Bill DeSmedt
Encyclopedia
William H. DeSmedt is an American
author of science fiction
. His debut novel
, Singularity (2004), explores the 1908 Tunguska event
and the speculative hypothesis that it was caused by a submicroscopic
, primordial black hole
. Although Singularity is a work of science fiction
, in the tradition of Michael Crichton
its premise is anchored in realworld science.
In penning Singularity, Bill also drew on a deep knowledge of the Russian language, politics and culture, first acquired during eighteen months at the Defense Language Institute
in Monterey, California, and added to while a US–USSR exchange student at Moscow State University. He also holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Soviet Area Studies, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Science.
Bill has worked in the capacity of programmer, system designer, and consultant to both startups and Fortune 50 companies, specializing in natural language processing
, artificial intelligence
, and knowledge engineering
.
and Roger Zelazny
as key influences:
Other literary influences include Jorge Luis Borges
and, especially, Vernor Vinge
.
, Singularity (2004), Bill deploys a lifelong layman's fascination with quantum physics and cosmology
in the service of bringing believability to the long-disparaged hypothesis that the devastation of the Tunguska
basin in 1908 was caused by a submicroscopic
, primordial black hole
. Kip Thorne
, physicist and best-selling author of Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy, has said of the resulting work that "Bill got the vast majority of the physics right -- which is highly unusual, especially in a book that is such a good read."
-black hole hypothesis in 1973. The lecture centered around the "Jackson – Ryan hypothesis" on which Singularity is based.
At this lecture, Bill had the unique opportunity to defend the Jackson-Ryan hypothesis—against its own creators. In Bill’s words, Al Jackson and Mike Ryan had over the years “come around to the conviction that it was probably a meteor or a comet”.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. His debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
, Singularity (2004), explores the 1908 Tunguska event
Tunguska event
The Tunguska event, or Tunguska blast or Tunguska explosion, was an enormously powerful explosion that occurred near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in what is now Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, at about 7:14 a.m...
and the speculative hypothesis that it was caused by a submicroscopic
Submicroscopic
Submicroscopic is an English adjective used to describe particles of matter that cannot be seen under the most powerful optical microscope available. Atoms are examples of such submicroscopic particles....
, primordial black hole
Primordial black hole
A primordial black hole is a hypothetical type of black hole that is formed not by the gravitational collapse of a large star but by the extreme density of matter present during the universe's early expansion....
. Although Singularity is a work of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, in the tradition of Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton
John Michael Crichton , best known as Michael Crichton, was an American best-selling author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted...
its premise is anchored in realworld science.
In penning Singularity, Bill also drew on a deep knowledge of the Russian language, politics and culture, first acquired during eighteen months at the Defense Language Institute
Defense Language Institute
The Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous and varied other customers...
in Monterey, California, and added to while a US–USSR exchange student at Moscow State University. He also holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Soviet Area Studies, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Science.
Bill has worked in the capacity of programmer, system designer, and consultant to both startups and Fortune 50 companies, specializing in natural language processing
Natural language processing
Natural language processing is a field of computer science and linguistics concerned with the interactions between computers and human languages; it began as a branch of artificial intelligence....
, artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
, and knowledge engineering
Knowledge engineers
A knowledge engineer is a computer systems expert who is trained in the field of expert systems. Receiving information from domain experts, the knowledge engineers interpret the presented information and relay it to computer programmers who code the information in to systems databases to be...
.
Fiction
| Year | Cover | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Singularity | 512 pages; Hardcover, Per Aspera Press (ISBN 0-9745734-4-2) | |
| 2005 | Singularity | Podcast version read by author, Podiobooks.com | |
| 2010 | Dualism | Sequel to Singularity |
Awards
- Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Awards: Winner – Gold Medal for Science Fiction, 2005 (Singularity)
- Independent Publishers Association: Winner – Ippy prize for Best Fantasy/Science Fiction novel, 2004 (SingularitySingularity (novel)Singularity is a novel by Bill DeSmedt published by Per Aspera Press on November 8, 2004.It is based on the theory that the Tunguska Event was caused by a micro black hole.- External links :* **...
) - Publishers Marketing Association: Finalist – Ben Franklin “Best New Voice” Award, 2005 (Singularity)
Literary influences
As regards his writing style, Bill cites two authors, Larry NivenLarry Niven
Laurence van Cott Niven / ˈlæri ˈnɪvən/ is an American science fiction author. His best-known work is Ringworld , which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics...
and Roger Zelazny
Roger Zelazny
Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
as key influences:
Other literary influences include Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo , known as Jorge Luis Borges , was an Argentine writer, essayist, poet and translator born in Buenos Aires. In 1914 his family moved to Switzerland where he attended school, receiving his baccalauréat from the Collège de Genève in 1918. The family...
and, especially, Vernor Vinge
Vernor Vinge
Vernor Steffen Vinge is a retired San Diego State University Professor of Mathematics, computer scientist, and science fiction author. He is best known for his Hugo Award-winning novels and novellas A Fire Upon the Deep , A Deepness in the Sky , Rainbows End , Fast Times at Fairmont High ...
.
Scientific concepts
In his debut novelDebut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
, Singularity (2004), Bill deploys a lifelong layman's fascination with quantum physics and cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
in the service of bringing believability to the long-disparaged hypothesis that the devastation of the Tunguska
Tunguska event
The Tunguska event, or Tunguska blast or Tunguska explosion, was an enormously powerful explosion that occurred near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in what is now Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, at about 7:14 a.m...
basin in 1908 was caused by a submicroscopic
Submicroscopic
Submicroscopic is an English adjective used to describe particles of matter that cannot be seen under the most powerful optical microscope available. Atoms are examples of such submicroscopic particles....
, primordial black hole
Primordial black hole
A primordial black hole is a hypothetical type of black hole that is formed not by the gravitational collapse of a large star but by the extreme density of matter present during the universe's early expansion....
. Kip Thorne
Kip Thorne
Kip Stephen Thorne is an American theoretical physicist, known for his prolific contributions in gravitation physics and astrophysics and for having trained a generation of scientists...
, physicist and best-selling author of Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy, has said of the resulting work that "Bill got the vast majority of the physics right -- which is highly unusual, especially in a book that is such a good read."
The Jackson–Ryan Hypothesis
In November 2004, Bill DeSmedt spoke at a meeting of the Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society in Houston, TX, along with Drs. Albert A. Jackson IV and Michael P. Ryan Jr. who first put forward the TunguskaTunguska event
The Tunguska event, or Tunguska blast or Tunguska explosion, was an enormously powerful explosion that occurred near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in what is now Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, at about 7:14 a.m...
-black hole hypothesis in 1973. The lecture centered around the "Jackson – Ryan hypothesis" on which Singularity is based.
At this lecture, Bill had the unique opportunity to defend the Jackson-Ryan hypothesis—against its own creators. In Bill’s words, Al Jackson and Mike Ryan had over the years “come around to the conviction that it was probably a meteor or a comet”.