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Singularity #1
Redshift
It appears out of nowhere—one moment the sky is empty, the next, there’s a rent in the fabric of space itself. And nothing in the system will ever be the same.
In the far reaches of the Rim Mountains, itinerant field-scientist Aran Romeu is searching desperately for the cure to an incurable disease—one that’s slowly killing his best friend. He’s sworn to do whatever it takes to find it. But when the portal opens, and something comes through, he realizes that ‘whatever it takes’ will involve travelling into the uncharted space beyond the portal. And he’s not the only one after the cure, and willing to do whatever it takes to get to it first …
In the weighty halls of government, Chief Justice Alba Espina is preparing a political gamble that could change the shape of the system itself. The appearance of the portal shatters her carefully-laid plans and hands her political rival a weapon he could use destroy her—unless she can delay him with the promise of a diplomatic mission through the portal. But the stakes of the mission are higher than just her personal ambition. If her diplomatic mission doesn’t succeed, it might just spell the end of humanity itself.
In a remote spaceport, Savina Moya, the system's most talented assassin-for-hire, is on the run again after her latest murder. But when a deadly government agent is sent after her, with instructions to bring her back dead or alive, the diplomatic mission heading into the portal may hold the key to Savina’s survival—if she’s brave enough, or desperate enough, to take it.
No one knows what’s beyond the portal. And as the three of them are drawn inexorably together in uncharted space, with no idea who is an ally and who is an enemy—it’s an open question if any of them will live long enough to find out.
In the far reaches of the Rim Mountains, itinerant field-scientist Aran Romeu is searching desperately for the cure to an incurable disease—one that’s slowly killing his best friend. He’s sworn to do whatever it takes to find it. But when the portal opens, and something comes through, he realizes that ‘whatever it takes’ will involve travelling into the uncharted space beyond the portal. And he’s not the only one after the cure, and willing to do whatever it takes to get to it first …
In the weighty halls of government, Chief Justice Alba Espina is preparing a political gamble that could change the shape of the system itself. The appearance of the portal shatters her carefully-laid plans and hands her political rival a weapon he could use destroy her—unless she can delay him with the promise of a diplomatic mission through the portal. But the stakes of the mission are higher than just her personal ambition. If her diplomatic mission doesn’t succeed, it might just spell the end of humanity itself.
In a remote spaceport, Savina Moya, the system's most talented assassin-for-hire, is on the run again after her latest murder. But when a deadly government agent is sent after her, with instructions to bring her back dead or alive, the diplomatic mission heading into the portal may hold the key to Savina’s survival—if she’s brave enough, or desperate enough, to take it.
No one knows what’s beyond the portal. And as the three of them are drawn inexorably together in uncharted space, with no idea who is an ally and who is an enemy—it’s an open question if any of them will live long enough to find out.
- GenresScience Fiction
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2021
54 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
R.M. Olson
33 books57 followersR.M. Olson writes queer, feel-good space opera, featuring diverse casts, found families, and loads of action. R.M. has ridden the Trans Siberian railway, jumped off the highest bungee jump in the world, gone cage-diving with great white sharks, faced down a charging buffalo bull, and knows how to milk a goat. Currently they reside in Alberta, Canada with their four children, three cats, and a dog the size of a small bear. R.M. goes hiking and skiing more often than they probably have time for, eats more chocolate than is probably good for them, and reads more books than is probably prudent.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 20, 2021
A Very Different Take on Classic Space Opera
Aran is a biologist who spends his time in the field - usually a very dangerous field, like inside a volcano where we first meet him. He works with his best friend Istvay and Ani, who is a deadly killer octopus he has tamed and raised as a pet.
Alba is a canny politician and elder stateswoman in her early seventies who suddenly finds herself at the sharp edge of a political crisis of the kind she could never have anticipated.
Savina is an assassin who kills by fooling her victims into accepting her as harmless and travels with her sibling Beni.
The three become unwittingly caught up together in events when a huge rift opens in the sky and a single item comes through it - an item that offers the hope of salvation for their entire planet.
This is both a classic and a very atypical space opera opener rolled into one. There is the classic 'gathering of the crew' with some pretty usual character types - including an eccentric scientist, an assassin and a diplomatic type - but that is where the 'classic' stops dead in its tracks.
These are not typical people you might meet in the average space opera by any stretch of the imagination, they include a neurologically atypical individual, a blind person, an old person, and two gender indeterminate folk who use the pronoun 'they'. Oh, and a sapient octopus.
It is a really intriguing set up and anyone who finds this kind of cast of characters interesting is going to love this book and will want to follow along on the series.
For me the only slight cloud over the entire book was that I could not believe that such an advanced civilisation had not yet managed to do what we can do and detect a genetic anomaly in utero - or simply genetically test every individual so those who carried the dreaded killer trait would know and most would, therefore, choose not to have children. I had to suspend my disbelief pretty high for that one, but having done so the rest of the book is a great ride and left me with the feeling of having revisited some much-loved corners of the genre with a totally new perspective.
Recommended reading for anyone who wants a fresh look at the genre through atypical eyes...
Aran is a biologist who spends his time in the field - usually a very dangerous field, like inside a volcano where we first meet him. He works with his best friend Istvay and Ani, who is a deadly killer octopus he has tamed and raised as a pet.
Alba is a canny politician and elder stateswoman in her early seventies who suddenly finds herself at the sharp edge of a political crisis of the kind she could never have anticipated.
Savina is an assassin who kills by fooling her victims into accepting her as harmless and travels with her sibling Beni.
The three become unwittingly caught up together in events when a huge rift opens in the sky and a single item comes through it - an item that offers the hope of salvation for their entire planet.
This is both a classic and a very atypical space opera opener rolled into one. There is the classic 'gathering of the crew' with some pretty usual character types - including an eccentric scientist, an assassin and a diplomatic type - but that is where the 'classic' stops dead in its tracks.
These are not typical people you might meet in the average space opera by any stretch of the imagination, they include a neurologically atypical individual, a blind person, an old person, and two gender indeterminate folk who use the pronoun 'they'. Oh, and a sapient octopus.
It is a really intriguing set up and anyone who finds this kind of cast of characters interesting is going to love this book and will want to follow along on the series.
For me the only slight cloud over the entire book was that I could not believe that such an advanced civilisation had not yet managed to do what we can do and detect a genetic anomaly in utero - or simply genetically test every individual so those who carried the dreaded killer trait would know and most would, therefore, choose not to have children. I had to suspend my disbelief pretty high for that one, but having done so the rest of the book is a great ride and left me with the feeling of having revisited some much-loved corners of the genre with a totally new perspective.
Recommended reading for anyone who wants a fresh look at the genre through atypical eyes...
November 12, 2021
Soaring spaceships, inexplicable portals, betrayal, assassins and more - space opera ahoy!
Redshift is the first book in the Singularity series - and it brings together a motley crew of adventurers as the world changes in an instant with the appearance of a mysterious portal. More than that, something that emerges from the portal gives hope of a cure to a defect that has long been plaguing humanity, and a chance of survival for those affected by it.
Into this are plunged a genius scientist along with his best friend, a top politician who might find herself being outmanoeuvred by a rival, and the galaxy's best assassin trying to escape a government bloodhound on her trail.
The portal brings them all together - in one way or another - but this book is more about the troubles on the way, with murder attempts, sabotage and mutiny all on the agenda.
This is a rollicking ride of a book. It's perfect for those who want to binge read through a series (more books on the way), with characters that are intriguing and a soap opera tale to plunge into. If it's hard sci-fi you're after, this isn't it, but nor does it aim to be. Instead it's in the vein of Firefly or Dark Matter.
Another positive to mention is the use of non-binary characters and a range of relationships, all as part of a universe that doesn't make that a big deal but just ordinary life.
There's a lot to love in this book, and a lot left to explore in future episodes. I'm giving it four stars, because I perhaps wanted a bit more of what is left over in this book instead, which focuses more on the characters and less on the situation that brought them together. But as a starting point, it's a good read.
Redshift is the first book in the Singularity series - and it brings together a motley crew of adventurers as the world changes in an instant with the appearance of a mysterious portal. More than that, something that emerges from the portal gives hope of a cure to a defect that has long been plaguing humanity, and a chance of survival for those affected by it.
Into this are plunged a genius scientist along with his best friend, a top politician who might find herself being outmanoeuvred by a rival, and the galaxy's best assassin trying to escape a government bloodhound on her trail.
The portal brings them all together - in one way or another - but this book is more about the troubles on the way, with murder attempts, sabotage and mutiny all on the agenda.
This is a rollicking ride of a book. It's perfect for those who want to binge read through a series (more books on the way), with characters that are intriguing and a soap opera tale to plunge into. If it's hard sci-fi you're after, this isn't it, but nor does it aim to be. Instead it's in the vein of Firefly or Dark Matter.
Another positive to mention is the use of non-binary characters and a range of relationships, all as part of a universe that doesn't make that a big deal but just ordinary life.
There's a lot to love in this book, and a lot left to explore in future episodes. I'm giving it four stars, because I perhaps wanted a bit more of what is left over in this book instead, which focuses more on the characters and less on the situation that brought them together. But as a starting point, it's a good read.
November 16, 2021
Aran is a rockstar scientist who struggles with debilitating anxiety - and who's in love with his best friend. Alba is a senior government minister with controversial plans for peace. Savina is an assassin caring for her two siblings. What do they have in common? Not much – until a portal of unknown origin opens in the sky above them.
This is an immersive page-turner of a novel with a fresh and compelling plot. The characters are flawed, believable, and wonderful to read. The casual diversity and inclusivity is a joy to read.
On the con side… The cliffhanger. I don't mind a book that answers its own questions but raises new ones or one that answers the immediate questions but leaves over-arching ones for later in the series, but this book answered virtually none of the questions it raised. And, because I got an ARC of this one and it's actually in Kindle Unlimited, I probably won't ever have the opportunity to read the next one.
Still, all in all, it really is good.
With thanks to the author for providing me a review copy. I did find some distracting spelling issues; however, the author assures me these have been fixed now.
This is an immersive page-turner of a novel with a fresh and compelling plot. The characters are flawed, believable, and wonderful to read. The casual diversity and inclusivity is a joy to read.
On the con side… The cliffhanger. I don't mind a book that answers its own questions but raises new ones or one that answers the immediate questions but leaves over-arching ones for later in the series, but this book answered virtually none of the questions it raised. And, because I got an ARC of this one and it's actually in Kindle Unlimited, I probably won't ever have the opportunity to read the next one.
Still, all in all, it really is good.
With thanks to the author for providing me a review copy. I did find some distracting spelling issues; however, the author assures me these have been fixed now.
April 11, 2023
I'd been itching for some good self-published queer science fiction to sink my readerly teeth into and this turned out to be perfect. A first contact mission setting out towards a strange rift in space! Political machinations! A brilliant neurodivergent scientist pining for his nonbinary best friend! An assassin who's possibly going to learn some Hard Truths about everything she thinks she knows about the world! I'm hooked. Book 2 is already on my kindle.
November 4, 2022
Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book to review for the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC).
If you like action packed science fiction with lots of plots and subplots and both heroes and antiheroes, Redshift needs to be on your “to read” list.
R.M Olson’s book takes place somewhere in place and time. From the technology it is the future and the planet is definitely not earth but the where or when really is not important to the storyline. All you need to know is that suddenly a dark spot appears in the sky indicating a rip in the fabric of space. Suddenly a container comes through the opening that indicates there is at least one sapient species on the other side of the rift. Then the clincher, the package contains a blood sample that seems to indicate the species has found a cure for a fatal illness that plagues this planet.
Olson definitely knows how to write an exciting tale that grabs the reader from the first line. Interesting characters, political intrigue, lurking assassins, and the question of who or what is on the other side of the rift will keep you flipping pages as fast as you can.
This is the first book of a series and Olson has left a lot of interesting questions for the sequel. Hopefully it will be as well written and as exciting as this one.
If you like action packed science fiction with lots of plots and subplots and both heroes and antiheroes, Redshift needs to be on your “to read” list.
R.M Olson’s book takes place somewhere in place and time. From the technology it is the future and the planet is definitely not earth but the where or when really is not important to the storyline. All you need to know is that suddenly a dark spot appears in the sky indicating a rip in the fabric of space. Suddenly a container comes through the opening that indicates there is at least one sapient species on the other side of the rift. Then the clincher, the package contains a blood sample that seems to indicate the species has found a cure for a fatal illness that plagues this planet.
Olson definitely knows how to write an exciting tale that grabs the reader from the first line. Interesting characters, political intrigue, lurking assassins, and the question of who or what is on the other side of the rift will keep you flipping pages as fast as you can.
This is the first book of a series and Olson has left a lot of interesting questions for the sequel. Hopefully it will be as well written and as exciting as this one.
November 12, 2022
I immediately approve of the neat sci-fi-ey title even though (not to spoil) there didn’t ultimately seem to be much connection to red-shift and light-speed phenomena – the black hole on the cover and the singularity concept isn’t … it’s just a hole in space they go through, red-shift isn’t really mentioned? Maybe I’ve missed something really basic – it happens. But yes, full credit.
My approval soared still further as I moved on past the cover and we met our main protagonist, Aran, and his friend in the backpack who can survive inside an active (and more!) volcano, and has tentacles. What is this? I love it. Aran’s other friend – the one without tentacles, Istvay – is a non-binary will-they-won’t-they complex best-friend-love type of secondary protagonist, and they’re dying of something. Aran is after a cure. This is an excellent setup. And the normalised existence of non-binary folks, I felt, was very cool. It was a bit of a comprehension stumbling block, as the singular ‘they’ always has been for me, but well worth the minimal effort it takes to get past.
So from spelunking in a volcano (“””volcano”””) with an octopus (“””octopus”””) in his backpack (“”” … no actually it is just a backpack), Aran is launched into the main plotline of the book as a hole appears in space. At first, given the shifting points of view for the other protagonists, I wondered if the hole was opening in different places or even different times, which would have been hellaciously cool. It was just the one hole seen from different perspectives, however – still cool though. It was a great way to introduce the characters, giving each of them a context and a set of behaviours to go along with their names and general appearances.
Alba is an iron-spined political leader (I was unable to shake the image of Chrisjen Avasarala, Secretary-General of the United Nations from The Expanse, and frankly why should I?), and Savina a hard-nosed scoundrel and killer for hire. Those are our main characters. The setting is Colorida, a solar system (I think) settled by a generation ship of humans some five hundred years previously. The stakes?
Oh, nothing much. The militant and intolerant wing of the solar system’s government is poised to coup the shit out of half a millennium of peaceful prosperity and are buying off scientists in order to make it happen (can’t image where these talented, crazy-inventive authors get their wild ideas, am I right?); the human race is suffering from a genetic disorder that kills about 10% of the population by the age of 30; and into this powder keg, the mysterious force that opened the hole in space drops a potential cure right through that shit. Along with evidence of a whole lot of hostile alien action to give the military guys great big confrontational impossible-to-ignore veiny war-boners. That’s all.
There’s a whole lot of complexity that is just nicely hinted at through this story, and I really liked it. Savina, who I should probably just rip the band-aid off and call Savini because that’s how I kept reading the name, was a member of a minority group (the Old Religion) that was the focus of some serious covert government shit … or may have just been a bunch of crazy evil fucks. We don’t know! What we do know is, they seemed to be the only people with a name for this genetic defect that has been as prevalent as left-handedness in the human population for five hundred years, and quite a lot more deadly than left-handedness … they called it “the Curse”, which – look, I just think there was a great opportunity to give this ailment a cool or interesting name, and Olson totally biffed that opportunity. Okay? I’m not deducting points for it or anything, I’m just saying.
Anyway, Savina is out for cultural vengeance against Alba which adds some nice tension as the Coloridans send up a ship to look at the portal, and all the plot threads begin to converge.
Are the aliens through the portal hostile? Were the military and their aforementioned bulging, throbbing, defcon-precum-drizzling war-boners right all along? Does the fabricated evidence go all the way down? Ah, well, that’s the question we’re all asking, isn’t it?
I know what else you’re asking: How did this book perform on the sex-o-meter, the gore-o-meter and the WTF-o-meter? Well, let’s segue smoothly over to taking a look at that then, shall we?
Sex-o-meter
Lots of tension – Aran and Istvay, Savina and the sexy, sexy space cop, the military guys and their moist, pulsating metaphorical phalli (metaphalli, if you will) – but no sex. I actually sexed the book up considerably just by sexualising the philosophy of jingoism for profit, over and over again, with increasing graphicness – to such an extent that the sex-o-meter is giving this book a Sun Tzu out of a possible Chuck Tingle.
Gore-o-meter
Occasional baby-murder aside it’s Ani the land-devil, tree-dwelling betentacled monstrosity and best sidekick ever, who carries this book gloriously into the high and very solid three-flesh-gobbet range with her sucker-hooks of venomous doom. Well played. Ani is my special squirmy gal and I shall abide no backtalk or sassmouth on this, I really shan’t.
WTF-o-meter
This story is rich in raw WTFium and intriguing questions in equal measure. The plot-driving hole in space is clearly the work of ancient and abiding McGuffinites and I am here for it. As for the rest … what’s the message supposed to be with Savina and the Old Religion and the propaganda and lies, the government cover-up and vengeance and all, with Alba? I don’t see where that is heading and what the reader is supposed to think – and that definitely makes it interesting! I guess the ambiguity and rewritten history and inherited grievances is the point? Adding tension to that relationship for the next book, what happens next? Hm.
I was also briefly weirded out by the part at the end when Savina meets Aran again – did they not run into each other in the tunnels on board the ship? Or did I completely misread that part? It just seemed like a kind of “it’s you” moment would have been nice.
My Final Verdict
This is the second book I’ve read from Olson, the other being debut Zero Day Threat. This one is, in my opinion, markedly more polished and shows the author’s voice, flair, and settled confidence – a really excellent progression in the genre, and Zero Day Threat was by no means an amateur offering. Interesting cliffhanger ending. Still not entirely certain of the message here, but our main players made it to the next leg of their journey and – what comes next? Four stars for this one!
My approval soared still further as I moved on past the cover and we met our main protagonist, Aran, and his friend in the backpack who can survive inside an active (and more!) volcano, and has tentacles. What is this? I love it. Aran’s other friend – the one without tentacles, Istvay – is a non-binary will-they-won’t-they complex best-friend-love type of secondary protagonist, and they’re dying of something. Aran is after a cure. This is an excellent setup. And the normalised existence of non-binary folks, I felt, was very cool. It was a bit of a comprehension stumbling block, as the singular ‘they’ always has been for me, but well worth the minimal effort it takes to get past.
So from spelunking in a volcano (“””volcano”””) with an octopus (“””octopus”””) in his backpack (“”” … no actually it is just a backpack), Aran is launched into the main plotline of the book as a hole appears in space. At first, given the shifting points of view for the other protagonists, I wondered if the hole was opening in different places or even different times, which would have been hellaciously cool. It was just the one hole seen from different perspectives, however – still cool though. It was a great way to introduce the characters, giving each of them a context and a set of behaviours to go along with their names and general appearances.
Alba is an iron-spined political leader (I was unable to shake the image of Chrisjen Avasarala, Secretary-General of the United Nations from The Expanse, and frankly why should I?), and Savina a hard-nosed scoundrel and killer for hire. Those are our main characters. The setting is Colorida, a solar system (I think) settled by a generation ship of humans some five hundred years previously. The stakes?
Oh, nothing much. The militant and intolerant wing of the solar system’s government is poised to coup the shit out of half a millennium of peaceful prosperity and are buying off scientists in order to make it happen (can’t image where these talented, crazy-inventive authors get their wild ideas, am I right?); the human race is suffering from a genetic disorder that kills about 10% of the population by the age of 30; and into this powder keg, the mysterious force that opened the hole in space drops a potential cure right through that shit. Along with evidence of a whole lot of hostile alien action to give the military guys great big confrontational impossible-to-ignore veiny war-boners. That’s all.
There’s a whole lot of complexity that is just nicely hinted at through this story, and I really liked it. Savina, who I should probably just rip the band-aid off and call Savini because that’s how I kept reading the name, was a member of a minority group (the Old Religion) that was the focus of some serious covert government shit … or may have just been a bunch of crazy evil fucks. We don’t know! What we do know is, they seemed to be the only people with a name for this genetic defect that has been as prevalent as left-handedness in the human population for five hundred years, and quite a lot more deadly than left-handedness … they called it “the Curse”, which – look, I just think there was a great opportunity to give this ailment a cool or interesting name, and Olson totally biffed that opportunity. Okay? I’m not deducting points for it or anything, I’m just saying.
Anyway, Savina is out for cultural vengeance against Alba which adds some nice tension as the Coloridans send up a ship to look at the portal, and all the plot threads begin to converge.
Are the aliens through the portal hostile? Were the military and their aforementioned bulging, throbbing, defcon-precum-drizzling war-boners right all along? Does the fabricated evidence go all the way down? Ah, well, that’s the question we’re all asking, isn’t it?
I know what else you’re asking: How did this book perform on the sex-o-meter, the gore-o-meter and the WTF-o-meter? Well, let’s segue smoothly over to taking a look at that then, shall we?
Sex-o-meter
Lots of tension – Aran and Istvay, Savina and the sexy, sexy space cop, the military guys and their moist, pulsating metaphorical phalli (metaphalli, if you will) – but no sex. I actually sexed the book up considerably just by sexualising the philosophy of jingoism for profit, over and over again, with increasing graphicness – to such an extent that the sex-o-meter is giving this book a Sun Tzu out of a possible Chuck Tingle.
Gore-o-meter
Occasional baby-murder aside it’s Ani the land-devil, tree-dwelling betentacled monstrosity and best sidekick ever, who carries this book gloriously into the high and very solid three-flesh-gobbet range with her sucker-hooks of venomous doom. Well played. Ani is my special squirmy gal and I shall abide no backtalk or sassmouth on this, I really shan’t.
WTF-o-meter
This story is rich in raw WTFium and intriguing questions in equal measure. The plot-driving hole in space is clearly the work of ancient and abiding McGuffinites and I am here for it. As for the rest … what’s the message supposed to be with Savina and the Old Religion and the propaganda and lies, the government cover-up and vengeance and all, with Alba? I don’t see where that is heading and what the reader is supposed to think – and that definitely makes it interesting! I guess the ambiguity and rewritten history and inherited grievances is the point? Adding tension to that relationship for the next book, what happens next? Hm.
I was also briefly weirded out by the part at the end when Savina meets Aran again – did they not run into each other in the tunnels on board the ship? Or did I completely misread that part? It just seemed like a kind of “it’s you” moment would have been nice.
My Final Verdict
This is the second book I’ve read from Olson, the other being debut Zero Day Threat. This one is, in my opinion, markedly more polished and shows the author’s voice, flair, and settled confidence – a really excellent progression in the genre, and Zero Day Threat was by no means an amateur offering. Interesting cliffhanger ending. Still not entirely certain of the message here, but our main players made it to the next leg of their journey and – what comes next? Four stars for this one!
February 1, 2022
Each of our characters has a reason for jumping through the rift into the unknown space beyond. But are their goals compatible and will any of them survive the trip?
This is book one of the series, so a fine place to start.
This is an action adventure SF space opera story. There is a lot going on in this one. We have a large cast and a vast setting (space, you know, is like big), and yet the story does a good job of keeping it together and focused on the action. The story is well written and lots of fun to read with a fast paced plot sprinkled with just the right blend of action and humor to keep it real. Overall, an excellent read and I am looking forward to more from this author.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
This is book one of the series, so a fine place to start.
This is an action adventure SF space opera story. There is a lot going on in this one. We have a large cast and a vast setting (space, you know, is like big), and yet the story does a good job of keeping it together and focused on the action. The story is well written and lots of fun to read with a fast paced plot sprinkled with just the right blend of action and humor to keep it real. Overall, an excellent read and I am looking forward to more from this author.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
January 11, 2025
More like a 4.5, maybe, but it is a really, really good book. (And I can see myself loving the sequels even more than this one.)
I like the characters. We only get to spend time in three of the characters heads, which I feel was a little bit of a waste - I'm probably just used to the fantasy books that have a bunch of narrators. Anyway, I the characters are great, each having their own motivations and reasons for the things they are doing. (Which is something I find so fun, because even if they don't agree (or in one case, wants to kill one of the others) they are still so compelling to read.)
You know how some people are always calm and cool and put together in books? These are not. Very, very are not. Alba and Sevina are often dealing with stress and anxiety and Aran seems to be a breath away from a panic attack 80% of the time. I think it's a really nice way to help flesh out the characters, though.
This book does remind me a little of Claudie Arseneault's City of Spires series, especially in that there are these huge events happening, but the story is a very personal one. (It's also delightfully queer, though not quite as queer as City of Spires, yet.)
I do have a couple minor issues.
The first is that descriptions of things are pretty brief. I think the most that was described was the city we started out in. I do get that, because I do not need pages of descriptions about spaceship hallways - which I assume was part of the point, too. (I mean, you seen one spaceship, you've pretty much seen them all. Unless it's a living spaceship…)
The second problem I had was very much an 'expectations vs. reality' issue. I expected this to be a first contact type book. It's not, really. I figured that by halfway through the book, we'd be chatting with aliens. … It's only in the last hundred pages that we actually make it through the portal.
I didn't mind, and there was enough other stuff happening that it didn't feel like we weren't moving or getting anywhere, I just had to readjust my expectations.
(Does anyone else notice how much easier it is to write reviews for books you didn't like than ones you did? This was barely one page in my Works, but I have over three pages for another review of a book that will be lucky to make 2 stars.)
I like the characters. We only get to spend time in three of the characters heads, which I feel was a little bit of a waste - I'm probably just used to the fantasy books that have a bunch of narrators. Anyway, I the characters are great, each having their own motivations and reasons for the things they are doing. (Which is something I find so fun, because even if they don't agree (or in one case, wants to kill one of the others) they are still so compelling to read.)
You know how some people are always calm and cool and put together in books? These are not. Very, very are not. Alba and Sevina are often dealing with stress and anxiety and Aran seems to be a breath away from a panic attack 80% of the time. I think it's a really nice way to help flesh out the characters, though.
This book does remind me a little of Claudie Arseneault's City of Spires series, especially in that there are these huge events happening, but the story is a very personal one. (It's also delightfully queer, though not quite as queer as City of Spires, yet.)
I do have a couple minor issues.
The first is that descriptions of things are pretty brief. I think the most that was described was the city we started out in. I do get that, because I do not need pages of descriptions about spaceship hallways - which I assume was part of the point, too. (I mean, you seen one spaceship, you've pretty much seen them all. Unless it's a living spaceship…)
The second problem I had was very much an 'expectations vs. reality' issue. I expected this to be a first contact type book. It's not, really. I figured that by halfway through the book, we'd be chatting with aliens. … It's only in the last hundred pages that we actually make it through the portal.
I didn't mind, and there was enough other stuff happening that it didn't feel like we weren't moving or getting anywhere, I just had to readjust my expectations.
(Does anyone else notice how much easier it is to write reviews for books you didn't like than ones you did? This was barely one page in my Works, but I have over three pages for another review of a book that will be lucky to make 2 stars.)
January 8, 2026
Singularity #1: Redshift is a polished, high-impact science fiction debut that expertly balances intellectual depth with relentless momentum. R.M. Olson delivers a compelling narrative where a single cosmic anomaly destabilizes not only space itself, but the political, moral, and personal foundations of an entire system.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its layered perspectives. Aran Romeu’s desperate pursuit of a cure is emotionally grounded and urgent, Chief Justice Alba Espina’s political calculus is sharp and unsettlingly realistic, and Savina Moya emerges as a formidable, morally complex force whose survival instincts drive some of the book’s most electrifying moments. Each storyline is distinct, yet seamlessly interwoven, escalating tension as the unknown beyond the portal draws them together.
Olson’s worldbuilding is confident and immersive, while the pacing remains tight and purposeful. The stakes are consistently high, with every decision carrying consequences that feel both personal and existential. Redshift is not merely a story about exploration it is a sophisticated examination of power, sacrifice, and the cost of ambition in the face of the unknown.
Smart, gripping, and expertly executed, this novel is an exceptional opening to the Singularity series and a must read for fans of intelligent, character driven science fiction.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its layered perspectives. Aran Romeu’s desperate pursuit of a cure is emotionally grounded and urgent, Chief Justice Alba Espina’s political calculus is sharp and unsettlingly realistic, and Savina Moya emerges as a formidable, morally complex force whose survival instincts drive some of the book’s most electrifying moments. Each storyline is distinct, yet seamlessly interwoven, escalating tension as the unknown beyond the portal draws them together.
Olson’s worldbuilding is confident and immersive, while the pacing remains tight and purposeful. The stakes are consistently high, with every decision carrying consequences that feel both personal and existential. Redshift is not merely a story about exploration it is a sophisticated examination of power, sacrifice, and the cost of ambition in the face of the unknown.
Smart, gripping, and expertly executed, this novel is an exceptional opening to the Singularity series and a must read for fans of intelligent, character driven science fiction.
October 8, 2022
This was a lot of fun to read and I enjoyed the build up of suspense. The author alternated between three main character sets.
Pros: Great characters, easy to like, love, hate, laugh with, feel for.
Entrancing plot that really pulled me in. I had to know how the characters would all come together. I had to keep reading to find how everything connected.
The author was able to weave a very full tale with politics, adventure, romance, and more. I feel like it was well juggled.
You must read the next book in the series to get closure.
Cons: Sometimes I felt I was missing something small. Just a tiny detail that may have helped. This may be my reading style, but I had some questions throughout.
You must read the next book in the series if you are looking for answers. This book does not wrap up the storyline(s). notice I put this in pro and con. :)
Overall, I totally recommend this. The story is full of adventure and great characters.
Pros: Great characters, easy to like, love, hate, laugh with, feel for.
Entrancing plot that really pulled me in. I had to know how the characters would all come together. I had to keep reading to find how everything connected.
The author was able to weave a very full tale with politics, adventure, romance, and more. I feel like it was well juggled.
You must read the next book in the series to get closure.
Cons: Sometimes I felt I was missing something small. Just a tiny detail that may have helped. This may be my reading style, but I had some questions throughout.
You must read the next book in the series if you are looking for answers. This book does not wrap up the storyline(s). notice I put this in pro and con. :)
Overall, I totally recommend this. The story is full of adventure and great characters.
June 18, 2024
I've always been a bit of a Star Trek nerd, and as much as I love the franchise as a whole, I am the most endeared to the original series. Not that people as a whole can be reduced down to archetypes, of course, but Star Trek TOS is filled with characters who embody the spirit of the scientist. They're inquisitive, they're curious, and most importantly they're hopeful.
Olson manages to capture that exact spirit in their works, in specifically the Singularity series. Star Trek is a comfort I reach out to in times of depressive episodes, and I have found that the Singularity series works in much the same way. Olson's characters are brave, wreckless, always asking questions, determined, brilliant, and most of all warm. It is that warm and kindness that can be felt throughout the story, and makes this an excellent read. 10/10!
Olson manages to capture that exact spirit in their works, in specifically the Singularity series. Star Trek is a comfort I reach out to in times of depressive episodes, and I have found that the Singularity series works in much the same way. Olson's characters are brave, wreckless, always asking questions, determined, brilliant, and most of all warm. It is that warm and kindness that can be felt throughout the story, and makes this an excellent read. 10/10!
September 18, 2023
Solid start to a new space opera series. First off, I absolutely love the diversity in the main POV characters. We get a 73 year old politician, a younger morally grey assassin, and a shy/autistic famous field scientist. Getting to experience this series through each of their POVs is so interesting. My all time favorite character is the scene stealing Ani the tree-dwelling tentacles land devil pet of our scientist who can survive basically anything. She just makes this book series! If you're a fan of space operas and adventure stories I would definitely recommend this series
November 23, 2021
This was an absolute delight. Aran, Istvay, and Ani were the heart of this story for me -- a gentle autistic scientist and his beautifully queer little family? Sign me up. (And I need an emotional support murder-octopus, like, immediately.) Can't wait for the next one
April 16, 2022
An intriguing group of characters whose many diverse backgrounds and objectives create a melting pot of interactions, leading to a story that will keep you reading long into the night. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 31, 2024
Exciting and inventive writing
The author has created so many wonderful characters, each with detailed motivations. I cant wait to read the next in the series. What an adventure filled with hidden motivations, conflicting agenda, snd exploration of the unknown.
The author has created so many wonderful characters, each with detailed motivations. I cant wait to read the next in the series. What an adventure filled with hidden motivations, conflicting agenda, snd exploration of the unknown.
April 6, 2023
Very entertaining
July 6, 2023
Disaster gays part two electric Boogaloo
January 23, 2022
I just finished this for the second time in preparation for the second book which was just released, and once again I enjoyed it very much. It's split into multiple perspectives that quickly converge into the same situation. The best for me though is the scientist Aran with his unwanted and accidental (but deserved) swashbuckling heroic reputation and his "best friend" Istvay, who he's hopelessly in love with and his beloved murderous pet Ani the venomous tree dwelling land-devil who looks like an octopus, sounds like a teakettle, can slaughter instantly when provoked, and also always wants pets and snuggles. I absolutely adore this little family. I enjoyed the other perspectives too but honestly if the whole book was Aran's pov I wouldn't miss the rest.
Queer rep: 👍 for queer & enby characters and no homophobia in this world
Queer rep: 👍 for queer & enby characters and no homophobia in this world
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