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A Naked Singularity

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A Naked Singularity is a legal thriller and the debut novel of American author Sergio De La Pava. Originally self-published in 2008 through XLibris,[1] it was commercially re-published in 2012 and subsequently won the PEN Prize for Debut Fiction in 2013.[2]

Reception

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Literary site The Quarterly Conversation ran a review by Scott Bryan Wilson that called the book "one of the best and most original novels of the decade" and "a towering, impressive work."[3] That review caught the eye of staff at The University of Chicago Press, who signed the book up and published it in paperback in April 2012. The book was named one of the ten best works of fiction of 2012 by The Wall Street Journal.[4] In the Chicago Tribune, Julia Keller wrote, "A Naked Singularity is not about physics. It's about the American criminal justice system in a large and chaotic city, a place slowly crushed by hopelessness in the same way that an ancient star is gradually crushed by gravity. . . . It is about a city that teeters on the edge of total collapse and complete disaster, but that has the capacity to right itself (whew!) at the last possible second."[5] A Naked Singularity went on to win the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize from PEN as the best debut novel of that year.[6] On February 10, 2014, it was named one of eight books on the shortlist for the inaugural Folio Prize for the best book published in the United Kingdom in 2013.[7]

Film adaptation

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On 18 December 2018, it was announced that Scott Free Productions will produce a film adaptation. Screenwriter Chase Palmer will make his directorial debut with David Matthews writing the script, Anton distributing,[8] and starring John Boyega as Casi,[9] Olivia Cooke,[10] and Bill Skarsgård.[11] The film, titled Naked Singularity, premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival on 9 April 2021.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Garth Risk Hallberg. "Outside the Ring: A Profile of Sergio De La Pava", The Millions, June 20, 2012.
  2. ^ Kelly, Stuart (29 August 2013), "A Naked Singularity by Sergio De La Pava – review", The Guardian, retrieved 22 January 2021
  3. ^ Scott Bryan Wilson. "Reviewed: A Naked Singularity by Sergio de la Pava". The Quarterly Conversation, October 4, 2010.
  4. ^ "The Best Fiction of 2012", The Wall Street Journal, December 14, 2012.
  5. ^ Julia Keller. "The 'Naked' Truth", Chicago Tribune, May 31, 2012.
  6. ^ "2013 PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize", PEN America.
  7. ^ Mark Brown, "The Folio Prize announces inaugural shortlist of eight books", The Guardian, February 10, 2014.
  8. ^ McNary, Dave (7 February 2019). "Anton Boards Scott Free Heist Pic 'Naked Singularity' Starring John Boyega – EFM". Deadline. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  9. ^ McNary, Dave (18 December 2018). "John Boyega in Talks to Star in Legal Drama 'A Naked Singularity'". Variety. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  10. ^ N’Duka, Amanda (9 April 2019). "Olivia Cooke Joins John Boyega In Scott Free's 'Naked Singularity'". Deadline. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  11. ^ Beatrice Verhoeven; Unberto Gonzales (13 May 2019). "'It' Star Bill Skarsgard Joins John Boyega, Olivia Cooke in 'A Naked Singularity' (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Opening Night: Naked Singularity". SFFILM. Retrieved 2021-04-13.