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The Prince and the Singularity - A Circular Tale
This is the story of the Prince aka the Master aka Francis, who is more or less immortal and goes through the millennia fighting Desire and Rejection, the roots of all unhappiness and evil. He always fails until the moment he loses interest and decides to die, which he doesn’t. Instead he is promoted.
***** || *****
"The Prince and the Singularity – A Circular Tale" proposes a fictitious Creation Myth, whisking the readers away on a thought-provoking rollercoaster ride of a story that will make them question as never before what they truly believe about the nature of existence. At once funny and controversial, it can be viewed as a heretical twist on established religious teachings or as a sweet and sensitive depiction of the ascension of a Bodhisattva or as. . . well, it’s up to whoever is reading it, really.
You will get out of this story exactly what you put into it. Love it or hate it, though, you will not be able to remain indifferent to the message of this funny, touching, thought-provoking book.
***** || *****
"The Prince and the Singularity – A Circular Tale" proposes a fictitious Creation Myth, whisking the readers away on a thought-provoking rollercoaster ride of a story that will make them question as never before what they truly believe about the nature of existence. At once funny and controversial, it can be viewed as a heretical twist on established religious teachings or as a sweet and sensitive depiction of the ascension of a Bodhisattva or as. . . well, it’s up to whoever is reading it, really.
You will get out of this story exactly what you put into it. Love it or hate it, though, you will not be able to remain indifferent to the message of this funny, touching, thought-provoking book.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 19, 2013
45 people are currently reading
1004 people want to read
About the author
Pedro Barrento
5 books75 followersPedro Barrento was born in Mozambique in 1961. He has published two books: "The Prince and the Singularity - A Circular Tale" and "Marlene and Sofia - A Double Love Story". His third book "The Algorithm of Power" will see the light of day on January 2, 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
May 15, 2014
"O Príncipe e a Singularidade - Um Conto Circular"...
Não sei que género de leitura é mas que adorei,isso eu sei...
Pedro Barrento de sua graça...eheh!
Alargar horizontes...
Abrir e variar!
Circular e andar à volta...
Ups que ainda estou tonta!
Em frente...
Fase seguinte!
Circularidade...Grande palavra!
Ultrapassar barreiras....
Vida!
E humor...Engraçado!
O universo?
Verdade ou delírio!
A humanidade,por momentos!
Desejo e a Rejeição/Ódio...Uh!
Ai que perigo...
Ai a religião...livro profano!
A pensar nos acontecimentos da vida...
E,nos sentimentos, a ela agregados.
Pronto!!!
Adorei...
Não sei que género de leitura é mas que adorei,isso eu sei...
Pedro Barrento de sua graça...eheh!
Alargar horizontes...
Abrir e variar!
Circular e andar à volta...
Ups que ainda estou tonta!
Em frente...
Fase seguinte!
Circularidade...Grande palavra!
Ultrapassar barreiras....
Vida!
E humor...Engraçado!
O universo?
Verdade ou delírio!
A humanidade,por momentos!
Desejo e a Rejeição/Ódio...Uh!
Ai que perigo...
Ai a religião...livro profano!
A pensar nos acontecimentos da vida...
E,nos sentimentos, a ela agregados.
Pronto!!!
Adorei...
October 21, 2014
There are many lessons to be learned here if one tries in this new ageish pseudoprofound fable based on author's personal belief system or philosophy. The main one I learned is that Barrento should stick to fiction and produce perfectly enjoyable books like his prior novel. This was much too much of various thoughts, believes and ideas jammed together in a blender and set to find morals. It's a morality fable, but with entirely too many messages and just enough confusion to come across as weighty and recondite. There is a specific sort of person to whom this will appeal, this strange trip of a story. Otherwise, if you're just looking to read more work by the author after reading his novel...keep looking. Glad to see he found a philosophy that works for him, but to write an entire book about it just seems so unnecessary, self aggrandizing and even arrogant in a way. Almost like those actors who go passionately (and occasionally misguidedly) into other more serious venues and you just want to tell them to get back to acting. It was written well enough and seems to be quite loved by other readers, so that's something. But how exactly do you get out of a story what you put in it? Wouldn't you like to get out of the story what the author has out in it? Or does it mean there is just enough randomness in here to possibly get everyone's attention in some way? Like a philosophical/theological smorgasbord of sorts. Not for me. Time was wasted, but at least it was relatively brief.
February 11, 2013
(By Clair View, on Amazon UK)
This is a brisk, no holds barred examination of Creation from the standpoint first of Greek Mythology, rapidly followed up by the orthodoxies of Buddhism, Christianity, particle physics, and then a further alternate mythology that seems to be all the author's own. Never a dull moment, therefore, and frequent touches of humour,pathos, and some fine poetic writing along the way. I doubt you will have read much in this vein before because it is a very original way of looking at things, but fans of Pratchett and Coelho in particular will find some resonances here. Recommended for everyone who has ever wondered: What are we doing here? And where the hell is 'here' anyway...
This is a brisk, no holds barred examination of Creation from the standpoint first of Greek Mythology, rapidly followed up by the orthodoxies of Buddhism, Christianity, particle physics, and then a further alternate mythology that seems to be all the author's own. Never a dull moment, therefore, and frequent touches of humour,pathos, and some fine poetic writing along the way. I doubt you will have read much in this vein before because it is a very original way of looking at things, but fans of Pratchett and Coelho in particular will find some resonances here. Recommended for everyone who has ever wondered: What are we doing here? And where the hell is 'here' anyway...
April 4, 2019
"O Príncipe e a Singularidade - Um Conto Circular" não é uma história que habitualmente fosse pegar para ler, pois não é bem o meu género de leitura. No entanto o autor da mesma, Pedro Barrento, menciono-me que a sua obra estava disponível gratuita temporariamente na Amazon e perguntou porque não aproveitar. E foi o que fiz, e ainda bem.
Um dos meus objectivos para este ano é ler livro de género diferente, para poder variar e abrir os horizontes. Este livro encaixou-se perfeitamente, pois sendo algo a que não estou habituada, tornou-se uma boa novidade.
A sinopse do livro deixa uma pessoa intrigada e com vontade de o ler se tiver aberta ao desconhecido (que foi o meu caso).
Logo desde o inicio da leitura fui tendo agradáveis surpresas, pois a parte inicial, a partida de cartas entre os deuses, é muito divertida e engraçada. Ao longo da história vamos associando a personagem principal, o Principe/Mestre/Francisco, a personagens históricas, o mesmo acontece com outras personagens da obra. Achei esse facto interessante, pois são personagens em que conhecemos a sua vida, mas que aqui surgem sobre outras perspectivas, apesar de parte da sua mensagem ainda permanecer neste universo. Uma das personagens que gostei muito foi o João, pois ele dá-nos uma teoria sobre o universo que nos deixa a pensar se poderá ser verdade ou se é algum delírio, o que mais tarde no livro compreendemos.
Gostei muito do facto do autor misturar temas intemporais, como a religião, com temas actuais, como a teoria do Big-Bang e a expansão do Universo. Mas ao mesmo tempo vai dando um ar cómico à história, através dos jogos dos deuses e da formação do Universo. Outro lado interessante, é a parte da circulariedade e o facto de andarmos às voltas até conseguirmos ultrapassar uma barreira e passar à fase seguinte da nossa vida e do que é esperado de nós.
Existe uma grande mensagem de base ao longo do livro relacionada com o Desejo e a Rejeição/Ódio, a qual achei muitíssimo interessante e com a qual concordo parcialmente. Ao mesmo tempo o autor vai-nos expondo situações onde estes sentimentos estão presentes e onde conseguimos associar momentos do dia-a-dia, tão frequentes e os quais nem sempre pensamos que eles são os desencadeadores de acções da humanidade. Gostei muito de como o autor nos divertiu com os temas da história, através do Principe e dos deuses.
Quanto à escrita, é extremamente agradável, cheia de humor e com uma mensagem por trás. O autor consegue-nos prender à sua história, mesmo debatendo-se de uma forma muito ligeira sobre temas profundos, que faz com que seja difícil parar de ler. Mas ao mesmo tempo deixa-nos a pensar nos acontecimentos da nossa vida, dos sentimentos agregados a esses momentos, na existência e na própria vida. A obra apresenta capítulos pequenos, mas com uma sequência muito própria e adequada à história.
Concluindo, o livro foi uma agradável surpresa, que gostei muito de ler. Recomendo-o vivamente, pois é uma experiência diferente e muito boa.
Um dos meus objectivos para este ano é ler livro de género diferente, para poder variar e abrir os horizontes. Este livro encaixou-se perfeitamente, pois sendo algo a que não estou habituada, tornou-se uma boa novidade.
A sinopse do livro deixa uma pessoa intrigada e com vontade de o ler se tiver aberta ao desconhecido (que foi o meu caso).
Logo desde o inicio da leitura fui tendo agradáveis surpresas, pois a parte inicial, a partida de cartas entre os deuses, é muito divertida e engraçada. Ao longo da história vamos associando a personagem principal, o Principe/Mestre/Francisco, a personagens históricas, o mesmo acontece com outras personagens da obra. Achei esse facto interessante, pois são personagens em que conhecemos a sua vida, mas que aqui surgem sobre outras perspectivas, apesar de parte da sua mensagem ainda permanecer neste universo. Uma das personagens que gostei muito foi o João, pois ele dá-nos uma teoria sobre o universo que nos deixa a pensar se poderá ser verdade ou se é algum delírio, o que mais tarde no livro compreendemos.
Gostei muito do facto do autor misturar temas intemporais, como a religião, com temas actuais, como a teoria do Big-Bang e a expansão do Universo. Mas ao mesmo tempo vai dando um ar cómico à história, através dos jogos dos deuses e da formação do Universo. Outro lado interessante, é a parte da circulariedade e o facto de andarmos às voltas até conseguirmos ultrapassar uma barreira e passar à fase seguinte da nossa vida e do que é esperado de nós.
Existe uma grande mensagem de base ao longo do livro relacionada com o Desejo e a Rejeição/Ódio, a qual achei muitíssimo interessante e com a qual concordo parcialmente. Ao mesmo tempo o autor vai-nos expondo situações onde estes sentimentos estão presentes e onde conseguimos associar momentos do dia-a-dia, tão frequentes e os quais nem sempre pensamos que eles são os desencadeadores de acções da humanidade. Gostei muito de como o autor nos divertiu com os temas da história, através do Principe e dos deuses.
Quanto à escrita, é extremamente agradável, cheia de humor e com uma mensagem por trás. O autor consegue-nos prender à sua história, mesmo debatendo-se de uma forma muito ligeira sobre temas profundos, que faz com que seja difícil parar de ler. Mas ao mesmo tempo deixa-nos a pensar nos acontecimentos da nossa vida, dos sentimentos agregados a esses momentos, na existência e na própria vida. A obra apresenta capítulos pequenos, mas com uma sequência muito própria e adequada à história.
Concluindo, o livro foi uma agradável surpresa, que gostei muito de ler. Recomendo-o vivamente, pois é uma experiência diferente e muito boa.
February 25, 2013
I saw this book advertised with the ads on facebook the other day and the advertisement blurb intrigued me enough to look further into it. Before I knew it, I was buying the book and am very glad I did. I don't think I've ever read anything like it before and won't ever again. I'm not exactly sure what drew me to the book, there was just 'something' there. I had to read it. I've discovered a great many books just by chance that way before.
The story and words just draw you in. There's almost a smooth poetic feel to the it all. I couldn't put it down until it was done. It really makes you think and wonder. It has stayed in my mind nearly constantly since I finished it and that to me is a sign of a great book!
The story and words just draw you in. There's almost a smooth poetic feel to the it all. I couldn't put it down until it was done. It really makes you think and wonder. It has stayed in my mind nearly constantly since I finished it and that to me is a sign of a great book!
August 29, 2013
Well, first I must say I didn’t expect to read this book. I participated in the Goodreads giveaway to win a copy but I was not one of the winners. Nevertheless the author gave me a free eBook copy. Thank you very much for that.
This book is quite different from the ordinary. I think I can say I've never read anything like that. For a first time and this is not my favorite subject, I really liked it. I found it very original. The only thing I disliked was slightly repetitive parts. After all, this is a circular tale.
The narration is in third person, so the view is extended and objective. The descriptions of the scenarios are quite well designed and the characters are well-structured. Most of them are fairly linear, changes operate mainly in Prince.
I can’t speak much on the characters in order to not reveal more than I intend to reveal. But I can say that, when I saw the intertwining of the whole situation, I was very surprised. Everything fits like a puzzle.
I'm not very good at philosophy and hidden meanings, although in this case I have noticed one or another.
In conclusion, I recommend this book to a more experienced reader so you can fully enjoy the whole plot. Once again I thank the author for the opportunity and give him congratulations for the unique story that he gave to the readers.
------------------------------------------------------------
Bem, em primeiro lugar devo dizer que não fazia conta de ler este livro. Participei num Giveaway do Goodreads para o ganhar, mas não fui uma das vencedoras. Apesar disso o autor cedeu-me uma cópia gratuita em e-book. Agradeço-lhe imenso por isso.
Este é um livro bastante diferente do comum. Acho que posso dizer com segurança que nunca li nada que se assemelhasse. Para uma primeira vez e não sendo este o meu tema predileto, gostei bastante. Achei muito original. A única coisa que não gostei foi algumas partes ligeiramente repetitivas. Afinal, é um conto circular.
A narração encontra-se na terceira pessoa, pelo que a visão é abrangente e objetiva. As descrições dos cenários são bastante bem concebidas e as personagens bem estruturadas. A maioria delas é bastante linear, as mudanças operam-se principalmente no Príncipe.
Não posso falar muito nas personagens se não revelaria mais do que aquilo que pretendo revelar. Mas posso dizer que quando percebi o entrelaçar de toda a situação fiquei muito surpresa. Tudo se encaixa como num puzzle.
Não sou muito entendedora de filosofia e sentidos ocultos, embora neste caso me tenha apercebido de uma ou outra coisa.
Concluindo, aconselho esta leitura a um público mais experiente para que possa disfrutar plenamente de todo o enredo. Agradeço mais uma vez ao autor pela oportunidade e dou-lhe os parabéns pela história única que proporciona aos leitores.
This book is quite different from the ordinary. I think I can say I've never read anything like that. For a first time and this is not my favorite subject, I really liked it. I found it very original. The only thing I disliked was slightly repetitive parts. After all, this is a circular tale.
The narration is in third person, so the view is extended and objective. The descriptions of the scenarios are quite well designed and the characters are well-structured. Most of them are fairly linear, changes operate mainly in Prince.
I can’t speak much on the characters in order to not reveal more than I intend to reveal. But I can say that, when I saw the intertwining of the whole situation, I was very surprised. Everything fits like a puzzle.
I'm not very good at philosophy and hidden meanings, although in this case I have noticed one or another.
In conclusion, I recommend this book to a more experienced reader so you can fully enjoy the whole plot. Once again I thank the author for the opportunity and give him congratulations for the unique story that he gave to the readers.
------------------------------------------------------------
Bem, em primeiro lugar devo dizer que não fazia conta de ler este livro. Participei num Giveaway do Goodreads para o ganhar, mas não fui uma das vencedoras. Apesar disso o autor cedeu-me uma cópia gratuita em e-book. Agradeço-lhe imenso por isso.
Este é um livro bastante diferente do comum. Acho que posso dizer com segurança que nunca li nada que se assemelhasse. Para uma primeira vez e não sendo este o meu tema predileto, gostei bastante. Achei muito original. A única coisa que não gostei foi algumas partes ligeiramente repetitivas. Afinal, é um conto circular.
A narração encontra-se na terceira pessoa, pelo que a visão é abrangente e objetiva. As descrições dos cenários são bastante bem concebidas e as personagens bem estruturadas. A maioria delas é bastante linear, as mudanças operam-se principalmente no Príncipe.
Não posso falar muito nas personagens se não revelaria mais do que aquilo que pretendo revelar. Mas posso dizer que quando percebi o entrelaçar de toda a situação fiquei muito surpresa. Tudo se encaixa como num puzzle.
Não sou muito entendedora de filosofia e sentidos ocultos, embora neste caso me tenha apercebido de uma ou outra coisa.
Concluindo, aconselho esta leitura a um público mais experiente para que possa disfrutar plenamente de todo o enredo. Agradeço mais uma vez ao autor pela oportunidade e dou-lhe os parabéns pela história única que proporciona aos leitores.
July 14, 2013
"No ínicio, não havia nada. Não existia Espaço, nem Tempo. Apenas os pensamentos dos Deuses, incompreensíveis para nós, e as suas emoções"
"O Príncipe e a Singularidade" é indie e uma lufada de "palavras" frescas. À linguagem expressiva de ritmo sedutor, juntam-se cores pastéis de melodia original, quase poética. E surpresa, muita surpresa. Para mim, talvez a maior de 2013.
Pedro Barrento pinta-nos um Universo díficil de não apreciar, mesmo, e casos com certeza haverão, que não o consigamos explicar.
Há empatia presente na escrita do autor, seja ela por via da originalidade do argumento, da facilidade com que damos por nós a buscar a página seguinte ou, pura e simplesmente, por sermos humanos e curiosos.
Temos deuses, Deuses, ciência, religião, planos alternativos, realidades paralelas, humor e um sem número de mais folhas a juntar-se a esta salada literária gourmet.
Exagerando ao ponto de hipérbole, Paulo Coelho deu-nos Valquírias, um pouco mais de dez Minutos e Alquimistas. Pratos de que fui, devo reconhecer, apenas moderadamente apreciador. Pedro Barrento resolveu ir à génese e ofertar-nos o Universo. Ou vários. Mas os seus.
Nota: 5.0/5.0
"O Príncipe e a Singularidade" é indie e uma lufada de "palavras" frescas. À linguagem expressiva de ritmo sedutor, juntam-se cores pastéis de melodia original, quase poética. E surpresa, muita surpresa. Para mim, talvez a maior de 2013.
Pedro Barrento pinta-nos um Universo díficil de não apreciar, mesmo, e casos com certeza haverão, que não o consigamos explicar.
Há empatia presente na escrita do autor, seja ela por via da originalidade do argumento, da facilidade com que damos por nós a buscar a página seguinte ou, pura e simplesmente, por sermos humanos e curiosos.
Temos deuses, Deuses, ciência, religião, planos alternativos, realidades paralelas, humor e um sem número de mais folhas a juntar-se a esta salada literária gourmet.
Exagerando ao ponto de hipérbole, Paulo Coelho deu-nos Valquírias, um pouco mais de dez Minutos e Alquimistas. Pratos de que fui, devo reconhecer, apenas moderadamente apreciador. Pedro Barrento resolveu ir à génese e ofertar-nos o Universo. Ou vários. Mas os seus.
Nota: 5.0/5.0
June 1, 2013
Once I had started this book I was compelled to finish it. The author has viewed philosophies, religions and theories from a unique perspective. I could not help it when the words that Shakespeare gave to Hamlet crept in:
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
It has always confused me how so many things (good and bad) can be done in the name of religion. Some people understand that religious paths lead to the same place - no matter what thoughts, philosophies and religions you personally subscribe to. The marriage between the "religious" concepts in this book highlights that there are similar stories and events in all religions.
At times the circular story was a bit confusing but it kept my interest. It also made sure that I was paying attention!
I liked the description of moving onto higher planes or spheres as you come around the circle. In his way the circle becomes a spiral.
I thank the author for this experience.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
It has always confused me how so many things (good and bad) can be done in the name of religion. Some people understand that religious paths lead to the same place - no matter what thoughts, philosophies and religions you personally subscribe to. The marriage between the "religious" concepts in this book highlights that there are similar stories and events in all religions.
At times the circular story was a bit confusing but it kept my interest. It also made sure that I was paying attention!
I liked the description of moving onto higher planes or spheres as you come around the circle. In his way the circle becomes a spiral.
I thank the author for this experience.
May 1, 2013
I had the pleasure of reading this book before it was published, and can honestly say that Pedro is a very gifted man.
This story will have you enchanted from the first page. It is witty and hilarious, yet deeply thought provoking. As the writer infomred me, you will know straight away- within the first fourty lines or so whether you are going to like it or not.
This story will have you enchanted from the first page. It is witty and hilarious, yet deeply thought provoking. As the writer infomred me, you will know straight away- within the first fourty lines or so whether you are going to like it or not.
January 22, 2015
Review Originally Appeared on The Allegorical Hipster
“The Prince and the Singularity” attempts to answer the questions storytellers have been trying to tackle since the first story was told around a campfire in the dead of a dark and wild prehistoric night. “Why are we here? What is our purpose in life? And, why do human beings sometimes act in such terrible and selfish ways towards one another? “The Prince and the Singularity” is an entertaining and well written twist on a story we all know– or at least think we know.It is an origin story. It is the story of humanity’s demise. It is the story of a single man and his attempt to fix what has gone wrong in the world, but, it is also the story of all humanity together. “The Prince and the Singularity” is like so many timeless tales you have been told over and over, and yet at the same time, it is completely new.
Confused yet? You are just getting started. What else can you expect from a story that bills itself as a circular tale? Circular it may be, but you must start at the beginning. This is not like Catch 22 where you can begin anywhere and come back around to the beginning. This story goes around and around, but is built on with each loop.
It all starts with a game of Gods. One bet on the table– One gamble lost– The universe is born. Shenanigans happen as the game goes on, and suddenly Desire and Rejection, the roots of all evil, are released on the unwitting and innocent human race. Our hero, the Prince / the Master / Francis is the only one who can defend against the havoc the Gods have brought to Earth, but the challenge proves more difficult than he expected. Again and again he tries change the world and outwit the gods without success, but what happens when he finally succeeds?
To tell his story, author Pedro Barrento, pulls in elements of many origin stories and religious mythologies and pounds them out like clay shaping them into different, some might say heretical, forms. Was Mary Magdalene a reverent devotee, or a devious and power hungry trickster, hell bent on revenge and revolution? Lovers of mythology will easily be able to follow the threads of the classics and enjoy the different patterns Barrento is able to create. The fable-esque feel is reinforced by a strong third person narrator who tells the story in a style reminiscent of oral traditions.
While “The Prince and the Singularity” is mostly light hearted, it is not light handed. The author has a message, and it is strongly, and sometimes overtly indicated in the text. There are moments when the soap box comes out and philosophical words fill the pages more than story. Those who are familiar with Buddhist teachings will find elements of the middle path scattered throughout the text, as well as other tidbits about the evils of our world and how to interact with our fellow human beings.
This is a quick and pleasant read recommended for anyone looking for a new and different literary read, as well as fans of light science fiction and fantasy.
“The Prince and the Singularity” attempts to answer the questions storytellers have been trying to tackle since the first story was told around a campfire in the dead of a dark and wild prehistoric night. “Why are we here? What is our purpose in life? And, why do human beings sometimes act in such terrible and selfish ways towards one another? “The Prince and the Singularity” is an entertaining and well written twist on a story we all know– or at least think we know.It is an origin story. It is the story of humanity’s demise. It is the story of a single man and his attempt to fix what has gone wrong in the world, but, it is also the story of all humanity together. “The Prince and the Singularity” is like so many timeless tales you have been told over and over, and yet at the same time, it is completely new.
Confused yet? You are just getting started. What else can you expect from a story that bills itself as a circular tale? Circular it may be, but you must start at the beginning. This is not like Catch 22 where you can begin anywhere and come back around to the beginning. This story goes around and around, but is built on with each loop.
It all starts with a game of Gods. One bet on the table– One gamble lost– The universe is born. Shenanigans happen as the game goes on, and suddenly Desire and Rejection, the roots of all evil, are released on the unwitting and innocent human race. Our hero, the Prince / the Master / Francis is the only one who can defend against the havoc the Gods have brought to Earth, but the challenge proves more difficult than he expected. Again and again he tries change the world and outwit the gods without success, but what happens when he finally succeeds?
To tell his story, author Pedro Barrento, pulls in elements of many origin stories and religious mythologies and pounds them out like clay shaping them into different, some might say heretical, forms. Was Mary Magdalene a reverent devotee, or a devious and power hungry trickster, hell bent on revenge and revolution? Lovers of mythology will easily be able to follow the threads of the classics and enjoy the different patterns Barrento is able to create. The fable-esque feel is reinforced by a strong third person narrator who tells the story in a style reminiscent of oral traditions.
While “The Prince and the Singularity” is mostly light hearted, it is not light handed. The author has a message, and it is strongly, and sometimes overtly indicated in the text. There are moments when the soap box comes out and philosophical words fill the pages more than story. Those who are familiar with Buddhist teachings will find elements of the middle path scattered throughout the text, as well as other tidbits about the evils of our world and how to interact with our fellow human beings.
This is a quick and pleasant read recommended for anyone looking for a new and different literary read, as well as fans of light science fiction and fantasy.
October 14, 2013
The title of The Prince and the Singularity: A Circular Tale is very apt. The story has many circles, which for the most part I found fascinating.
It’s another great example of the experimenting you can do with self-publishing, and I really enjoyed how the author Pedro Barrento was upfront in the beginning of the book about what the story is:
“It’s prose, but it reads like poetry.
It has elements of the fantastical including a prince and a damsel in distress, but it doesn’t belong to the fantasy genre.
It’s a fairy tale, but it is not meant for children.
It has no sex, no violence and no foul language, but it is definitely not boring.
It is circular, but not round.[…]”
There are certainly lyrical elements in this book, such as in the beginning of Chapter 1, which actually gets repeated a few times throughout the story (“In the beginning, there was nothing…”).
At first, I thought this was going to be a retelling of the New Testament, with a twist. There are gods, but we are introduced to one man, known as the Prince, who has taken it upon himself to save humanity. We follow him through his journey, where we see him fail with several disciples, including Mary Magdalene.
But then it gets more interesting.
**SPOILER ALERT**
We find out that the world is just a part of a game. And the game consists of multiple layers of players, and each level is unaware of the players in the level above them. Everything happens over and over again in a cycle, and it is up to the players in the lower level to break their cycles and move up in the game.
I was a little thrown off when the Prince walked away from Mary Magdalene and suddenly ended up in the future where people are driving cars.
But I did like that everything was connected somehow, and that it was easy to see the same actions play out over and over again. History repeats itself, over and over and over, until finally someone learns from it and is able to start a new cycle. The last chapter is called “Final Musings” and it offers a lot of different ideas about the meaning of life and where we stand in the universe.
I found the whole concept fascinating, and I think Barrento did an excellent job combining so many complicated ideas into one circular story.
The way this book was written is also interesting. In the credits, Barrento thanks “everybody on the authonomy.com and youwriteon.com sites who made suggestions on how I could improve the book.” I’ve heard about a lot of indie authors who use beta readers and have been experimenting with agile publishing—basically incorporating feedback as they write—and it seems that in the self-publishing sphere at least, collaborating more with readers online is becoming more the norm.
I think The Prince and the Singularity is a success story, both in terms of teamwork and being a really entertaining, captivating read.
It’s another great example of the experimenting you can do with self-publishing, and I really enjoyed how the author Pedro Barrento was upfront in the beginning of the book about what the story is:
“It’s prose, but it reads like poetry.
It has elements of the fantastical including a prince and a damsel in distress, but it doesn’t belong to the fantasy genre.
It’s a fairy tale, but it is not meant for children.
It has no sex, no violence and no foul language, but it is definitely not boring.
It is circular, but not round.[…]”
There are certainly lyrical elements in this book, such as in the beginning of Chapter 1, which actually gets repeated a few times throughout the story (“In the beginning, there was nothing…”).
At first, I thought this was going to be a retelling of the New Testament, with a twist. There are gods, but we are introduced to one man, known as the Prince, who has taken it upon himself to save humanity. We follow him through his journey, where we see him fail with several disciples, including Mary Magdalene.
But then it gets more interesting.
**SPOILER ALERT**
We find out that the world is just a part of a game. And the game consists of multiple layers of players, and each level is unaware of the players in the level above them. Everything happens over and over again in a cycle, and it is up to the players in the lower level to break their cycles and move up in the game.
I was a little thrown off when the Prince walked away from Mary Magdalene and suddenly ended up in the future where people are driving cars.
But I did like that everything was connected somehow, and that it was easy to see the same actions play out over and over again. History repeats itself, over and over and over, until finally someone learns from it and is able to start a new cycle. The last chapter is called “Final Musings” and it offers a lot of different ideas about the meaning of life and where we stand in the universe.
I found the whole concept fascinating, and I think Barrento did an excellent job combining so many complicated ideas into one circular story.
The way this book was written is also interesting. In the credits, Barrento thanks “everybody on the authonomy.com and youwriteon.com sites who made suggestions on how I could improve the book.” I’ve heard about a lot of indie authors who use beta readers and have been experimenting with agile publishing—basically incorporating feedback as they write—and it seems that in the self-publishing sphere at least, collaborating more with readers online is becoming more the norm.
I think The Prince and the Singularity is a success story, both in terms of teamwork and being a really entertaining, captivating read.
July 27, 2013
I'll admit it: books about metaphysics are boring. They're so abstract and non-committal, I feel like I'm ending a relationship rather than putting a book back on the shelf. Thank goodness there are some good books about metaphysics that don't follow the same dreary format, and that book is Pedro Barrento's The Prince and the Singularity - A Circular Tale. The title is appropriate (thanks for being clear); the main character named the Prince decides to battle Greed and Revenge inside humanity's core by delivering a message of peace to the world. Though his intentions are good, the Prince faces obstacles that keep repeating, just like the creation of the world.
Although many metaphysical tales use references and characters from the Bible, Quran, or other archaic sources, The Prince and the Singularity takes the messages from well-known texts and turns it into a new story, one that people today can relate to. The Prince doubts himself every step of his way as he watches people commit heinous acts, causing him to fall deeper into doubt until he rescues himself with his own resolve.
What I like the most about this book is that it has a soft flow to it as gentle as putting a hand into a crystal clear bath. It's easy to read and the messages within the book are easy to understand. This book, if it were personified, would make other books jealous over its simplistically-written deepness. Within the deepness, there isn't a condescending jerk waiting to "save" your soul or pretend that everything makes sense just because there's a thing called religion. The author doesn't try to persuade you with abstract ideals or promises of damnation. He lays out the message and gives you room to accept or reject what he's putting out there.
For optimistic readers in need of a soothing relationship with metaphysics, The Prince and the Singularity is one of the best options out there.
Although many metaphysical tales use references and characters from the Bible, Quran, or other archaic sources, The Prince and the Singularity takes the messages from well-known texts and turns it into a new story, one that people today can relate to. The Prince doubts himself every step of his way as he watches people commit heinous acts, causing him to fall deeper into doubt until he rescues himself with his own resolve.
What I like the most about this book is that it has a soft flow to it as gentle as putting a hand into a crystal clear bath. It's easy to read and the messages within the book are easy to understand. This book, if it were personified, would make other books jealous over its simplistically-written deepness. Within the deepness, there isn't a condescending jerk waiting to "save" your soul or pretend that everything makes sense just because there's a thing called religion. The author doesn't try to persuade you with abstract ideals or promises of damnation. He lays out the message and gives you room to accept or reject what he's putting out there.
For optimistic readers in need of a soothing relationship with metaphysics, The Prince and the Singularity is one of the best options out there.
October 23, 2013
I’m giving this five stars and calling it a Must Read, and there is a sense in which that is ridiculous because if you haven’t already reached a level of enquiry about the received religious views of existence then you’re probably not going to get anything out of this book. I’ve seen the book described as “an amusing take on the Creation myth” and that is misleading because it’s too intensely serious to be amusing. Yes, it will sometimes make you smile but that is not the same thing as being amused. We never find out what Pedro Barrento actually thinks of the matters he discusses and that is as it should be—though I don’t think there’s any doubt that “Reality is neither good nor bad. It just is” which is repeated several times is an idea that would make him nod. At times it seems we are heading down a Buddhist road; at others it’s Jewish (or, at least, Old Testament); sometimes you’ll think you’re about to get the Christian message and sometimes you won’t know (or at least I didn’t know) where the hell you are. What Barrento wants you to do is to engage with the questions “Why are we here? And at whose (or what’s) instigation? Those are questions that matter, and this is a book that matters. It’s also a book that I shall have to read again from time to time.
If it seems from this review that I don’t actually know what lesson the author wants us to draw, that’s because I don’t. And nor will you when you reach the end of the book for the first time. But you owe it to yourself to read it.
If it seems from this review that I don’t actually know what lesson the author wants us to draw, that’s because I don’t. And nor will you when you reach the end of the book for the first time. But you owe it to yourself to read it.
August 11, 2013
I received this very interesting creation fable through the GoodReads First Reads Program!
One of the things I found most interesting about this book is that in spite of all the religious threads running through it, you don't really need a background in or to believe in any of it to enjoy the story.
Mostly you just need to be open-minded about just accepting the events in the story as they happen to enjoy it.
Being pretty non-religious myself, I mostly loved it for it's hero's journey/fable style. You could take away pretty much anything you wanted to read into it, but what resonated with me the most was one phase that was repeated a few times: "reality is neither good nor bad, it just is." Life and the world are what you make of it. This life can be worthwhile for its own merits or if you must, it can be a test and a ranking system for the next go-round. Even if the afterlife and all that isn't my thing, I really appreciate a philosophy that doesn't try to undermine either way of seeing the world.
Aaaaaaanyway... the tale itself even without all the "thinky parts" is a fun little story of what it takes to find yourself sometimes, and how many outside influences that might entail. All that packed into just 151 pages!
This review probably needs some serious editing, but I needed to type immediately before I lost my grip on my thoughts.
One of the things I found most interesting about this book is that in spite of all the religious threads running through it, you don't really need a background in or to believe in any of it to enjoy the story.
Mostly you just need to be open-minded about just accepting the events in the story as they happen to enjoy it.
Being pretty non-religious myself, I mostly loved it for it's hero's journey/fable style. You could take away pretty much anything you wanted to read into it, but what resonated with me the most was one phase that was repeated a few times: "reality is neither good nor bad, it just is." Life and the world are what you make of it. This life can be worthwhile for its own merits or if you must, it can be a test and a ranking system for the next go-round. Even if the afterlife and all that isn't my thing, I really appreciate a philosophy that doesn't try to undermine either way of seeing the world.
Aaaaaaanyway... the tale itself even without all the "thinky parts" is a fun little story of what it takes to find yourself sometimes, and how many outside influences that might entail. All that packed into just 151 pages!
This review probably needs some serious editing, but I needed to type immediately before I lost my grip on my thoughts.
February 4, 2017
Philosophical Art
I picked up The Prince and the Singularity: A Circular Tale by Pedro Barrento on one of my Bookbub binges back in 2014. Three years later, on a self-imposed book-reading binge for the Goodreads reading challenge, I finally picked it up and read it.
Or rather, I should say that I experienced it. I feel like this would have been one of the texts assigned to me if I were still in high school, taking English classes.
So you'll have to forgive me if it sounds like I'm writing an essay instead of a review.
What I Thought Didn't Work Well
Characters and Plot
The back description claims that The Prince and the Singularity "proposes a fictitious Creation Myth, whisking the readers away on a thought-provoking rollercoaster ride of a story that will make them question as never before what they truly believe about the nature of existence." Indeed, I was attracted to the intellectual promise of this tale, but more than that, I was attracted to the titular prince named "Francis," who tricks three gods into granting him the power to walk on water, the power of immortality, and the power to cure the sick.
Sounds simple, right? If I overheard three gods talking about two gods that released Desire and Rejection into the world, I'd want to fight it off with some godly powers. But why deceive the gods? That would imply I follow quite the obscure moral compass, wouldn't it, even though the narrator claims the prince is searching for "adventure and knowledge" at the start of the second chapter.
Either case, the Prince goes on his adventure with his newfound powers, finds that he can't get rid of Desire and Rejection to fix the world, and -- spoilers -- decides to die on his own terms.
It was questions like these, I believe, about the Prince and other characters that showed up, keeping me from enjoying the story fully. I especially enjoyed how one character, bestowed with the gift of altruism, was made "evil." His desire to help others was often unwanted by other people, even though altruism, as a personality trait, is highly praised. While some motivations were ones that I could understand, I couldn't understand others because the characters were on the page for a very short time.
Because I had trouble figuring out what some of the characters were doing, I also had trouble understanding the rest of the plot.
However, I have to remind myself that the The Prince and the Singularity is not an average read.
What I Thought Worked Well
Style and Setting
The book doesn't even start with the prince. It starts, like all good introductions, with negations:
The rhetorical technique of starting with negations isn't new, but it is by no means ineffective. It is confusing at first, but the confusion these negations induce is precisely why they are so important at guiding the reader through the rest of the story. If The Princes and the Singularity is prose, but reads like poetry, then that means it "reads" like a figurative poem with the typical outfits of poetry like having a speaker, stanzas, syntax, etc. (which it does in some cases, thanks to the formatting). If it is fantastical, but not of the fantasy genre, it is both real and unreal. If it is a fairy tale, but not meant for children, it is both mature and immature. If it is circular, but not round, it is self-reflective.
My favorite negation, however, is at the end -- how it has "several layers," but "an onion it is not." Not only does the negation play with figurative language by comparing figurative layers of a story with the real layers of an onion; the language of the ending negation is also reversed. Rather than saying "it is not an onion" and placing the emphasis on what the story "is," the narrator encourages the reader to focus on what is not -- the aether, the negative universe, the black hole that forces the universe to collapse on itself.
Which is the main focus of this book.
Because while the chapter opens with a description of Desire and Rejection, it follows with Gods playing cards and betting their divinity to create the Universe again and again, and how the Prince, with his immortality, is a "bug in the system."
Theme
Watching God play cards with his fellow demigods and come up with permutation after permutation of the script for the new universes, I am almost reminded of the times when I'd open up a Microsoft Word Doc or a new file for Scrivener, start to type something, delete it, then start typing again. And while reading this book, I got that same feeling, especially in the latter sections and chapters. Especially when Chapter 26 is literally called "Chapter 26." And the off-page narrator claims that the next few pages were ones they wrote, but stowed away, because they felt the ending for the Prince was obvious and didn't need to be told.
That, for me, was the red flag. The Prince and the Singularity is not meta-fiction in the traditional sense, but perhaps in some ways, it is. Perhaps, it asks us to question our reality not through what is, but what isn't -- the thin line between reality and imagination. The phrase that gets repeated the most in the story is "Reality just is," but even that gets contested by other characters.
My Verdict
I enjoyed the intellectual and literary journey The Prince and the Singularity gave me. However, there were times when the intellectual side overpowered the storytelling side in terms of characters and plot, and had that not been the case, I think the work, overall, would have been even more powerful and stimulating.
I look forward to reading Pedro Barrento's other works when I get the chance.
3.5 Stars
I picked up The Prince and the Singularity: A Circular Tale by Pedro Barrento on one of my Bookbub binges back in 2014. Three years later, on a self-imposed book-reading binge for the Goodreads reading challenge, I finally picked it up and read it.
Or rather, I should say that I experienced it. I feel like this would have been one of the texts assigned to me if I were still in high school, taking English classes.
So you'll have to forgive me if it sounds like I'm writing an essay instead of a review.
What I Thought Didn't Work Well
Characters and Plot
The back description claims that The Prince and the Singularity "proposes a fictitious Creation Myth, whisking the readers away on a thought-provoking rollercoaster ride of a story that will make them question as never before what they truly believe about the nature of existence." Indeed, I was attracted to the intellectual promise of this tale, but more than that, I was attracted to the titular prince named "Francis," who tricks three gods into granting him the power to walk on water, the power of immortality, and the power to cure the sick.
Sounds simple, right? If I overheard three gods talking about two gods that released Desire and Rejection into the world, I'd want to fight it off with some godly powers. But why deceive the gods? That would imply I follow quite the obscure moral compass, wouldn't it, even though the narrator claims the prince is searching for "adventure and knowledge" at the start of the second chapter.
Either case, the Prince goes on his adventure with his newfound powers, finds that he can't get rid of Desire and Rejection to fix the world, and -- spoilers -- decides to die on his own terms.
It was questions like these, I believe, about the Prince and other characters that showed up, keeping me from enjoying the story fully. I especially enjoyed how one character, bestowed with the gift of altruism, was made "evil." His desire to help others was often unwanted by other people, even though altruism, as a personality trait, is highly praised. While some motivations were ones that I could understand, I couldn't understand others because the characters were on the page for a very short time.
Because I had trouble figuring out what some of the characters were doing, I also had trouble understanding the rest of the plot.
However, I have to remind myself that the The Prince and the Singularity is not an average read.
What I Thought Worked Well
Style and Setting
The book doesn't even start with the prince. It starts, like all good introductions, with negations:
What is this story about? Well, it is kind of difficult to describe. Let’s see:
It’s prose, but it reads like poetry.
It has elements of the fantastical including a prince and a damsel in distress, but it doesn’t belong to the fantasy genre.
It’s a fairy tale, but it is not meant for children.
It has no sex, no violence and no foul language, but it is definitely not boring.
It is circular, but not round.
Finally, it has several layers, but an onion it is not. So what is it then?
Well, read on. . .
The rhetorical technique of starting with negations isn't new, but it is by no means ineffective. It is confusing at first, but the confusion these negations induce is precisely why they are so important at guiding the reader through the rest of the story. If The Princes and the Singularity is prose, but reads like poetry, then that means it "reads" like a figurative poem with the typical outfits of poetry like having a speaker, stanzas, syntax, etc. (which it does in some cases, thanks to the formatting). If it is fantastical, but not of the fantasy genre, it is both real and unreal. If it is a fairy tale, but not meant for children, it is both mature and immature. If it is circular, but not round, it is self-reflective.
My favorite negation, however, is at the end -- how it has "several layers," but "an onion it is not." Not only does the negation play with figurative language by comparing figurative layers of a story with the real layers of an onion; the language of the ending negation is also reversed. Rather than saying "it is not an onion" and placing the emphasis on what the story "is," the narrator encourages the reader to focus on what is not -- the aether, the negative universe, the black hole that forces the universe to collapse on itself.
Which is the main focus of this book.
Because while the chapter opens with a description of Desire and Rejection, it follows with Gods playing cards and betting their divinity to create the Universe again and again, and how the Prince, with his immortality, is a "bug in the system."
Theme
Watching God play cards with his fellow demigods and come up with permutation after permutation of the script for the new universes, I am almost reminded of the times when I'd open up a Microsoft Word Doc or a new file for Scrivener, start to type something, delete it, then start typing again. And while reading this book, I got that same feeling, especially in the latter sections and chapters. Especially when Chapter 26 is literally called "Chapter 26." And the off-page narrator claims that the next few pages were ones they wrote, but stowed away, because they felt the ending for the Prince was obvious and didn't need to be told.
That, for me, was the red flag. The Prince and the Singularity is not meta-fiction in the traditional sense, but perhaps in some ways, it is. Perhaps, it asks us to question our reality not through what is, but what isn't -- the thin line between reality and imagination. The phrase that gets repeated the most in the story is "Reality just is," but even that gets contested by other characters.
My Verdict
I enjoyed the intellectual and literary journey The Prince and the Singularity gave me. However, there were times when the intellectual side overpowered the storytelling side in terms of characters and plot, and had that not been the case, I think the work, overall, would have been even more powerful and stimulating.
I look forward to reading Pedro Barrento's other works when I get the chance.
3.5 Stars
July 20, 2013
For the past couple of days, I've been trying to decide how best to write a review of this book. As the synopsis implies, it's rather difficult to define exactly what it's about, but I'm going to give it a try:
It's about the creation of the Universe, and everything in it. Then it's about the people in that Universe, their actions, and how they affect (or fail to affect) everything else in it. Then it's about how everything starts all over again.
As a work of fiction, it's pretty good! But in parts, it's very theological - quite blatantly so. Contrast this with Terry Pratchett, one of my favourite fantasy authors of all time. Pratchett is a true atheist, and his philosophies definitely come through in his stories. But they're so subtle that a reader could very easily ignore them, as I choose to do, and still enjoy fantastic stories.
With The Prince and the Singularity, there's no ignoring them, and it often feels as though you're being lectured to. I personally don't subscribe to Pedro Barrento's philosophies about the meaning of life (although I deeply respect his right to hold them), and I really shouldn't need to, to enjoy what's otherwise a decent story!
It's about the creation of the Universe, and everything in it. Then it's about the people in that Universe, their actions, and how they affect (or fail to affect) everything else in it. Then it's about how everything starts all over again.
As a work of fiction, it's pretty good! But in parts, it's very theological - quite blatantly so. Contrast this with Terry Pratchett, one of my favourite fantasy authors of all time. Pratchett is a true atheist, and his philosophies definitely come through in his stories. But they're so subtle that a reader could very easily ignore them, as I choose to do, and still enjoy fantastic stories.
With The Prince and the Singularity, there's no ignoring them, and it often feels as though you're being lectured to. I personally don't subscribe to Pedro Barrento's philosophies about the meaning of life (although I deeply respect his right to hold them), and I really shouldn't need to, to enjoy what's otherwise a decent story!
August 1, 2014
A smoothly written, intriguingly different fable, of faiths and science and fate and free-will and more, Pedro Barrento’s The Prince and the Singularity is singularly absorbing, odd and fun. And thought-provoking. And unobtrusively irreverent. And magical. And cool...
A hall filled with hapless gods playing cards, a man learning to walk on water, a Magdalene so different and so vaguely familiar, a prince with a mission... Behind it all are lessons and reminders of how we twist the truths of faith to suit the falsehoods of our own concerns. The fable stretches from the infinite past to the present, then slips through time, as a man untouched by time looks for meaning, and more. But perhaps “Life... just is.”
There are hints of many familiar faiths, and even of fairytale and history. There’s a creation myth with wheels within wheels. And there’s that curious hint that what “just is” just might be more. As timelines twist, doors open and close, and always there’s the prince, master or man until... Well, just until.
It’s different. It’s rich. It’s intriguing. And it’s a truly absorbing read.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review.
A hall filled with hapless gods playing cards, a man learning to walk on water, a Magdalene so different and so vaguely familiar, a prince with a mission... Behind it all are lessons and reminders of how we twist the truths of faith to suit the falsehoods of our own concerns. The fable stretches from the infinite past to the present, then slips through time, as a man untouched by time looks for meaning, and more. But perhaps “Life... just is.”
There are hints of many familiar faiths, and even of fairytale and history. There’s a creation myth with wheels within wheels. And there’s that curious hint that what “just is” just might be more. As timelines twist, doors open and close, and always there’s the prince, master or man until... Well, just until.
It’s different. It’s rich. It’s intriguing. And it’s a truly absorbing read.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review.
May 15, 2013
Now I know I am gonna be out of words. This book is simply awesome, mind blowing. I Like metaphysics, but it was more than that. I wonder if the author has seen the movies like 'Matrix' or 'The man from earth'. I always like it when someone tries to get behind thing...But to get behind even Buddha and Christ, behind the root of mind working and behind even God! that's just amazing and very daring.
As the story kept going, I kept on thinking and concluding from time to time what the main theme of novel is and how the story is going to be in future. But it always got me wrong.
I am still trying to connect the dots b/w many things.
Overall a very nice read. For general, a nice mystery kind of story. and for those who are into these things, an excellent refreshment.
As the story kept going, I kept on thinking and concluding from time to time what the main theme of novel is and how the story is going to be in future. But it always got me wrong.
I am still trying to connect the dots b/w many things.
Overall a very nice read. For general, a nice mystery kind of story. and for those who are into these things, an excellent refreshment.
May 24, 2013
This was an excellent fable. I love circular tales, and it is difficult to find well written ones. I adored the interweaving of familiar stories of various world religions and philosophies. It was a great way of examining, in fantasy format, how one views the world.
What a reader will take from this story will depend on what they are bringing with them. My interpretation would very likely differ from that of any of my uncles, or my friends, or anyone else's.
Read this when you have time to savor it. Don't do what I did and have to content yourself with snatches during breaks from writing essays. Be sure to have your favorite drink on hand, and be prepared to sit and stare into space while pondering the possibilities.
What a reader will take from this story will depend on what they are bringing with them. My interpretation would very likely differ from that of any of my uncles, or my friends, or anyone else's.
Read this when you have time to savor it. Don't do what I did and have to content yourself with snatches during breaks from writing essays. Be sure to have your favorite drink on hand, and be prepared to sit and stare into space while pondering the possibilities.
March 9, 2016
The Prince and the Singularity is a really great adaptation of major philosophies and theologies. It draws out the good parts of each and reflects on the different aspects of it that correspond with each other. I don't really have a proper way of explaining just how awesomely written this is. It was clever and induced more profound thinking in such a simple way.
I found that I was really enjoying the story lines. They were all totally different and yet intermingled perfectly. The Prince's travels were illuminating, as was Bob's point of view. I loved that even though there was quite a bit of repetition it was artfully done and lent a circular storytelling (get it? 'Cause it's a circular tale?). It was so well done and I loved how everything tied together in the end. It defies genre.
I found that I was really enjoying the story lines. They were all totally different and yet intermingled perfectly. The Prince's travels were illuminating, as was Bob's point of view. I loved that even though there was quite a bit of repetition it was artfully done and lent a circular storytelling (get it? 'Cause it's a circular tale?). It was so well done and I loved how everything tied together in the end. It defies genre.
July 1, 2013
The Prince and the Singularity - A Circular Tale is an exceedingly well written piece of work that offers much to the philosophical being within us and yet structured in such a way that if you should so wish may be read and considered in a more light hearted manner.
In writing this tale the author has taken bold steps into examining the Creation Myth and encouraged us to question the paths taken and reached in an often challenging and yet humorous way. An echoing combination of Paulo Coelho's deep and profound thinking may be found here as well as the `out of the box' humor so commonly found in Terry Pratchett.
I have truly enjoyed this book and would not hesitate in recommending him as not only an author to watch but a modern classicist in the making. SatinPaperbacks.com
In writing this tale the author has taken bold steps into examining the Creation Myth and encouraged us to question the paths taken and reached in an often challenging and yet humorous way. An echoing combination of Paulo Coelho's deep and profound thinking may be found here as well as the `out of the box' humor so commonly found in Terry Pratchett.
I have truly enjoyed this book and would not hesitate in recommending him as not only an author to watch but a modern classicist in the making. SatinPaperbacks.com
October 1, 2013
This story is one of the few opportunities we have to see God suffering, doubting and almost playing with dices.
If there was only Desire and Rejection what would the Universe look like? To make things go round and around, like on a roller coaster, there is the need for God’s touch and this is just what we call Magic. Or is it the other way around?
For some and in some particular moments, that touch can be seen through the non stopping work of a spider trying to sew its net.
The Prince and the Singularity tells us how magic the world can be, but be careful not to get lost in that world.
It has a lot of Hermann Hesse and surely it will be read a lot.
If there was only Desire and Rejection what would the Universe look like? To make things go round and around, like on a roller coaster, there is the need for God’s touch and this is just what we call Magic. Or is it the other way around?
For some and in some particular moments, that touch can be seen through the non stopping work of a spider trying to sew its net.
The Prince and the Singularity tells us how magic the world can be, but be careful not to get lost in that world.
It has a lot of Hermann Hesse and surely it will be read a lot.
July 18, 2013
I Love the humor in the portrayal of the Gods- that really made the book for me. I was sad when we left the Gods to follow the story of the prince and was less than excited when I saw the prince interacting with historical persons-stressing that there might have been a motive behind the story. But as soon as I realized what was happening, I was relieved. And then back to those querky Gods!! Yay! The second time we follow the prince and space-time splits (as I understood it, or rather didn't) I was confused. But who cares? ! We went back to the Gods and the story was keeping me very engaged. Overall, I loved the book. I'm sure you guessed why-those Gods are a hoot!
April 21, 2013
I was going through Goodreads, and found this. It's a short little book, that is now one of my favorite spiritual books. It's a very cool fable, but it also has a depth in meaning as the story progresses, that made me wonder if I was missing something - which I found I had not.
There is a great secret in the book, and it's up to the reader to flow to it. The writer does an excellent job of bringing us there, without cluttering such a sweet story.
I really, really,like this book. It is so charming and very intelligent. Well Done.
There is a great secret in the book, and it's up to the reader to flow to it. The writer does an excellent job of bringing us there, without cluttering such a sweet story.
I really, really,like this book. It is so charming and very intelligent. Well Done.
May 11, 2013
Can I give this one 6 stars?
I very seldom read a book that carries me to another plane of existence as this one did. The philosophical highs and lows were absolutely stunning. The author's fairy-tale twist on creation and existence was mesmerizing and kept me glued to the pages. This story was beautifully crafted and offered an open-minded way of considering the world around us. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is open-minded or enjoys viewing all things from a new perspective.
I very seldom read a book that carries me to another plane of existence as this one did. The philosophical highs and lows were absolutely stunning. The author's fairy-tale twist on creation and existence was mesmerizing and kept me glued to the pages. This story was beautifully crafted and offered an open-minded way of considering the world around us. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is open-minded or enjoys viewing all things from a new perspective.
June 24, 2013
I don't often say this, but The Prince and the Singularity is really different. It deals with the nature of things, of gods, of creation. An ambitious project indeed, but Barrento brings it off with style and panache. This is particularly impressive given that the writer is not a native English speaker. Some very weighty thoughts are presented, but it is so well done that there is no heaviness at all about the book, which has a deftness and lightness of touch that made it a joy to read.
May 11, 2013
Quirky and addictive
Its divine writing. I first read the book when it made its debut on authonomy. To say that the book left the authonomites spell bound would be an understatement. It's not a tome, but has the wisdom of a Matrixisque Oracle. Its one long fable, and its so addictive that most of its readers are gonna read it in one go, no bookmarks required for this one.
Its divine writing. I first read the book when it made its debut on authonomy. To say that the book left the authonomites spell bound would be an understatement. It's not a tome, but has the wisdom of a Matrixisque Oracle. Its one long fable, and its so addictive that most of its readers are gonna read it in one go, no bookmarks required for this one.
July 16, 2013
One part religious odyssey, two parts philosophy. This is a book that makes you think. It's written vaguely in the form of a parable and I would recommend this book to both religious and secular people. The prose is well written and beautiful and the thoughts are unique.
February 26, 2015
as interestingly as it begins, it starts to fall, flake off and lose all pleasure by the end...
November 9, 2017
Loved this book! Right up my alley. Stories about gods & Gods & people & singularities....I`m not going to even try to explain a plot. Just read this, people. You will be glad you did!
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