Heather’s Bookshelf: Singularity & Loneliness
Author: DB Singer
Released: 01/28/26
Genre: Adult Sci-Fi
“Rory strode to the edge of the platform and leant against the illusory railings. The movement seemed natural and comfortable; Beau supposed that the virtual barrier corresponded with the walls of Rory’s physical environment. Or he was a master of mime. The inappropriate thought popped into Beau’s head, a sign of his unsettled nerves.”
“Singularity & Loneliness” introduces Beau Abelard, a university professor who was laid off due to structural and cost issues. Seeking new employment, Beau interviews for a tutoring position.
The job appears to be as a tutor for a tech billionaire’s grandchildren. However, Beau soon realizes it’s not his university teaching experience that captured the founder of Buddy.ai’s interest, it’s more of what he did in the AI field.
Meanwhile, Anika Bakshi is a lawyer defending an innocent young woman, Mary, accused of killing a cop. She must defend her client against an AI jury. Her experiences pull her into a world she can’t help but fight.
Lucas is an influencer, stuck in a pattern of misfortune and seeking a better life. Creative and determined to get out of the “Offices”, Lucas and his partner derive a plan that seems to be working…until it doesn’t.
Beau, Anika and Lucas all must face their individual beliefs and values amidst a bigger world of conspiracy and power. Will they give up everything that makes them who they are? Will they even survive?
Trigger Warning: violence, murder, adult language
Overall, I enjoyed this story. Told through multiple POVs, the author highlights the three characters of Beau, Anika, and Lucas. Each has their own connection, experiences with and beliefs about AI. The author does well in giving each of them a clear voice and motivations. I found each of the POVs to be the most compelling at different times within the book, which helps to push the pacing forward and also helps with ancillary character development. I also found the author’s creative integration of AI into the world to be a little too realistic (in a good way), as I could absolutely see some of these things integrated in the inevitable future. The idea of an AI jury is both terrifying and something that seems to have an argument for it- scary and effective! My main issue with the story was the ending. There is a plot twist that occurs near the end of the story that caught me by surprise and was effective in intertwining the three main story lines. However, the story continues and then just kind of fades away. I did not feel a sense of closure and instead was left wanting a more definitive ending. There’s a couple of different side stories that could make interesting books on their own- especially Amelia and Sophia in Beau’s POV. The descriptions of the settings and relationship between the girls could expand the world while covering a storyline not yet fully developed.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
An adult sci-fi with compelling integration of AI and well-developed characters, but an ending that felt empty and unfinished.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with DB Singer
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