The Singularity Trap Paperback – October 5, 2018

Just finished this novel. Not what I was expecting from the Bobiverse author, but definitely worth reading. The ultimate plot solution didn't grab me (I teach game theory, and the application here had more of a deux ex machina vibe than a real game theory solution to an extinction-level threat). But the more important plot thread, a human version of Theseus Ship, was intriguing. A lot of the cast are NPCs, which is OK because the real story turns on the interplay of the three main characters (two human and one not). The overlapping and competing interests of these co-antagonists, and how they evolve individually and interdependently, is the heart of the story. The characters are a bit stereotyped early on, but that's necessary to set up their arcs. This novel doesn't rise to the level of the first few Bobiverse stories, but that's a high bar (personally, I put the Bobiverse on a shelf with Hitchhiker's Guide). Still a solid 5 star read.

It took a while for me to get past, this isn't the Bob-o-verse, but I ended up enjoying The Singularity Trap. Like the Bob-o-verse trilogy, this novel explores the potential of artificial intelligence as a next step for human evolution. Interesting to be sure, if your a sci-fi geek, which of course I am.Characters are a bit thinly drawn, Dennis Taylor is no James S. A. Corey or Neal Stephenson, but there's enough here to warrant the read. At least you don't need to invest a week or more as with any of the Expanse tomes, Cryptonomicon or Reamde. Call it a summer lawnchair read.As much as I love the Expanse, I'm on my 4th reading of that series, I still find the Bob-O-Verse immensely engaging and enjoyable. I'm on my fifth read of that trilogy, and, as an aside, the audio books are the best way to go there - even in the German version. Singularity Trap may not end up being a regular repeat on my reading list, however, since I have the Audible version as well, on a long car trip, this may yet receive a second hearing).

Great take on the inevitabilities of AI and progress. A real page turner. Wish there was a sequel in the works

Good story pacing and development. Narration was on point, well articulated and paced, allowing you to immerse yourself in the story and added to the story with the inflection and emotion used. The drama was offset by the witty, quirky humor in a good balance. Characters were well developed without being beaten with a verbal explaination stick. Story line kept it interesting.

I liked the idea of an alien intelligence sending out reporting probes that wait for intelligence species to evolve. Makes sense on the time scale of interstellar travel. A species might take hundreds of millions of years to evolve, but only last 50,000. Lots of probes, waiting around for intelligence to pop into being. Gotta be there when it happens.Anyway, I thought the various military characters were accurately portrayed, as were the miners. I just couldn't buy into the notion that the far-advanced aliens were needed to stop the Earth from drying up from man-made global warming. I mean, I can understand the need to prevent nuclear annihilation, but even if the current 0.1C per decade temperature increase continued for a century, I think we could handle a one degree rise in overall temperature. And, it is more likely that the next glaciation will begin in the next thousand years, than the Earth becomes a vast desert. The author needs to do some science reading, and consume less of the mainstream narrative.

I like complicated books with multiple points of view, multiple timelines, multiple locations, and simple "hooks" -- comments that hint at possible future action and outcomes and which make me wonder what's going to happen in coming pages.I like literary books that enhance the English language and make me happy to have read the words, not just the plot.Dennis E. Taylor provides NONE of that.I read this book after the first Bob book, and that's it for me. I'm done with DET.His writing is linear and simplistic and uninteresting and boring.Nothing happened to make this book "exciting" for the first 60% or so.I should have just stopped reading it, but I'm one of those who grinds it out to "see what happens".This simplistic plot-only style might have been fine in the 1930s, but certainly not for the 20teens.

So many sci-fi books these days are designed for kindle.They take a storyline and stretch it over as many volumes as they can get away with.This is not one of those.This is a great standalone book that quickly gets into the action, stays on target and carries you through to a satisfying conclusion. It is worth your time.

Russians were cartoonish. Wanted much more of Ralph and Ivan . Less of generals talking to each other. Will read next one.

Well done. Glad I already knew the game theory stuff or that might have slowed down the pace. The characters were a little ordinary, but I kind of enjoyed that, and the plot and setting were just clever enough to keep me smiling. In short, everything was more than good enough.

A read which makes you think of the frailty and the strength of humanity or what one man's life in the overall balance of life means.

Great story, great writing, believable characters and technological descriptions, that was one of the best scifi books I read in the last years

Interesting plot and use of computer and mathematics to look for unexpected solutions. Great sense of humour as usual in the author

Dennis E Taylor develops great characters, has excellent comedic timing and made this an absolutely enjoyable read until the end. A bit sad it is over!!