Apollo Papadopulos is in training to become the captain of the starship Consensus. Apollo is unique in that he/she/it is not an individual at all, but five separate teenagers that form a whole new entity. Strom, Meda, Quant, Manuel, Moira are a pod, as these kinds of personalities are called, genetically engineered to work and think as one and to be able to communicate non-verbally. As a rare quintet, much relies on the successful training of Apollo. But, as the pod’s training progresses and more and more potentially lethal accidents occur, the pod members become fugitives on Earth, struggling just to survive.
Singularity's Ring
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
This superior debut initially resembles a straightforward YA adventure but abruptly veers into much stranger territory. Various factions struggle for control of the Ring, a colossal space station built around Earth by engineers who turned most of humankind into a group mind called the Community, which promptly figured out how to access other realities and vanished from this one. The few remaining humans genetically engineer their children to form pods of individuals so closely bonded that they function as one person. After stumbling on secret research during a training exercise, the teenage pod called Apollo Papadopulos soon find themselves on the run from shadowy forces who want to seduce or kill them. The setting extends from Earth orbit to the Amazon jungle, and the action ranges from a tense space rescue to an almost idyllic trek through the Rockies with a family of genetically altered bears. Though some loose plot ends dangle a bit, the ingenious character development and startling images and ideas are deeply satisfying. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Earth is surrounded by an artificial ring, former home of the human-cybernetic Community, which vanished in the Singularity, years after which multiple person Apollo Popadopulos (a pod of five individuals) is one of several competitively training to captain the starship Consensus to search for the vanished preponderance of humanity. Training is arduous, and returning to Mother Redd’s farm to await assignment proves harder. Apollo meets Malcolm Leto, recently removed from stasis, who was once part of the Community. As Apollo falls victim to more and more accidents, and Leto schemes to bring back the Community, harsh truths come to light about Apollo’s origins and the bleak reality of the Community’s disappearance. Melko’s world is a fascinating one, in which single humans are increasingly rare, pods like Apollo are the norm, and the Singularity did not necessarily improve the human condition. This strong first novel boasts engaging characters and tight, fast-paced action sustained through some acrobatic plot stunts. --Regina Schroeder
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By J. Burke
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The idea of humans who can share thoughts and feelings is not a new concept in SF but I have never read a book that pulled the reader into the personal experience so completely. The personalities of the characters have depth and the reader becomes involved as they get to witness "linking" from the point of view of each of the participants. Action is laced throughout as the pace kept me totally engrossed and wanting to turn the page. Very good book and made me want it to be about twice as long. This is an author to watch.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Gary Shea
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Paul Melko's SINGULARITY'S RING, is a delightful experiment in characterization. As the book's dust jacket says, it is set in a "posthuman future." Interestingly that future is on earth, and the characters, Strom, Quant, Moira, Meda, Manuel - collectively Apollo Papadopulos coming of age in a dangerous time - are a real team; they travel it (the Rockies, the Amazon, Congo) and space above (Columbus Station, the Ring). Imaginative concepts, adventure and a well-paced plot result in an exceptional first novel. Quick to read, engaging, thoughtful, solid sci fi, I enjoyed it.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved reading Singularity's Ring. I became quite involved with the characters and found myself quite concerned over what became of them. Is that somewhere in the definition of a good read? Short and sweet, I wanted this book to go on and I can hardly wait for more from Paul Melko. Very highly recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Singularity's Ring" delivers old-fashioned goods
`Singularity's Ring' (Tor, $24.95, 316 pages) is pretty much straight hard science fiction - which you don't find much any more, if only because modern science is so complex as to... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Clay Kallam
4.0 out of 5 stars
A positive review with a WARNING - no spoilers
For the most part this is more of a three star book. Decent read, but it has plot holes, motivation problems, etc. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Bugsy123
1.0 out of 5 stars
Cathastrophy
There are movies you know it is better to switch off but you cannot help following until the "so what?" end because you think it cannot turn worse. But it does. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Peter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Post-Singularity,Bio-Gen story
Not going to recap, anyone interested in The Singularity will find this Novel entertaining. Melko develops and allows you to understand the characters, where many Hard Sci-Fi... Read more
Published on May 28, 2010 by kero937
3.0 out of 5 stars
it's imaginative, but
The first chapter really drew me in because, wow, sci-fi stories don't usually start like that. But the rest of the book, as imaginative as it was, did not live up to the strength... Read more
Published on April 30, 2010 by Jeffrey A. Meunier
2.0 out of 5 stars
Promising concept, but dull execution
Lots of fretting about what to do, but little gets done. Rare for me, but I gave up about 2/3 of the way through. Read more
Published on April 18, 2010 by DBS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shockingly good
This is a real standout in science fiction- good ideas and interesting characters... and at the end, everything makes sense... Read more
Published on October 14, 2009 by Xtos
4.0 out of 5 stars
More "Fiction" than "Science," but still good
For the folks who are giving this book a hard time, you must have assumed you were going to read Science Fact. Well, this isn't it. Read more
Published on August 9, 2009 by T. Adams
1.0 out of 5 stars
What A Disaster of A Novel For Science Fiction!
I cringe when I think of the talent wasted in this supposedly best cream of the crop of current Science Fiction! If this is the best, well alas, alas! Read more
Published on July 11, 2009 by Ron E. Kendricks
5.0 out of 5 stars
Singularity's Ring Wins Crook Award
As proof this is an excelent book, It just won the Compton Crook Award for best SF novel of 2008 by a first time SF novelist. Read more
Published on May 21, 2009 by Dale S. Arnold
