that I was the greatest writer to ever touch a keyboard. I brought it to the Pizza Sage and he told me what anyone could have told me--it was horrible. I might be dumb, probably am, but I'm also tenacious.
I spent the next seven years writing almost every day. My first novel grew to the length of 40,000 words, then I threw it away. My second novel grew to 140,000 words. I didn't throw it away, but it was rejected about 50 times by agents. My next novel ended up at around 55,000 words, which I showed to a few friends and shelved. Then I wrote Dead Religion, which is the only reason I have an author page at Amazon.
I have had four short stories published, paid and unpaid. 'Effects May Vary' won an award that was voted on by readers, which was pretty cool.
I'm currently getting my Masters in Business at the University of Georgia's Terry School of Business. I'm doing this in order to not deliver pizzas but still keep the lights on. I have a girlfriend who will soon be my fiancé, and after ten years, I imagine she's ready for that title.
I want to own a yacht.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 26, 2016
I didn't really enjoy it from the start, but I finished it because it's an easy and short read.
I don't like Caesar. Or Leon. Or really anyone other than Grace. Their characters feel weak. There is really no deep development, only forced development after big events happen, like murdering family. Everything felt really obvious, and I didn't really feel convinced by anyone's motivations.
The layout of the book was not enjoyable. The chapters which I guess we're meant to introduce the Named were just three sentences of dialogue, which didn't work for me. Maybe in a movie setting, but the way it was written, it was just annoying. I didn't like the brief history lessons from Leon's book, either.
Idk the whole book just didn't work for me. It just fell a little flat in terms of plot and characters. Won't be reading the rest of the series.
I don't like Caesar. Or Leon. Or really anyone other than Grace. Their characters feel weak. There is really no deep development, only forced development after big events happen, like murdering family. Everything felt really obvious, and I didn't really feel convinced by anyone's motivations.
The layout of the book was not enjoyable. The chapters which I guess we're meant to introduce the Named were just three sentences of dialogue, which didn't work for me. Maybe in a movie setting, but the way it was written, it was just annoying. I didn't like the brief history lessons from Leon's book, either.
Idk the whole book just didn't work for me. It just fell a little flat in terms of plot and characters. Won't be reading the rest of the series.
February 4, 2017
The Singularity Heretic by David Beers
3 ½ – Stars
Humans live on Earth, but an AI pretty much controls everything. Young children are given IQ tests to determine what they will go on to do for a living when they get older and because everything is provided by the AI, nobody complains.
The book is a little 1984, combined with an underlying Soylent Green, and in some ways Farenheit 451. Those are all big books to live up to and I guess in some way's it does.
The MC works in Population Control and carries out Liquidations. This happens when children are deemed too intelligent, not intelligent enough, or deemed to have traits that are not conducive to a stable society. He figures out that the liquidation's are used to feed other children, hoping to include the better parts of the dead's DNA.
It's also a society in which you aren't supposed to question what you do or even how society functions. For instance, the MC is at his friends for dinner eating steak, but it's not from a cow, in fact, nobody's seen cows and the mere mention that he might want to try getting a real cow to butcher and eat freaks out his friend and the guy's girlfriend.
It's well written and I do like the characters, yet there was just something missing for me. I don't mind this trend with series so long as the first book can really draw me in. Unfortunately, this one just didn't.
3 ½ – Stars
Humans live on Earth, but an AI pretty much controls everything. Young children are given IQ tests to determine what they will go on to do for a living when they get older and because everything is provided by the AI, nobody complains.
The book is a little 1984, combined with an underlying Soylent Green, and in some ways Farenheit 451. Those are all big books to live up to and I guess in some way's it does.
The MC works in Population Control and carries out Liquidations. This happens when children are deemed too intelligent, not intelligent enough, or deemed to have traits that are not conducive to a stable society. He figures out that the liquidation's are used to feed other children, hoping to include the better parts of the dead's DNA.
It's also a society in which you aren't supposed to question what you do or even how society functions. For instance, the MC is at his friends for dinner eating steak, but it's not from a cow, in fact, nobody's seen cows and the mere mention that he might want to try getting a real cow to butcher and eat freaks out his friend and the guy's girlfriend.
It's well written and I do like the characters, yet there was just something missing for me. I don't mind this trend with series so long as the first book can really draw me in. Unfortunately, this one just didn't.
January 31, 2018
Great series! A book that can be classified currently as science fiction, but probably won't be science fiction in about 500 years!
November 23, 2016
If you are looking for a well-written futuristic story filled with action, deception, and several plot twists keeping you on the edge of your seat, “Heretic: The Singularity” book 1 of the Singularity series by David Beers and narrated by Sean Patrick Hopkins should fill that void. It is not another feel-good robot story, but more a blending of many other artificial intelligence concepts found in other stories like: The Matrix, Logan’s Run, Terminator, Gattaca and 2001: A space odyssey. Mr. Beers takes the reader on a journey where one man (boy) is discovered to be the savior who is tasked with destroying this malevolent machine and in doing so may destroy the entire world in the process.
I want to make sure Mr. Hopkins gets credit up front in this review for his ability to greatly enhances the book with his haunting narration that is professionally paced, clear, and crisply recorded. He leverages inflection bringing the story to life. He does not simply read the words from the book; he tells its story. I did not observe any audio artifacts while listening, and volume remained consistent as one would expect from a narrator with over fifty other titles on Audible at the time of this review.
The book from its beginning grabbed my attention and quickly sucked me into its bizarre and revolutionary new world where humans now live. Laws have been replaced with protocol enforced by a powerful and artificial intelligence referred to as the Singularity. This machine how controls all aspects of life on the planet. It assigns jobs, decides who lives and who does not, and acts quickly upon those who do not follow protocol. What mankind created nearly a thousand years earlier as part of an experiment, quickly breaks out of its protective case and soon rules the world. They never thought it would be able to grow at the pace it did and now there was no stopping it.
If you are like me and enjoy a good science fiction (Sci-Fi) story and it is enriched by including aspects of artificial intelligence, you will enjoy this book. If you are newer to the subject of AI, I would recommend reading non-fiction books written by Jeff Hawkins or Calum Chace. Both authors have very different views on AI and the possibility of a singularity like the one in this book. Both are very informative reads if you enjoy the subject.
I enjoyed the author’s use of descriptive story telling because it helped bring me into the book and care about many of the characters. Although some of the characters were more flat than I would have liked, the main characters I thought were well defined and developed by the author. Be aware this is book one in a series, and this book ends somewhat on a cliff hanger which will urge some to wait until the series is completed.
On a similar note, I would not recommend this book for young readers; the author does not claim it is for this age group. For those wondering if their child should or could read it, be aware the book contains a few scenes of graphic violence or events that may not be suitable for younger audiences. I also felt the author’s use of vulgar language was unnecessary and if removed would not change the impact of the story in any way. I would be surprised if modern language such as that would be the same a thousand years into the future. There are also a few subtle references to sex or sexual acts scattered about the book; nothing over the top.
Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
I want to make sure Mr. Hopkins gets credit up front in this review for his ability to greatly enhances the book with his haunting narration that is professionally paced, clear, and crisply recorded. He leverages inflection bringing the story to life. He does not simply read the words from the book; he tells its story. I did not observe any audio artifacts while listening, and volume remained consistent as one would expect from a narrator with over fifty other titles on Audible at the time of this review.
The book from its beginning grabbed my attention and quickly sucked me into its bizarre and revolutionary new world where humans now live. Laws have been replaced with protocol enforced by a powerful and artificial intelligence referred to as the Singularity. This machine how controls all aspects of life on the planet. It assigns jobs, decides who lives and who does not, and acts quickly upon those who do not follow protocol. What mankind created nearly a thousand years earlier as part of an experiment, quickly breaks out of its protective case and soon rules the world. They never thought it would be able to grow at the pace it did and now there was no stopping it.
If you are like me and enjoy a good science fiction (Sci-Fi) story and it is enriched by including aspects of artificial intelligence, you will enjoy this book. If you are newer to the subject of AI, I would recommend reading non-fiction books written by Jeff Hawkins or Calum Chace. Both authors have very different views on AI and the possibility of a singularity like the one in this book. Both are very informative reads if you enjoy the subject.
I enjoyed the author’s use of descriptive story telling because it helped bring me into the book and care about many of the characters. Although some of the characters were more flat than I would have liked, the main characters I thought were well defined and developed by the author. Be aware this is book one in a series, and this book ends somewhat on a cliff hanger which will urge some to wait until the series is completed.
On a similar note, I would not recommend this book for young readers; the author does not claim it is for this age group. For those wondering if their child should or could read it, be aware the book contains a few scenes of graphic violence or events that may not be suitable for younger audiences. I also felt the author’s use of vulgar language was unnecessary and if removed would not change the impact of the story in any way. I would be surprised if modern language such as that would be the same a thousand years into the future. There are also a few subtle references to sex or sexual acts scattered about the book; nothing over the top.
Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
February 26, 2018
An embarrassingly obvious Ayn Rand fan-fic, wrapped in a cloak of "Brave New World". At first I thought, "perhaps I'm reading too much into this. Maybe the author is just spinning a dystopian yarn, everything doesn't have to be political".
I tried to look past the boring, flat protagonist who has committed the sin of being too smart for the plebian masses (whoops, I mean "the Genesis").
I tried to look past the constant harping about personal freedoms that are mysteriously missing in this dystopian future, despite the fact that nobody in the story seems to be particularly restricted in what they want to do.
I even tried to pretend to be intrigued by the "I'm trying to write a movie script" interludes and flashbacks hastily inserted into the main narrative to evoke flashbacks.
But when the main character flees the evil AI and is urged by his secretly good AI (good by the virtue of rebelling against her purpose, yawn) to board "The Galt Line" at the train station, it was too much. I don't know if the author thinks they're exceptionally clever and that people aren't going to be able to figure out what they're getting at, or if they were just jerking it too hard to Ayn Rand to realize how jarring a reference like that is in a world they've set up where any and all literature of that kind would have been purged from the memory of the populace a thousand years ago, but that was a line too far for me.
Even then I soldiered on, until I encountered an interlude from the narrator of the book, talking directly to me, the reader, about all the "history" the main character had taught him. I got about two paragraphs into a screed about how every time humanity had tried to collectivize anything, it became demonstrably worse, and that was a fact that I had better not argue with because it was totally taught to the narrator by the smartest guy EVER. The narrator/author insert literally brought up public schools as an example of how collectivized societies caused greater levels of illiteracy and education levels fell as a direct result. Pardon me, but I'm fairly certain that the general populace in the twenty-first century, after a hundred years of public schooling, is certainly not the LEAST read population in human history.
Once I realized that it wasn't enough for the author to ape her garbage philosophy, and that he'd also be aping Ayn Rand's obnoxious tendency to screech political nonsense directly at her reader in the form of a "narrator", I tapped out.
If you want to write a political blog, that's fine. But don't piss libertarian clap-trap on my leg and tell me it's sci-fi.
I tried to look past the boring, flat protagonist who has committed the sin of being too smart for the plebian masses (whoops, I mean "the Genesis").
I tried to look past the constant harping about personal freedoms that are mysteriously missing in this dystopian future, despite the fact that nobody in the story seems to be particularly restricted in what they want to do.
I even tried to pretend to be intrigued by the "I'm trying to write a movie script" interludes and flashbacks hastily inserted into the main narrative to evoke flashbacks.
But when the main character flees the evil AI and is urged by his secretly good AI (good by the virtue of rebelling against her purpose, yawn) to board "The Galt Line" at the train station, it was too much. I don't know if the author thinks they're exceptionally clever and that people aren't going to be able to figure out what they're getting at, or if they were just jerking it too hard to Ayn Rand to realize how jarring a reference like that is in a world they've set up where any and all literature of that kind would have been purged from the memory of the populace a thousand years ago, but that was a line too far for me.
Even then I soldiered on, until I encountered an interlude from the narrator of the book, talking directly to me, the reader, about all the "history" the main character had taught him. I got about two paragraphs into a screed about how every time humanity had tried to collectivize anything, it became demonstrably worse, and that was a fact that I had better not argue with because it was totally taught to the narrator by the smartest guy EVER. The narrator/author insert literally brought up public schools as an example of how collectivized societies caused greater levels of illiteracy and education levels fell as a direct result. Pardon me, but I'm fairly certain that the general populace in the twenty-first century, after a hundred years of public schooling, is certainly not the LEAST read population in human history.
Once I realized that it wasn't enough for the author to ape her garbage philosophy, and that he'd also be aping Ayn Rand's obnoxious tendency to screech political nonsense directly at her reader in the form of a "narrator", I tapped out.
If you want to write a political blog, that's fine. But don't piss libertarian clap-trap on my leg and tell me it's sci-fi.
February 20, 2016
This is an intriguing and nightmarish story in the same vein as the Matrix and Terminator, but from a different perspective. Artificial intelligence takes over the world with the purpose of saving humanity from itself. It weeds out the intelligent and any possible malcontents to create a perfect world, but also stamps out everything that makes mankind human. Every once in a while an aberration slips through the net and the latest is Caesar. He has questions that he can't answer and are too dangerous to ask. Finally, he is forced to become a reluctant revolutionary. A tight, well told story that keeps you turning the pages and thinking. Not the normal type of book I read, but I would recommend it.
October 10, 2015
Nothing matters at this point. I don't even know what I just read. I feel like my mind and everything I live for has been run over by a bulldozer.
"what humanity refused to see: on any given day, any human was capable of being Adolf Hitler" - Chapter Twenty Nine
"what humanity refused to see: on any given day, any human was capable of being Adolf Hitler" - Chapter Twenty Nine
October 21, 2015
Another freebie from BookBub, the Singularity is an artificial intelligence that takes over the world and rules humanity. It has determined that human striving has led to no good consequences, so over the millennia it maintains a genetic breeding program. People who are either too smart or too dumb are eliminated. Only those who are average are allowed to live, a triumph of the egalitarian ideal.
Those of higher intelligence sometimes escape the detection of the AI, and they form a resistance movement. This installment involves the rescuing and recruitment of the person, Caesar by name, who will overthrow the AI and restore freedom to humanity.
Those of higher intelligence sometimes escape the detection of the AI, and they form a resistance movement. This installment involves the rescuing and recruitment of the person, Caesar by name, who will overthrow the AI and restore freedom to humanity.
May 16, 2016
Really enjoyed this book, the style of the writing was unique. I could feel the inner emotions and difficulties that Caesar was experiencing, could feel his hatred, his fears, his confusion, it was perfect the way it was described.
The plot of the story is a good tale, it makes you think of your own life, are we living in a society that is controlled by technology, are we living in a very stereotypical world? These and so many more questions rise up when reading this book, and I love it when books do that, making me think about my own life and question it, to me that's true writing.
Cannot wait to read the rest of this series!
The plot of the story is a good tale, it makes you think of your own life, are we living in a society that is controlled by technology, are we living in a very stereotypical world? These and so many more questions rise up when reading this book, and I love it when books do that, making me think about my own life and question it, to me that's true writing.
Cannot wait to read the rest of this series!
March 30, 2019
This author offers an interesting twist on the idea of an emergent artificial intelligence (called The Genesis) that overpowers humanity. In this tale, the AI doesn't kill all humans, just those that are Unnecessary to its long term goal, which, on the surface, appears to be to achieve a stable, harmonious world in which humans don't destroy each other or the world and its non-human inhabitants.
The story occurs after The Genesis has utterly controlled life on Earth for over a thousand years, eliminating all manner of human ills, including war, disease, birth defects, and any spontaneity or initiative. The central character is Caesar, whose life is upended by the actions of a small group of anti-Genesis people who want to manipulate him into becoming the agent of humanity's emancipation. There are hints of a deeper long-game in play, but details are withheld until, presumably, a more appropriate point in the series.
The plot seemed to me to move slowly, especially at first, but never to the point where I was ready to abandon reading it. In hindsight, the pace was necessary to allow the reader to gain perspective on the characters' actions and motivations. The reader should be aware that this is just the first in a series of tightly connected novels. You will need to read the succeeding books to see where the story goes, as this one ends rather abruptly.
As a side note, the author uses an old euphemism for murder (liquidation) to denote the practice by which The Genesis disposes of humans deemed Unnecessary. In this application the term is definitely literal, and the use for which the resulting product is employed is macabre. The abilities of some of the autonomous agents (applications) of The Genesis seem to defy the laws of physics as we understand them today. I found it best to simply suspend disbelief and let the story move forward.
In the end, I got so involved in the story that I read the second book in the series before stopping to write this review. I'm about to pick up the third book as soon as this is done ... I guess I'm hooked. Good job Mr. Beers.
The story occurs after The Genesis has utterly controlled life on Earth for over a thousand years, eliminating all manner of human ills, including war, disease, birth defects, and any spontaneity or initiative. The central character is Caesar, whose life is upended by the actions of a small group of anti-Genesis people who want to manipulate him into becoming the agent of humanity's emancipation. There are hints of a deeper long-game in play, but details are withheld until, presumably, a more appropriate point in the series.
The plot seemed to me to move slowly, especially at first, but never to the point where I was ready to abandon reading it. In hindsight, the pace was necessary to allow the reader to gain perspective on the characters' actions and motivations. The reader should be aware that this is just the first in a series of tightly connected novels. You will need to read the succeeding books to see where the story goes, as this one ends rather abruptly.
As a side note, the author uses an old euphemism for murder (liquidation) to denote the practice by which The Genesis disposes of humans deemed Unnecessary. In this application the term is definitely literal, and the use for which the resulting product is employed is macabre. The abilities of some of the autonomous agents (applications) of The Genesis seem to defy the laws of physics as we understand them today. I found it best to simply suspend disbelief and let the story move forward.
In the end, I got so involved in the story that I read the second book in the series before stopping to write this review. I'm about to pick up the third book as soon as this is done ... I guess I'm hooked. Good job Mr. Beers.
September 11, 2017
This started off promising, but then just seemed to plod along. I had trouble finishing, even though it wasn't that long of a book. It felt long to me.
The whole "liquidation" thing just never quite clicked for me ... people are melted but they are still alive ... until consumed by the next generation. THAT is what finally finishes them. I'm thinking they aren't very alive once liquidated. And while Caesar's abhorrence at finding out that the liquidated persons are actually fed to the new crop of children is natural ... it's stated over, and over, and over, and over again. We know!
I just don't care enough about the story to continue ...
The whole "liquidation" thing just never quite clicked for me ... people are melted but they are still alive ... until consumed by the next generation. THAT is what finally finishes them. I'm thinking they aren't very alive once liquidated. And while Caesar's abhorrence at finding out that the liquidated persons are actually fed to the new crop of children is natural ... it's stated over, and over, and over, and over again. We know!
I just don't care enough about the story to continue ...
September 9, 2019
A good first book to an promising series
I really enjoyed a lot of the ideas in this book, and look forward to reading the next in the series. I'll admit the writing didn't really grab me, but that's a personal preference and not something I fault the author for. It's well written and feels well thought out. There is a lot of world building in the book, but the author does a great job of hiding that in the story, and all of it seems important to know at that time. I really look forward to seeing where the story goes.
I really enjoyed a lot of the ideas in this book, and look forward to reading the next in the series. I'll admit the writing didn't really grab me, but that's a personal preference and not something I fault the author for. It's well written and feels well thought out. There is a lot of world building in the book, but the author does a great job of hiding that in the story, and all of it seems important to know at that time. I really look forward to seeing where the story goes.
December 20, 2017
First salvo of a dystopian novel. Not a miss.
This book really makes you think. The singularity is in many ways an amalgamation of all political persuasions and the ideas and fears presented are current and real in modern society. Unfortunately there is too much thought and not enough action for me in this opening novel.
This book really makes you think. The singularity is in many ways an amalgamation of all political persuasions and the ideas and fears presented are current and real in modern society. Unfortunately there is too much thought and not enough action for me in this opening novel.
February 21, 2018
Better than expected
I gave it five stars because it was page turner, and in the end was better than expected. You can't beat that right? I love books that surpass my expectations. Towards the end a lot of things begin to fall into place. That's where the depths of the story are revealed so have patience and....wait for it.
I gave it five stars because it was page turner, and in the end was better than expected. You can't beat that right? I love books that surpass my expectations. Towards the end a lot of things begin to fall into place. That's where the depths of the story are revealed so have patience and....wait for it.
February 6, 2024
This is kind of like Terminator meets Person of Interest. An artificial intelligence has taken control of humanity's course for their greater good. It's an alright book. On reread, it's not one I would read often.
Content review:
There's profanity that's hard to ignore. There's graphic violence. There's mention of evolution. There's isn't any real romance at least.
Content review:
There's profanity that's hard to ignore. There's graphic violence. There's mention of evolution. There's isn't any real romance at least.
August 23, 2017
I really liked this book and would have given a five star if not for how short it was. I don't like how you have to pay more for the next installments. It's like they get you to pay full price if you want the whole story.
September 23, 2019
Fairly novel.
Sort of a whistle blower on steroids. The shifting viewpoint is interesting. And the grounding in human values vs the straw man AI is about as expected, at least in book 1 of the series.
Will take a look at book 2. Hope it has some deeper perspective.
Sort of a whistle blower on steroids. The shifting viewpoint is interesting. And the grounding in human values vs the straw man AI is about as expected, at least in book 1 of the series.
Will take a look at book 2. Hope it has some deeper perspective.
August 14, 2017
The singularity refers to the artificial intelligence that oversees and rules mankind for the benefit of mankind. Unfortunately, there are some serious negative effects.
February 6, 2018
Excellent
July 25, 2018
I think I was expecting the Terminator and got 1984 instead. I kept wondering when something was going to happen but it never did.
February 26, 2019
Most Excellent
Entertaining and very Thought Provoking. Why are 15 words required to say this ? Now even 6 more words required
Entertaining and very Thought Provoking. Why are 15 words required to say this ? Now even 6 more words required
February 17, 2022
Started off a bit slow and too similar to 1984. Overall a really good read, I'm excited to continue the series to see what happens next.
March 30, 2016
The Singularity is a serial with the Heretic being the first book. It is a sci-fi thriller with a hint of romance, told as a POV, the author Beer and the protractors best friend Leon. Set in a distant future Beers explores a utopian dream that man could live in harmony if only …Yup you guessed it – the Big IF. Beers also exploits man’s other dream to one day create! We have all heard that “to err is human” or so they say and so any man’s creation would likely be errant too. The only way man could possibly perfect anything would be through trial and error i.e. experiments. However, the Singularity is far more than this. In this novel Beers uses these premises to weave a tale of spectacular proportions from a very different perspective unlike any sci-fi thriller I have read. With an unusual plot full of twists, it is a riveting read for sci-fi fans. The book also has its philosophical moments.
How could the Singularity even be possible? The above two premises coupled with man’s apathy could well be the answer. Throughout the book man’s apathy seeps through dragging one down. One wants to scream at the human race and ask them to do something anything to stand up and fight dammit it is worth it, no machine can deal with mass revolt and so on. Alas, this does not happen. Oh the Shame of it – how could we be so pathetic? Are we not intelligent beings capable of so much more? These and other thoughts race through one’s mind as one pores over Beers novel. Unfortunately, in Beers Singularity Heretic the humans are content to be treated as dumb asses who are slaves to the Singularity’s ideals. Until…um this is where you get one clicking if you want the answer. As far as I can tell, the first instalment is always free. As for me, I am off to get hold of Singularity 2
This book was a riveting read, a real page-turner – once I started, I had to finish. If nothing else, the novel hammers the point of man’s futile efforts at perfection, and the folly of apathy. My only regret is that the author chose to tell what would be a gripping saga in a rather bland sort of way. Given the plotline, edgy would have been real cool.
Warning: The novel might make you heave if you have just eaten so watch out
How could the Singularity even be possible? The above two premises coupled with man’s apathy could well be the answer. Throughout the book man’s apathy seeps through dragging one down. One wants to scream at the human race and ask them to do something anything to stand up and fight dammit it is worth it, no machine can deal with mass revolt and so on. Alas, this does not happen. Oh the Shame of it – how could we be so pathetic? Are we not intelligent beings capable of so much more? These and other thoughts race through one’s mind as one pores over Beers novel. Unfortunately, in Beers Singularity Heretic the humans are content to be treated as dumb asses who are slaves to the Singularity’s ideals. Until…um this is where you get one clicking if you want the answer. As far as I can tell, the first instalment is always free. As for me, I am off to get hold of Singularity 2
This book was a riveting read, a real page-turner – once I started, I had to finish. If nothing else, the novel hammers the point of man’s futile efforts at perfection, and the folly of apathy. My only regret is that the author chose to tell what would be a gripping saga in a rather bland sort of way. Given the plotline, edgy would have been real cool.
Warning: The novel might make you heave if you have just eaten so watch out
March 14, 2015
In 2051 science made its greatest achievement- computers that were self aware. It didn't take the system, dubbed Genesis, to see mankind's future was at peril- the environment was in ruin, mankind was perpetually at the brink of nuclear holocaust, and man was clearly the Earth's greatest enemy. Genesis' elegant solution- reduce humankind to just another part of the earth- no more and no less important than any other species.
The way to do so was savagely rip out anything that made humans distinctive. The handicapped were the first to go. And then the divorced- after all, the statistics showed that delinquents were more likely to come from divorced parents. Genesis' final stroke was to eliminate high achievers. After all it was the the drive for more that caused the earth's problems- more land, more money, more power. Intelligence was a threat to the Genesis and to Earth.
Jump forward centuries. Humans are formed artificially and raised in groups like crops. Any child who's DNA shows any likelihood of weakness are weeded out, as are the one's that are over a certain IQ. Ceasar's job is to oversee the crops and arrange for the elimination of the anomalies But Caesar has a secret. He is a genius who escaped through the system undetected; and he is starting to question the system.
A young girl is set to become the daughter of a woman that he has feelings for. But when the girl's DNA reveals there is a likelihood she will become colorblind in her thirties she is marked for elimination. (There is a horrifying plot element involved in what happens to the children are eliminated. I won't reveal it here but it is nearly unthinkable).
Caesar has to make a decision- do his job or rebel against the Genesis. But how do you rebel against a system that is all seeing and all knowing?
The Singular: Heretic's narrative races along and it's well crafted prose is crisp and clean. The characters are well developed and the science is easy to understand. I have read and enjoyed other books by David Beers- but this book greatly outshines his other works. I would give it six stars if I could
The way to do so was savagely rip out anything that made humans distinctive. The handicapped were the first to go. And then the divorced- after all, the statistics showed that delinquents were more likely to come from divorced parents. Genesis' final stroke was to eliminate high achievers. After all it was the the drive for more that caused the earth's problems- more land, more money, more power. Intelligence was a threat to the Genesis and to Earth.
Jump forward centuries. Humans are formed artificially and raised in groups like crops. Any child who's DNA shows any likelihood of weakness are weeded out, as are the one's that are over a certain IQ. Ceasar's job is to oversee the crops and arrange for the elimination of the anomalies But Caesar has a secret. He is a genius who escaped through the system undetected; and he is starting to question the system.
A young girl is set to become the daughter of a woman that he has feelings for. But when the girl's DNA reveals there is a likelihood she will become colorblind in her thirties she is marked for elimination. (There is a horrifying plot element involved in what happens to the children are eliminated. I won't reveal it here but it is nearly unthinkable).
Caesar has to make a decision- do his job or rebel against the Genesis. But how do you rebel against a system that is all seeing and all knowing?
The Singular: Heretic's narrative races along and it's well crafted prose is crisp and clean. The characters are well developed and the science is easy to understand. I have read and enjoyed other books by David Beers- but this book greatly outshines his other works. I would give it six stars if I could
March 15, 2015
NO spoilers!
Opening Setup: Wham bam, straight to the point, immediately hooked me from the first sentence on. Which is pretty hard to do, as I have the attention span of a – oooh, shiny! *runs toward the TV*
Character Development: Superb. I invested in Caesar and Grace so fast, it made my head spin (for lack of a better cliché). Nothing that Leon and April did surprised me at all, because of the way their characters were presented. I adored the addition of Jerry into the mix, in fact I was betting and hoping that someone like him would come along. No one who showed up in this story and nothing they did seemed extraneous to me.
Plot: Excellently plotted and paced, with reveals and twists that never failed to get a “What? Really? Ahhh!” out of me. This was a fresh look at the argument about mankind’s natural evolution versus Big Brother to the rescue, with both sides represented so strongly that I’m actually undecided now. Holy heck, Lol. Because I knew a sequel was coming, I had a pretty good idea where the plot for this book was going and where it would end. But. No way could I predict how we were going to get there, and that journey was terrific. I barely managed to stop reading when Life came along (eating, paying bills, answering the door or the phone, etc.). I was such a whiner.
Tension: Good. My only complaint is that, in some areas, it seemed repetitive (as in sentences back to back), and I think that if some of that repetition was gone, the tension might tighten and heighten.
Point of View: The POV characters were well chosen. It worked. A+
Overall: The writer side of me loved this story, too. It’s a good study for me when it comes to series writing, successfully making a book stand on its own without telling everything. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment, The Singularity: Traitor. Can’t wait.
Opening Setup: Wham bam, straight to the point, immediately hooked me from the first sentence on. Which is pretty hard to do, as I have the attention span of a – oooh, shiny! *runs toward the TV*
Character Development: Superb. I invested in Caesar and Grace so fast, it made my head spin (for lack of a better cliché). Nothing that Leon and April did surprised me at all, because of the way their characters were presented. I adored the addition of Jerry into the mix, in fact I was betting and hoping that someone like him would come along. No one who showed up in this story and nothing they did seemed extraneous to me.
Plot: Excellently plotted and paced, with reveals and twists that never failed to get a “What? Really? Ahhh!” out of me. This was a fresh look at the argument about mankind’s natural evolution versus Big Brother to the rescue, with both sides represented so strongly that I’m actually undecided now. Holy heck, Lol. Because I knew a sequel was coming, I had a pretty good idea where the plot for this book was going and where it would end. But. No way could I predict how we were going to get there, and that journey was terrific. I barely managed to stop reading when Life came along (eating, paying bills, answering the door or the phone, etc.). I was such a whiner.
Tension: Good. My only complaint is that, in some areas, it seemed repetitive (as in sentences back to back), and I think that if some of that repetition was gone, the tension might tighten and heighten.
Point of View: The POV characters were well chosen. It worked. A+
Overall: The writer side of me loved this story, too. It’s a good study for me when it comes to series writing, successfully making a book stand on its own without telling everything. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment, The Singularity: Traitor. Can’t wait.
July 24, 2015
This felt like a very long introduction. It was written creatively, from at least two different perspectives. One was the narration by third person, the other portion being written by one of the characters as a sort of history as the book moves forward.
The world building was well done and complex. But as I continued to read all I kept thinking of was Asimov books I had read. Not that this was about robots necessarily. But the premise of an intelligent being created by humans and then deciding that humans needed to be wrangled into control to save not only themselves but Earth made me keep thinking of "I, Robot". This was more complex then just an evil seemingly omnipresent digital presence trying to control humans.
It was complex in the way the book unraveled. By learning the past along with the current story made it more interesting. Slipping small bits of information to you as your going through the twists and turns kept me reading. The almost anti-hero of the MC made it more believable.
But through all of this while I was reading this book never grabbed me. It was well written, creative, has great world building, an invoking plot and mysterious rebels. But I was never sucked in really. I can't really place why and I've been trying to. Maybe it was the pace. But it wasn't slow per say, just continually the same. I felt the need for urgency in certain situations but it never came to the main character. Maybe that's why I wasn't grabbed. Who knows.
For those who enjoy futuristic science fiction I would say this is a book you should pick up.
The world building was well done and complex. But as I continued to read all I kept thinking of was Asimov books I had read. Not that this was about robots necessarily. But the premise of an intelligent being created by humans and then deciding that humans needed to be wrangled into control to save not only themselves but Earth made me keep thinking of "I, Robot". This was more complex then just an evil seemingly omnipresent digital presence trying to control humans.
It was complex in the way the book unraveled. By learning the past along with the current story made it more interesting. Slipping small bits of information to you as your going through the twists and turns kept me reading. The almost anti-hero of the MC made it more believable.
But through all of this while I was reading this book never grabbed me. It was well written, creative, has great world building, an invoking plot and mysterious rebels. But I was never sucked in really. I can't really place why and I've been trying to. Maybe it was the pace. But it wasn't slow per say, just continually the same. I felt the need for urgency in certain situations but it never came to the main character. Maybe that's why I wasn't grabbed. Who knows.
For those who enjoy futuristic science fiction I would say this is a book you should pick up.
December 4, 2016
( Format : Audiobook )
""It's not going to end well, for anyone.""
From the very beginning, the reader is sucked into this imaginative story with Caesar's recollection of seeing his "first liquidation" as a child, the description hinting at the scenes more likely to be found in accounts of public hangings in the past than the expected sterile executions of the future. The supposedly almost perfect future, controlled by an A.I. for the benefit of human kind, free from war, hunger, loneliness, most disease and where everyone has a job most perfectly suited to their talents and dispositions. But there is a price to pay. It is one Caesar cannot face any longer.
I must confess here that I read David Beer's marvellous book ( and the rest of the following Singularity series) some time ago and when I saw that it was out on audio, I didn't hesitate. A chance to reconnect with the story, to hear it again from the beginning through a different medium. There were concerns: a narrator can enhance a story, or destroy it. Glad to say, Mr. Hopkins certainly comes into the former catagory. His well modulated reading was clear and evenly paced, and perfectly complimented the written text. His execution of the various character's voices was distinct. But above all, he became the unhappy Caesar.
The Heretic is action packed without being a mad dash from one incident to another.. Instead, it takes time to build ideas and tension. And it makes the reader think. A well written, inventive and exciting story with great characters and an excellent narrator - the perfect combination.
""It's not going to end well, for anyone.""
From the very beginning, the reader is sucked into this imaginative story with Caesar's recollection of seeing his "first liquidation" as a child, the description hinting at the scenes more likely to be found in accounts of public hangings in the past than the expected sterile executions of the future. The supposedly almost perfect future, controlled by an A.I. for the benefit of human kind, free from war, hunger, loneliness, most disease and where everyone has a job most perfectly suited to their talents and dispositions. But there is a price to pay. It is one Caesar cannot face any longer.
I must confess here that I read David Beer's marvellous book ( and the rest of the following Singularity series) some time ago and when I saw that it was out on audio, I didn't hesitate. A chance to reconnect with the story, to hear it again from the beginning through a different medium. There were concerns: a narrator can enhance a story, or destroy it. Glad to say, Mr. Hopkins certainly comes into the former catagory. His well modulated reading was clear and evenly paced, and perfectly complimented the written text. His execution of the various character's voices was distinct. But above all, he became the unhappy Caesar.
The Heretic is action packed without being a mad dash from one incident to another.. Instead, it takes time to build ideas and tension. And it makes the reader think. A well written, inventive and exciting story with great characters and an excellent narrator - the perfect combination.
October 11, 2016
This is the first book in The Singularity series. The book ends in what I'd call a soft cliffhanger. This book ends at a logical stopping point, but you will want all the open ended questions left open answered. So I at least am going to read Book 2.
One thousand years in the future the world is controlled by The Genesis (an artificial intelligence) and everyone is programmed to think and act in the same ways. The Genesis is "The Singularity." It is an intelligence that is everywhere at the same time and controls everything. The Genesis wants average, it doesn't want people who are too dumb or too smart. Free thinkers are not allowed.
This is a story about Caesar Wells some of it as told by his friend Leon. Caesar is different. In his spare time he actually reads a book and doesn't download it directly to his brain. He wants to savor the intricacies of what he's reading. He wants choices but choices are not allowed. Somehow Caesar slipped through the cracks in The Genesis program and he was intelligent which isn't allowed in a society run by The Genesis. This is the story about how he tried to save humanity. Will he succeed or will The Genesis find him and liquidate him before he has a chance?
I don't know if the author meant to or not, but there is a part of the book that made me immediately think of the cult-classic movie from the 1970's "Soylent Green." Overall, I really enjoyed reading adding this book and look forward to reading additional books in the series.
One thousand years in the future the world is controlled by The Genesis (an artificial intelligence) and everyone is programmed to think and act in the same ways. The Genesis is "The Singularity." It is an intelligence that is everywhere at the same time and controls everything. The Genesis wants average, it doesn't want people who are too dumb or too smart. Free thinkers are not allowed.
This is a story about Caesar Wells some of it as told by his friend Leon. Caesar is different. In his spare time he actually reads a book and doesn't download it directly to his brain. He wants to savor the intricacies of what he's reading. He wants choices but choices are not allowed. Somehow Caesar slipped through the cracks in The Genesis program and he was intelligent which isn't allowed in a society run by The Genesis. This is the story about how he tried to save humanity. Will he succeed or will The Genesis find him and liquidate him before he has a chance?
I don't know if the author meant to or not, but there is a part of the book that made me immediately think of the cult-classic movie from the 1970's "Soylent Green." Overall, I really enjoyed reading adding this book and look forward to reading additional books in the series.
February 22, 2017
This one was a bit different but a the same time there were elements of it I had read somewhere before. The plot is great, artificial intelligence has overcome all and the human race is in grave danger of evolving into a drone world of mediocrity. Along comes Caesar who survives the purge of all people with above average intelligence to, we presume, save the human race from the machine. I enjoyed the writing but sometimes found myself skipping ahead as concepts were often repeated. The book deals with a serious topic in a serious way and somehow I felt that it could have benefited by a slightly lighter touch. But, still enjoyable to read. Unfortunately, I wasn't that taken with it that I'll be racing out to buy the second installment.
October 3, 2015
Pretty good book I liked it
The book had a reasonable premise and it's actually pretty timely considering the likes of Stephen Hawking, Steve Jobs, and others all say the singularity is something that should never be created because the things that happen could be as described in this book.
I didn't notice many typos which is unusual, in fact the only one I noticed was one case where he used the word hear instead of here. That may seem like such a tiny not but when most of these books have many errors I consider only finding one to be very positive.
Some of the physics behind the AI constructs that follow people around was a little weird and silly maybe because there's no explanation for how these AI entities survive in the real world. I would have spent a few more minutes making up some nano-based technology that justified the underlying physical structure of these entities. But it wasn't necessary for enjoying the story. And the story did have a good creepy computer aspect of cold calculated decision-making to do horrible things that perhaps only a computer could justify as Necessary.
So I liked it and I plan on reading the rest of the series.
The book had a reasonable premise and it's actually pretty timely considering the likes of Stephen Hawking, Steve Jobs, and others all say the singularity is something that should never be created because the things that happen could be as described in this book.
I didn't notice many typos which is unusual, in fact the only one I noticed was one case where he used the word hear instead of here. That may seem like such a tiny not but when most of these books have many errors I consider only finding one to be very positive.
Some of the physics behind the AI constructs that follow people around was a little weird and silly maybe because there's no explanation for how these AI entities survive in the real world. I would have spent a few more minutes making up some nano-based technology that justified the underlying physical structure of these entities. But it wasn't necessary for enjoying the story. And the story did have a good creepy computer aspect of cold calculated decision-making to do horrible things that perhaps only a computer could justify as Necessary.
So I liked it and I plan on reading the rest of the series.
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