If you need no other reason, then do it because it’s free. (The author, Bill DeSmedt, released it as a “podiobook”—an audiobook released in podcast form. That version is free, and there is a hardcover book for purchase.) But you have many, many more reasons than the price.

The author’s grasp of his subject matter is astounding. DeSmedt either knows everything he’s talking about, or does a spectacular job faking it. The Russian culture infused in Singularity, which might be dull in other hands, only serves to add both authenticity and character to the story. The science involved is admittedly much more fantastical than an average science fiction story, yet the writing explains it not not only simply but also in an engaging way.

DeSmedt’s talent with words makes this book a joy to read/listen to. In fact, at first I ascribed the talent to the characters, so believable are their performances. This helps the explanation of some of the most complicated scientific principles I’ve come across seem simple—and helps the audience understand before some of the other characters. His command of English and Russian appear equal, and he deals well with the majority of the dialog being (for the characters’ ears) in Russian. His (or the narrator’s, if they are separate) accent is also perfectly clear while still sounding authentic—at least to someone whose closest association with the country has been in History class.

Speaking of characters, the main ones are well-developed and entertaining. Side characters, while still developed enough to elicit emotion, have personalities hinted at but not fully revealed. Purposeful or not, it was enough to make me happy to see that DeSmedt’s next book, still far off by the looks of its page on his website, will feature the same main duo, who will hopefully bring some of the supporting cast with them.

All in all, there’s only one thing in the book that would, if all these other factors weren’t considered, make me hesitate to recommend it. I’m personally tired of storytellers’ need to work romance into every story, but Singularity doesn’t shy away from that. Those scenes, occasional language, and the general difficulty to understand for anyone without knowledge of, for example, the relationship between density, volume, and mass take the story above the “Young Adult” level.

Finally, if you haven’t started listening or reading already, I have a suggestion for you: don’t look for too much of a summary before diving in. In this review I would have loved to go into even a little bit more detail, but I dare not ruin the gradual exposition DeSmedt masterfully sets up. I will only say that though the genre is undoubtedly science fiction (with an emphasis on the science, rather than the fiction) its subcategory evolves until suddenly you realize you’ve been lead into a sub-genre you may have had any number of beliefs about, and they have all been shattered in the best possible way.

If I haven’t convinced you to listen yet, do it anyway. The first few chapters are mesmerizing, consisting mainly of the plot setup that makes itself bewitching rather than boring. Then I admit there is a lull, but believe me when I tell you it gets much, much better. Unless your patience is taxed to the limit every day by making your morning toast, the reward is going to far outweigh the downside.