The Singularity Trap

By: Dennis E. Taylor

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

The number one best-selling author of the Bobiverse trilogy returns with a space thriller that poses a provocative question: Does our true destiny lie in ourselves - or in the stars?

If it were up to one man and one man alone to protect the entire human race - would you want it to be a down-on-his luck asteroid miner? 

When Ivan Pritchard signs on as a newbie aboard the Mad Astra, it's his final, desperate stab at giving his wife and children the life they deserve. He can survive the hazing of his crewmates, and how many times, really, can near-zero g make you vomit? But there's another challenge looming out there, in the farthest reaches of human exploration, that will test every man, woman and AI on the ship - and will force Ivan to confront the very essence of what makes him human.

©2018 Dennis E. Taylor (P)2018 Audible Originals, LLC. Cover illustration by Stephan Martiniere.

Critic Reviews

“Dennis Taylor serves up a top-notch outer-space adventure…. Ray Porter’s narration is simply brilliant…. In addition to suspense, action, futuristic detail, and moments of comedy, the book brings a light, investigative touch to the question of what exactly human identity is.” (The Washington Post) 

Excellent.

After reading the Bobiverse books, I craved more from Taylor. The Singularity Trap exceeded my expectations. I just love Taylor’s writing style and story telling ability.

As for this production, Ray Porter did an excellent job, as he always does. Also, the addition of how voices were portrayed over a phone call, radio, etc was really neat. I hope to find more audiobooks produced like this.

If you enjoyed anything Ray Porter has narrated or Dennis E. Taylor’s Bobiverse books, you will thoroughly enjoy The Singularity Trap.

20 of 21 people found this review helpful

Good comibination

I have listened to Taylor/Porter combo before. Bobiverse Series was a great listen and this one is too. I am looking forward to more from these two!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Disappointed fan of Dennis E. Taylor

I love this combination of author and narrator, being a huge fan of the Bobiverse. However... the story here fell very flat. If this is another three part series it may get better... but this felt like a very rushed, weak installment from Taylor. The character building is decent (nothing special, but I like a few characters and would like to hear more about them) and that’s why I think that a series could survive this. However, poor conflict buildup and a disappointing, magic wand ending mean that as a stand-alone story, this is sadly a failure for me.

19 of 22 people found this review helpful

Not As Compelling as the Bobiverse

First off, I loved the Bobiverse and I think Dennis E. Taylor is a great addition to the world of sci-fi. That acknowledged, and it pains me to say this, The Singularity Trap is a miss. The narration is top-notch, but the story isn't arresting. I didn't make much of a connection with the protagonist. I also felt the dialogue wasn't riveting either. Too many times the author tells us the characters laughed at something I personally didn't laugh at. Also, referencing Star Trek was okay in the Bobiverse, but I cringed when it came up again in this book (even in passing). However, my central issue is the plot itself. I have read many books about the singularity and I don't feel the author portrayed the subject convincingly. The singularity is a huge idea, one that basically says no human being alive at this moment can fully comprehend what a post-human world would be like. It would be a universe of staggering complexity and wonders. Such grandeur wasn't really conveyed or even really hinted at. We have some gee-whiz moments, but not enough of them. This is a criticism that can be aimed at many authors. Read The Age of Spiritual Machines, Life 3.0, and Superintelligence, all non-fiction books. I wish more authors would borrow ideas from those tomes.

101 of 124 people found this review helpful

Heavy metal alien contact

The Singularity Trap by Dennis E Taylor is a fast paced and thoroughly engaging tale of alien contact without actual aliens. A future mining operation finds an alien artifact hibernating in our solar system. The main character is "infected" by nanites or nanotechnology that gradually converts his entire body into a metal version of himself, but with endless variation potential. He gradually comes to understand that the nanotechnology is designed to be found by intelligent life (space travel a necessity) and has to decide if this intelligence should be offered admittance to the galactic league of "uploaded" (meaning metal transformed) biology based life or be destroyed to prevent an evil, artificial intelligence enemy from garnering available resources and destroying all wetware. As Earth is still mired in geopolitical shenanigans and the military interprets the alien presence as a direct threat, things look pretty bleak, but a creative solution is eventually found.

The sci-fi elements are consistent with a future where asteroid mining is routine. Medical science can regrow limbs, but the nanotechnology is beyond humanity. More intriguing is the notion of "uploaded" lifeforms that allow for patience given the restrictions of a universe constrained by the speed of light. In essence, intelligence stays put and sends out nanotechnology to create speed of light communications.

The narration is first rate with good character distinction along with fine pacing and tone. Delivery is especially well done with the light-hearted and frequent humorous situations and commentary. This is a fast listen that flows effortlessly.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent!

The Bobiverse trilogy quickly became a favorite for me. I was excited to see another book from Dennis Taylor come up as recommended. I burned through this in a day. Excellent book. The audio effects were top notch! When characters talked over the radio or phone there was a light change to the dialogue. It worked well and I hope other audiobooks take note of how well it works.

113 of 142 people found this review helpful

12 hour book within 24 hours

I couldn't sleep last night. It wasn't insomnia. It was THIS DARN BOOK! I couldn't turn it off. I swear I set my sleep timer for 15 minutes at least 10 times. I've had my Bluetooth headphone in my ear since I woke up this morning. I don't know how Mr. Taylor does it, but thank you for being a fast writer! The Bob series and then this book. I might be in love. I think I will be going to look up his previous books now. Lord help my sleep patterns.

105 of 132 people found this review helpful

Five Stars Squared!

The team of Dennis E. Taylor and Ray Porter have again delivered audiobook good!

The Singularity Trap , penned by Taylor and voiced by Porter is a new hard sci-fi Audible exclusive release. The story incorperates first contact, nanotechnology, military conspiracies, interstellar conflict and more all wrapped in the warm quilt of Taylor-Porter fun and frivolity.

I've been patiently waiting for this release and have not been disappointed.

I wish I could give this five stars squared!

83 of 107 people found this review helpful

good book

I like this author and his ability to bring complex ideas into focus. ie. game theory alot of people don't know what it is or misunderstand what it is. his other books the bobiverse are totally amazing and I feel that while this book is good it isn't as good as his other books. still I enjoyed it.

19 of 24 people found this review helpful

Review from First time Audible User

Narrater was impressive in articulating tones, creating immersion to story.
Clear and articulate. The strong made scenes incredibly imaginative. I could “see” the world of The Singularity Trap, and it’s amazing.
This audio book is for all sci fi lovers.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Classic Sci-fi with a Modern Style

Dennis E Taylor has done it again it seems as this is another high quality production from him very ably voiced by Ray Porter. The storyline has a lot of the hallmarks of classic sci-fi. In fact I'd say it's perhaps "harder" sci-fi than his popular Bobiverse series. A development of his style rather than a flat continuation.

It is still however imbued with Taylor's subtle humour at times and his patient and careful characterisation. It is also once again a fairly ordinary guy trying to deal with a situation beyond comprehension and while there are many tropes traditional to the genre there is plenty of invention too.

Ray Porter does a great job with the narration with many characters voiced in distinctive ways. There are also some nice touches on the audio with radio voices when appropriate which give it additional depth.

If you liked the Bobiverse series this is closer to what I would term hard sci-fi but there's still lots to love here and I think most people would get a similar level of enjoyment out of this one too. I think Taylor has another hit on his hands and he's clearly an author that is going to be fun to follow in the future.

32 of 32 people found this review helpful

Average Follow Up to Bobiverse series

This might have benefited from a new narrator. Ray Porter narrated the Bobiverse series superbly and unfortunately there was similar vocal characterisation. The story sort of petered out, with similar themes from Taylor's previous series which weren't expanded upon enough. Sadly I'm afraid I can only give this book 3 stars as it doesn't get beyond average, which is a pity.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Simply Outstanding

Without a doubt the best science fiction book I have ever read, and I have read a lot over the last 40 years. The plot is outstandingly brilliant and you are fully transported into the story line from page 1. The narration is so good it is beyond belief. This narrator is absolutely outstanding each character’s voice unique. I am in awe. I chose this book because of its high ratings. I now completely understand and concur with those ratings. I think I am going to have to listen to it again! And I am also going to look up every other book this narrator may have performed.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

It was... alright?

Started off as a promising classic SciFi story, however I found that the plot tended to waver and then by the end I lost interest. I was expecting more about the creators, I was left wanting more and the way the story ended I don't think those wants will ever be remedied.

The performance was awesome however.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Love this...

Dennis E Taylor has delivered again. As has Ray Porter. And Audible.

The Bobiverse series may or may not have run its course, but evidently Dennis had plenty of life left in his old notes to come up with this great story. This comment is not meant to be negative in the slightest - this story is not a broth made of stale leftovers, but it has almost certainly arisen from ideas that didn't make it into the Bobiverse.

Ray Porter does an excellent job of narration, as before, and it doesn't at all come across as odd that Bob and Ivan sound alike. It's like having dinner with your old friend's pleasingly urbane younger brother.

The humour is still there, if maybe a little dryer (no Simpsons references that I recognised, for one). The characters are as rounded, and the protagonists as agreeable, as one would expect from Taylor. Perhaps, as another reviewer noted, the sci-fi is a little 'harder' than in the Bobiverse, but we're talking nanobots and LaGrange points vs Von Neumann probes and .. err LaGrange points. There's honestly not much in it IMO. And the arch-antagonists (the Others) in the Bobiverse used nanites, anyway.

I think Audible made a great decision in recognising the combined talents of Taylor as an author and Porter as a performer, and I hope this won't be the last we see from this dream team.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Good story with a great use of sound.

A good story that had me involved to the end. The sound was very good with realistic effects for radio, intercom, phone and computer.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

expected more

This is an enjoyable story but seems a little lazy in its storyline. A poor man's Bobiverse!

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Another great listen

Ray Porter is a great narrator and Dennis E Taylor can tell a great story.

it's a trap!

Dennis writes science fiction that's relatable and you'll struggle to find a better performance than that of Ray Porter.

Dennis knocked it out the park again.

at this point why am I not surprised that everything Dennis writes and Ray subsequently narrates is golden?!
Great listen. totally recommend.