What do you think?
Rate this book
Dark Matter
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2016)A mindbending, relentlessly surprising thriller from the author of the bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy.
Jason Dessen is walking home through the chilly Chicago streets one night, looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the fireplace with his wife, Daniela, and their son, Charlie—when his reality shatters.
"Are you happy with your life?"
Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.
Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.
Before a man Jason's never met smiles down at him and says, "Welcome back, my friend."
In this world he's woken up to, Jason's life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.
Is it this world or the other that's the dream?
And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could've imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.
Dark Matter is a brilliantly plotted tale that is at once sweeping and intimate, mind-bendingly strange and profoundly human--a relentlessly surprising science-fiction thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we'll go to claim the lives we dream of.
Jason Dessen is walking home through the chilly Chicago streets one night, looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the fireplace with his wife, Daniela, and their son, Charlie—when his reality shatters.
"Are you happy with your life?"
Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.
Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.
Before a man Jason's never met smiles down at him and says, "Welcome back, my friend."
In this world he's woken up to, Jason's life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.
Is it this world or the other that's the dream?
And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could've imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.
Dark Matter is a brilliantly plotted tale that is at once sweeping and intimate, mind-bendingly strange and profoundly human--a relentlessly surprising science-fiction thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we'll go to claim the lives we dream of.
342 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2016
About the author
Blake Crouch
79 books54.1k followersBlake Crouch is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of the forthcoming novel, Dark Matter, for which he is writing the screenplay for Sony Pictures. His international-bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy was adapted into a television series for FOX, executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, that was Summer 2015’s #1 show. With Chad Hodge, Crouch also created Good Behavior, the TNT television show starring Michelle Dockery based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. He has written more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over thirty languages and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Crouch lives in Colorado with his family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68,886 reviews
July 29, 2016
I suppose we’re both just trying to come to terms with how horrifying infinity really is.
This book made me feel tiny. It was overwhelming and scary, but oh so very gripping too.
Dark Matter is the kind of compelling "I must know WTF is going on" book that makes you forget about everything else you had to do that day. You step into this world - this absolute mind fuck of a world that will tug at both your heart strings and your brain cells - and you don't want to come out until you know how it ends. Real life? Who cares? Shit is going down and I need answers!
I recently read Crouch's Pines and was pretty disappointed. It was a great concept, but I thought the TV show was better and I didn't much like any of the characters. That's not a problem here. Jason Dessen goes through some serious shit and it's hard not to find sympathy for him when his life is ripped apart.
After being abducted one night by a masked man, Jason is knocked unconscious and wakes in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by unfamiliar people who all seem to think he's somebody he isn't. What happened to him? Where are his beloved wife and son? These are questions that he will try to answer. But, as he discovers more and more about his situation, he starts to doubt what is real and what is not. Doubt whether he'll ever make it back to his life. Doubt whether it ever even existed at all.
I think, like you, like me, like everyone, she had regrets. I think sometimes she woke up in the night wondering if the path she took was the right one.
And just when you think you got it. When you think you've wrapped your brain around where this book is taking you and what's going on - well, buckle your seat belts, because this ride is about to get a whole lot crazier. In a good way.
It's mind-bending and exciting. I felt connected to the book on a personal level because I shared Jason's horror and the fear that he would never make it back to the family he loves. So it was emotionally engaging. But it was also thought-provoking. I could feel my eyes getting wider as I read further into the story.
The sort of "twist" in the plot is the perfect kind. One of those that I really should have seen coming - it was so obvious! - and yet I didn't. At all. So so good.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Store
August 19, 2016
I loved the premise of this story.
Are we really happy? What if we made different decisions in life?
What if we could live out choices we never made but wished we did?
What if we went left instead of right?
Straight.
Backward.
Diagon Alley.
Harry Potter.
The premise was very interesting. The stuff about the box and the multiverse and even the science at times was interesting.
Why couldn't you pull that off, Andy Weir?
The plot is so fast-paced and relentless. Even if you aren't fully invested, you want to keep going because it's so easy to keep going.
Few paragraphs have more than two sentences. Most have just one.
Or just a few words.
Or a list.
Sausage.
Pepperoni.
Cheese.
Bacon.
I use the word "paragraph" loosely.
Blake Crouch doesn't use paragraphs at all. Sometimes.
Sentences.
Words.
Little description.
All plot.
All action.
Lots of running. Guns. Murder, kind of. Surprises.
Family.
Love.
Science.
It's all there.
This book really just wants a few hours of your attention. That's all. It doesn't need you to think too much about it, and it doesn't need you to remember it a few weeks later when you're doing other more important stuff.
It just wants to hang out and take you on a little ride for the weekend and then let you off to get back to your real life.
Keep your arms and legs inside at all times. Until the ride comes to a complete stop.
Thank you for choosing Dark Matter. We know you have choices when it comes to science fiction thriller books, and we thank you for choosing this one to entertain you today.
The Martian.
Harlan Coben, any of them.
No more comparisons.
I can see this being made into a movie. Something like The Matrix. Seems like Blake Crouch has all of his stuff turned into TV shows these days.
Wayward Pines.
Some other show on TNT, I think.
I don't know enough to really comment on those.
But, I know they're there.
They're
Their
There
They're there in their whatever.
This is written just like that young adult trilogy, Chaos Walking.
The Knife of Never Letting Go is a better book.
But, that's just me. I don't even know why I need to say that. They're different books. They're there and they're different books for young adults and their enjoyment there. Yes, they are. They're.
Hello there!
I do think if we could really do what this book talks about, or if there really is what this book says there is... boy... that would be wild, and I think our heads would explode trying to rationalize it.
Boom!
Pow!
Zap!
Zap! only if our heads explode because of a Taser, or a laser beam I guess.
Anyway, if you made it this far... I'm sorry. I think you should read this if you want a fun thrill ride one day or two. Don't expect much from Dark Matter and it will get the job done.
Zap!
Are we really happy? What if we made different decisions in life?
What if we could live out choices we never made but wished we did?
What if we went left instead of right?
Straight.
Backward.
Diagon Alley.
Harry Potter.
The premise was very interesting. The stuff about the box and the multiverse and even the science at times was interesting.
Why couldn't you pull that off, Andy Weir?
The plot is so fast-paced and relentless. Even if you aren't fully invested, you want to keep going because it's so easy to keep going.
Few paragraphs have more than two sentences. Most have just one.
Or just a few words.
Or a list.
Sausage.
Pepperoni.
Cheese.
Bacon.
I use the word "paragraph" loosely.
Blake Crouch doesn't use paragraphs at all. Sometimes.
Sentences.
Words.
Little description.
All plot.
All action.
Lots of running. Guns. Murder, kind of. Surprises.
Family.
Love.
Science.
It's all there.
This book really just wants a few hours of your attention. That's all. It doesn't need you to think too much about it, and it doesn't need you to remember it a few weeks later when you're doing other more important stuff.
It just wants to hang out and take you on a little ride for the weekend and then let you off to get back to your real life.
Keep your arms and legs inside at all times. Until the ride comes to a complete stop.
Thank you for choosing Dark Matter. We know you have choices when it comes to science fiction thriller books, and we thank you for choosing this one to entertain you today.
The Martian.
Harlan Coben, any of them.
No more comparisons.
I can see this being made into a movie. Something like The Matrix. Seems like Blake Crouch has all of his stuff turned into TV shows these days.
Wayward Pines.
Some other show on TNT, I think.
I don't know enough to really comment on those.
But, I know they're there.
They're
Their
There
They're there in their whatever.
This is written just like that young adult trilogy, Chaos Walking.
The Knife of Never Letting Go is a better book.
But, that's just me. I don't even know why I need to say that. They're different books. They're there and they're different books for young adults and their enjoyment there. Yes, they are. They're.
Hello there!
I do think if we could really do what this book talks about, or if there really is what this book says there is... boy... that would be wild, and I think our heads would explode trying to rationalize it.
Boom!
Pow!
Zap!
Zap! only if our heads explode because of a Taser, or a laser beam I guess.
Anyway, if you made it this far... I'm sorry. I think you should read this if you want a fun thrill ride one day or two. Don't expect much from Dark Matter and it will get the job done.
Zap!
January 27, 2024
This moment slips past unnoticed.
The end of everything I know, everything I love.
If there ever was a science fiction story that could appeal to everyone, this is it.
Jason Dessen was living the normal happy life with his wife and son when one night, a stranger abducts him and knocks him out. When he comes to, everything has changed. How will he survive and get back to the life and the people he loves?
Ok, that's a pretty measly teaser, but it's all I can say without giving anything away.
This book blew my mind when I originally read it. But to be fair, I went into it almost completely blind. Not only did I not know the story, but I somehow didn't even realize what genre it was. So when strange things started happening, I was really REALLY surprised.
Even though this book is science fiction, it reads like a thriller. It's fast-paced and relentless in its drive to propel the plot forward. The action never stops, and the intensity just builds and builds. Every time I think I've got a grip on what's going on and where the story is headed, something happens that I didn't see coming.
This book is the rare one that's got something for everyone. It mixes together a variety of genres—science fiction, thriller, suspense, mystery, and romance—and it does so seamlessly. Even if you're not normally a sci-fi reader, it's worth considering this book. The concepts in here are accessible to everyone, and it's really the perfect introduction to the genre.
At the core of this story are questions that everyone can relate to. What happens if we made different choices in life? What about the road not traveled? And how much would we sacrifice to be with the ones we love?
I can't think of another story quite like this. It's worth the journey to discover it for yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Recursion
Upgrade
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
October 11, 2016
LOVED IT!!! This book is insanity in a box! 5 stars! Believe the hype! Do not read many reviews! If you like sci fi or want something different and can suspend disbelief read or listen to this book!
This is the audio version review! The audio narrated by actor, Jon Lindstrom, is as good as it gets! He was the perfect narrator for "Dark Matter". This man was born to narrate books! He's that good!
"Dark Matter" starts out pretty simple and then very quickly it turns insane and just keeps getting crazier and crazier. When you think it can't get any crazier it does! Trust me! I will never look at a box the same way again! If there is a trigger warning for boxes this book should have it! Lol!
Jason Desson is a physicist. He has been married to Daniela for years. He has a son, Charlie, who is almost 15 years old. He's generally a happy guy. He works at a college and loves his family. One day he goes to a bar. When he leaves the bar everything changes! That's it. That's all the plot summery I'm giving you because from there I would be going into spoiler territory.
I will share one quote that I think avoids spoilers, but might peak your curiosity: "Is it possible to outthink yourself". Boom! And that's all folks!!!
Read it!!!
This is the audio version review! The audio narrated by actor, Jon Lindstrom, is as good as it gets! He was the perfect narrator for "Dark Matter". This man was born to narrate books! He's that good!
"Dark Matter" starts out pretty simple and then very quickly it turns insane and just keeps getting crazier and crazier. When you think it can't get any crazier it does! Trust me! I will never look at a box the same way again! If there is a trigger warning for boxes this book should have it! Lol!
Jason Desson is a physicist. He has been married to Daniela for years. He has a son, Charlie, who is almost 15 years old. He's generally a happy guy. He works at a college and loves his family. One day he goes to a bar. When he leaves the bar everything changes! That's it. That's all the plot summery I'm giving you because from there I would be going into spoiler territory.
I will share one quote that I think avoids spoilers, but might peak your curiosity: "Is it possible to outthink yourself". Boom! And that's all folks!!!
Read it!!!
November 22, 2017
Best way to sum this up - one of the most unique and original stories I have read in a long time. 75% of this book I cannot give you a similar example of from another story.
I can see why others have said it is tough to review without spoiling. EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BEFORE IT GETS SPOILED FOR YOU!
It is the perfect balance of suspense, action, sci-fi, romance, and WHAT THE HECK!?!? I was enthralled the entire time and did not want to put it down (but we all have to sleep and work sometime, right?)
Maybe this book isn't for you, but perhaps there is a different version of you somewhere and it is perfect for them. Do that other you justice and give this one a shot!
Update 12/6/2016 - ARGH! This should have won the Goodreads Choice Awards! I am calling for a recount!
I can see why others have said it is tough to review without spoiling. EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BEFORE IT GETS SPOILED FOR YOU!
It is the perfect balance of suspense, action, sci-fi, romance, and WHAT THE HECK!?!? I was enthralled the entire time and did not want to put it down (but we all have to sleep and work sometime, right?)
Maybe this book isn't for you, but perhaps there is a different version of you somewhere and it is perfect for them. Do that other you justice and give this one a shot!
Update 12/6/2016 - ARGH! This should have won the Goodreads Choice Awards! I am calling for a recount!
December 23, 2023
What, with all due respect, the absolute fuck was this book?
What just happened? What did I just read? How does one even begin to process the sheer mind-fuckery that is this book? What now? Am I supposed to just go to school, go to work, respond to emails, function as a normal member of society as though this book hasn't just completely rearranged the insides of my brain, fucked with my heart, and threw me into an existential crisis? What?
Anyways. That said, this book is great. It does horrible, irreversible things to your psyche, but it's great. Awesome, actually. You should like, definitely read it. I think.
What just happened? What did I just read? How does one even begin to process the sheer mind-fuckery that is this book? What now? Am I supposed to just go to school, go to work, respond to emails, function as a normal member of society as though this book hasn't just completely rearranged the insides of my brain, fucked with my heart, and threw me into an existential crisis? What?
Anyways. That said, this book is great. It does horrible, irreversible things to your psyche, but it's great. Awesome, actually. You should like, definitely read it. I think.
January 11, 2020
I really like the concept and the hectic trippy-ness that unfurls in the second half of the book, which makes the tail wind of the story a fast and fun ride. The main thing hanging me up is Crouch's cheesy writing. The characters are trite and formulaic, and the protagonist's inner monologue constantly emphasizes the life lesson that Crouch wants you to walk away with. He doesn't leave much room for interpretation or nuance because he keeps slapping you in the face about how life is precious and we shouldn't take things for granted, like some after-school special episode that's peppered with light sci-fi and Diet Coke.
July 21, 2022
psychologiczna powiesc opowiadajaca o niepozornym mezczyznie, ktory zostaje porwany i umieszczony gdzies, gdzie jego zona nie jest jego zona a jego dziecko nie istnieje. ksiazka ta eksploruje ciemna strone psychiki czlowieka, zadajac czytelnikowi pytania, jakich nam braklo odwagi zadac. poruszajace ,inteligentne oryginalne zdania, zmuszajace do przemyslenia akcji. bardzo zlozona, i nieziemsko wciagajaca. miedzy wierszami prosi nas, bysmy docenili i zastanowili sie nad swoim zyciem, swoimi wyborami. ich nieskonczonosc jest przerazajaca.zapadajaca w pamiec.
June 9, 2023
4.5
This book f*cked me up.
This book f*cked me up.
April 30, 2024
Re-reading this for the book club and loving it all over again!
May 17, 2024
*****NO SPOILERS, I SWEAR.*****
”What if all the pieces of belief and memory that comprise who I am--my profession, Daniela, my son--are nothing but a tragic misfiring in that gray matter between my ears? Will I keep fighting to be the man I think I am? Or will I disown him and everything he loves, and step into the skin of the person this world would like for me to be?
And if I have lost my mind, what then?
What if everything I know is wrong?
No. Stop.
I am not losing my mind.”
There is nothing more frustrating to a reviewer than reading a book that can’t be written about. Almost every piece of information I could give you about this book is a ***spoiler***. Now, my definition of a spoiler and other people’s definition of a spoiler are not always the same, but in the case of this book the less said, the better.
I was very fortunate to watch the movie The Sixth Sense without having a clue about the plot, which is a minor miracle since I’m highly exposed to plots of movies and books, but I was... over the moon... to watch that particular movie without knowing the twist of the plot. So with The Sixth Sense (That plot has nothing to do with this plot, just to be clear.) in mind, I am going to resist the urge to write and write and write about how cool this book is.
The first order of business is to convince your friends to read it with you because you are going to want to discuss this book over numerous bottles of wine and a platter of cheese and pretzels. The cheese and pretzels only so you can drink more wine. It would be cruel and unusual punishment to have a designated driver, so my thought is that you should have this book discussion at someone’s house and bring your PJs. Stay over and maybe, if you have the right reasonably attractive friends, you can have….
”...fumbling, groping, backset-of-the-car, unprotected because who-gives-a-fuck, protons-smashing-together sex.”
So keep that in mind, so that you don’t get TOO DRUNK while discussing this book.
Now, anyone familiar with Blake Crouch should know he is a twisty, a twizzler, a zigzagger, a trickster. He bamboozled me in Wayward Pines, and now he has gone even further with Dark Matter. The great thing about this TWIST is that it isn’t just a one off twist...oh no...this is a twist that keeps wrapping itself around other twists until you start to feel little explosions in your head of all those overloaded brain cells.
It’s okay, you have plenty to spare.
By the end of the book and certainly after the protons-smashing-together sex, you will be fully convinced that “...we’re a part of a much larger and stranger reality than we can possibly imagine.” You will also be convinced that you need to read more Blake Crouch books, so you might as well go ahead and factor that into your book budget and *erhhh* food budget right now.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Crown Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
”What if all the pieces of belief and memory that comprise who I am--my profession, Daniela, my son--are nothing but a tragic misfiring in that gray matter between my ears? Will I keep fighting to be the man I think I am? Or will I disown him and everything he loves, and step into the skin of the person this world would like for me to be?
And if I have lost my mind, what then?
What if everything I know is wrong?
No. Stop.
I am not losing my mind.”
There is nothing more frustrating to a reviewer than reading a book that can’t be written about. Almost every piece of information I could give you about this book is a ***spoiler***. Now, my definition of a spoiler and other people’s definition of a spoiler are not always the same, but in the case of this book the less said, the better.
I was very fortunate to watch the movie The Sixth Sense without having a clue about the plot, which is a minor miracle since I’m highly exposed to plots of movies and books, but I was... over the moon... to watch that particular movie without knowing the twist of the plot. So with The Sixth Sense (That plot has nothing to do with this plot, just to be clear.) in mind, I am going to resist the urge to write and write and write about how cool this book is.
The first order of business is to convince your friends to read it with you because you are going to want to discuss this book over numerous bottles of wine and a platter of cheese and pretzels. The cheese and pretzels only so you can drink more wine. It would be cruel and unusual punishment to have a designated driver, so my thought is that you should have this book discussion at someone’s house and bring your PJs. Stay over and maybe, if you have the right reasonably attractive friends, you can have….
”...fumbling, groping, backset-of-the-car, unprotected because who-gives-a-fuck, protons-smashing-together sex.”
So keep that in mind, so that you don’t get TOO DRUNK while discussing this book.
Now, anyone familiar with Blake Crouch should know he is a twisty, a twizzler, a zigzagger, a trickster. He bamboozled me in Wayward Pines, and now he has gone even further with Dark Matter. The great thing about this TWIST is that it isn’t just a one off twist...oh no...this is a twist that keeps wrapping itself around other twists until you start to feel little explosions in your head of all those overloaded brain cells.
It’s okay, you have plenty to spare.
By the end of the book and certainly after the protons-smashing-together sex, you will be fully convinced that “...we’re a part of a much larger and stranger reality than we can possibly imagine.” You will also be convinced that you need to read more Blake Crouch books, so you might as well go ahead and factor that into your book budget and *erhhh* food budget right now.
”What might have been and what
has been
Point to one end, which is always
present.
Footfalls echo in the memory
Down the passage which we do
not take
Towards the door we never
Opened.
--T. S. Eliot, ‘Burnt Norton’”
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Crown Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
August 18, 2024
Wow…..Masterfully Crafted
OK, Everyone. Hold onto your seats. I am not going to give a short teaser because I really believe that you will be better off going into this book blind.
After reading Upgrade and loving it, I picked up Dark Matter. It is just as good as Upgrade (if not even better).
Dark Matter is a science fiction novel, largely about the road not taken and also how we take for granted the people in our lives. However, Crouch surprised me again and again. Just when I thought the book was going to go in one direction, he went in a different, better direction.
Without spoiling anything, I really enjoyed this book because it offers a lot of food for thought. This is one book where I would love to discuss in a book group.
Needless to say, I am really looking forward to more Blake Crouch. I may just need to update my list of favorite authors……or should I say “upgrade” my list of favorite authors? Yes, that was book humor.
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Insta My Bookstore at Pango
OK, Everyone. Hold onto your seats. I am not going to give a short teaser because I really believe that you will be better off going into this book blind.
After reading Upgrade and loving it, I picked up Dark Matter. It is just as good as Upgrade (if not even better).
Dark Matter is a science fiction novel, largely about the road not taken and also how we take for granted the people in our lives. However, Crouch surprised me again and again. Just when I thought the book was going to go in one direction, he went in a different, better direction.
Without spoiling anything, I really enjoyed this book because it offers a lot of food for thought. This is one book where I would love to discuss in a book group.
Needless to say, I am really looking forward to more Blake Crouch. I may just need to update my list of favorite authors……or should I say “upgrade” my list of favorite authors? Yes, that was book humor.
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Insta My Bookstore at Pango
September 28, 2016
I’m late to the party on this one, and judging by all the 4 and 5 star reviews I can only assume that the mob will be after me with pitchforks and torches for 3 starring it. Come at me, Goodreads!
Jason Dessen is just an average guy with a wife and son he loves, and a job teaching physics at a small college. One night he goes out to meet a friend for drinks, but he ends up being kidnapped by a mysterious man who somehow rips him out of his life and drops him in the middle of a nightmare.
This is one of those books that’s nearly impossible to review without spoilers because so much of what happens comes after major revelations are made. Even if you see the first big twist coming then you’ll probably still be surprised by what comes next.
Here’s the 100% spoiler free review: This is an entertaining sci-fi thriller that reminds me of recent books like Influx (Slightly better than this.) and The Fold (Slightly worse.) It’s got a pretty good hook, and the story is begging to be turned into a movie although the trailer will probably give away the entire plot once they film it. It flirts with big crazy science ideas, but in the end is more interested in being a human drama about family and choices we make. It didn’t hit a mind blowing level for me on the science side, and it did a better than average job for this type of book of getting me invested in the character side. Overall, it still fell a little short of its ambitions.
In short, I liked it but didn’t love it. No regrets about reading it, and I’ll see the inevitable movie version if it’s got a decent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
To dig into this in more detail here’s some specifics. I’m not giving away the ending, but I do address the overall plot in general terms.
So its sci-fi elements aren’t as deep or well presented as other books I’ve read dealing with a similar concept, and its major theme rubbed the wrong way a bit. Still, it was an entertaining read with some big ideas that I enjoyed.
Note: I'm getting comments that are discussing things I spoiler tagged with no warnings. If you want to comment on some aspect that is under the spoilers section then please use that function. Any comments that don't will be deleted.
Jason Dessen is just an average guy with a wife and son he loves, and a job teaching physics at a small college. One night he goes out to meet a friend for drinks, but he ends up being kidnapped by a mysterious man who somehow rips him out of his life and drops him in the middle of a nightmare.
This is one of those books that’s nearly impossible to review without spoilers because so much of what happens comes after major revelations are made. Even if you see the first big twist coming then you’ll probably still be surprised by what comes next.
Here’s the 100% spoiler free review: This is an entertaining sci-fi thriller that reminds me of recent books like Influx (Slightly better than this.) and The Fold (Slightly worse.) It’s got a pretty good hook, and the story is begging to be turned into a movie although the trailer will probably give away the entire plot once they film it. It flirts with big crazy science ideas, but in the end is more interested in being a human drama about family and choices we make. It didn’t hit a mind blowing level for me on the science side, and it did a better than average job for this type of book of getting me invested in the character side. Overall, it still fell a little short of its ambitions.
In short, I liked it but didn’t love it. No regrets about reading it, and I’ll see the inevitable movie version if it’s got a decent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
To dig into this in more detail here’s some specifics. I’m not giving away the ending, but I do address the overall plot in general terms.
So its sci-fi elements aren’t as deep or well presented as other books I’ve read dealing with a similar concept, and its major theme rubbed the wrong way a bit. Still, it was an entertaining read with some big ideas that I enjoyed.
Note: I'm getting comments that are discussing things I spoiler tagged with no warnings. If you want to comment on some aspect that is under the spoilers section then please use that function. Any comments that don't will be deleted.
September 27, 2016
If you liked the film Interstellar, you might like this. I did not like Interstellar.
I found the plot to be intriguing, but not particularly original. It felt like a rehashing of many stories. The themes were pretty much exactly what you'd expect to find in a book about multiple universes: life, love, decisions, fate, acceptance, etc.
And the dialogue was mediocre at best. There were some lines that had me laughing out loud...and they weren't supposed to be funny. "It felt like it was the first time you had really seen me. Maybe the first time anyone had ever really seen me. It was the hottest thing." THE HOTTEST THING? Also: "It was like I was something, not that you wanted, but that you needed. Like I was your oxygen." *groan*
I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I really feel like I read a completely different book than everyone else. I just don't get the hype. It's saving grace is that it was a quick read and I never felt like DNFing it. But if it had been any longer I would've definitely skim read the ending only to find out what happens.
I found the plot to be intriguing, but not particularly original. It felt like a rehashing of many stories. The themes were pretty much exactly what you'd expect to find in a book about multiple universes: life, love, decisions, fate, acceptance, etc.
And the dialogue was mediocre at best. There were some lines that had me laughing out loud...and they weren't supposed to be funny. "It felt like it was the first time you had really seen me. Maybe the first time anyone had ever really seen me. It was the hottest thing." THE HOTTEST THING? Also: "It was like I was something, not that you wanted, but that you needed. Like I was your oxygen." *groan*
I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I really feel like I read a completely different book than everyone else. I just don't get the hype. It's saving grace is that it was a quick read and I never felt like DNFing it. But if it had been any longer I would've definitely skim read the ending only to find out what happens.
January 14, 2024
Ohhhh boy I am daunted by the idea of writing this review.
As many people know, I do a VERY adorable thing where I read a book and then don’t feel like reviewing it straight away so I put it off for a bit and then suddenly it’s been four months and I don’t remember a godforsaken thing about it and I am a shell of the person I used to be when I read the book and the shell of a person isn’t where the book memories are stored!!
Also part of this adorable review-writing process: starting out infinite reviews in the exact same way, delineating the exact same process. Follow for more of the exact same content!
Anyway this was a particularly bad time for me to put off writing a review, because I barely understood this book while I was reading it and I sure as sh*t don’t have a comprehensive synopsis to give you now.
Basically this book is physics and sci-fi and it’s a little confusing but not in a brain-hurt-y way more like “oh I probably don’t have a full understanding of the causes and/or ramifications of what’s happening here but it doesn’t really matter because I know enough to enjoy this whole plotline situation and I’m not here for a breezy fictionalized physics tutorial anyway.”
So if that is what you’re looking for, I can’t really speak on whether you can find it here.
What you CAN find is a semi-confusing VERY fun lightly thrilling book that will make you feel kind of smart-ish instead of dumb, like most science-y books! It’s like The Martian, but with more suffering! And also I’m not hungover while reading it!
I am also just now recollecting - look guys, progress! - that I had a pretty busy/stressful weekend while I was reading this and I still managed to get it done in the better part of 24 hours. Because this is very gripping on top of everything!!! I should have been very distracted as I had a lot on my mind but guess what, it was all Dark Matter central over here! Kinda. To an extent that is still impressive.
I think I should be done now.
Bottom line: This is not the type of book I normally read AT ALL and heavens to Betsy am I glad I did.
(Note to self: when going outside of comfort zone, preferably do so with reading and not with turns of phrase. That’s how you end up saying sh*t like heavens to Betsy and looking like a goddamn fool.)
---------------------
pre-review
well.
never have i ever read a book like that before.
& it worked out like a dream!!!
review to come
---------------------
currently reading update
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING BUT I'M INTO IT.
As many people know, I do a VERY adorable thing where I read a book and then don’t feel like reviewing it straight away so I put it off for a bit and then suddenly it’s been four months and I don’t remember a godforsaken thing about it and I am a shell of the person I used to be when I read the book and the shell of a person isn’t where the book memories are stored!!
Also part of this adorable review-writing process: starting out infinite reviews in the exact same way, delineating the exact same process. Follow for more of the exact same content!
Anyway this was a particularly bad time for me to put off writing a review, because I barely understood this book while I was reading it and I sure as sh*t don’t have a comprehensive synopsis to give you now.
Basically this book is physics and sci-fi and it’s a little confusing but not in a brain-hurt-y way more like “oh I probably don’t have a full understanding of the causes and/or ramifications of what’s happening here but it doesn’t really matter because I know enough to enjoy this whole plotline situation and I’m not here for a breezy fictionalized physics tutorial anyway.”
So if that is what you’re looking for, I can’t really speak on whether you can find it here.
What you CAN find is a semi-confusing VERY fun lightly thrilling book that will make you feel kind of smart-ish instead of dumb, like most science-y books! It’s like The Martian, but with more suffering! And also I’m not hungover while reading it!
I am also just now recollecting - look guys, progress! - that I had a pretty busy/stressful weekend while I was reading this and I still managed to get it done in the better part of 24 hours. Because this is very gripping on top of everything!!! I should have been very distracted as I had a lot on my mind but guess what, it was all Dark Matter central over here! Kinda. To an extent that is still impressive.
I think I should be done now.
Bottom line: This is not the type of book I normally read AT ALL and heavens to Betsy am I glad I did.
(Note to self: when going outside of comfort zone, preferably do so with reading and not with turns of phrase. That’s how you end up saying sh*t like heavens to Betsy and looking like a goddamn fool.)
---------------------
pre-review
well.
never have i ever read a book like that before.
& it worked out like a dream!!!
review to come
---------------------
currently reading update
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING BUT I'M INTO IT.
October 17, 2023
This book, while undoubtedly well written and imaginative, annoyed me on several levels, leading me to not enjoy it nearly as much as I should. It is quite likely not to annoy you in the same way, so don't let me put you off.
The science on display is remarkably similar to that in my own upcoming scifi, though employed to different ends. So expect a small smattering of quantum mechanics.
The book opens with action and drama after a brief scene-setting happy family bit, and even this comes with explicit foreshadowing - "if only I knew this was the last happy day" type of thing.
My first complaint was that I guessed what was happening almost immediately. Our point of view character however takes a very long time to understand and spends a long time bewildered, shocked, and disbelieving. This is perfectly reasonable, but also a chore to read when you just want him to "get it" and then get on with it.
My second complaint was the warm & fuzzy solution to what should have been a very technical navigation problem. I can't see a better story solution but it still felt as if having been presented with a hard science problem we had it solved with a big glop of magic.
My final complaint, which rather spoiled the ending for me, is a spoiler.
The answer to my complaints is "but that wouldn't make a very good story". And it is a reasonable answer. I just wasn't able to enjoy a book balanced on a hard science explanation that then slid away into "whatever works for the story".
As I have said before, many others will, and clearly did, have no issue with this. It is a personal bugbear and leaves no stain on a well written, imaginative, and exciting book.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
The science on display is remarkably similar to that in my own upcoming scifi, though employed to different ends. So expect a small smattering of quantum mechanics.
The book opens with action and drama after a brief scene-setting happy family bit, and even this comes with explicit foreshadowing - "if only I knew this was the last happy day" type of thing.
My first complaint was that I guessed what was happening almost immediately. Our point of view character however takes a very long time to understand and spends a long time bewildered, shocked, and disbelieving. This is perfectly reasonable, but also a chore to read when you just want him to "get it" and then get on with it.
My second complaint was the warm & fuzzy solution to what should have been a very technical navigation problem. I can't see a better story solution but it still felt as if having been presented with a hard science problem we had it solved with a big glop of magic.
My final complaint, which rather spoiled the ending for me, is a spoiler.
The answer to my complaints is "but that wouldn't make a very good story". And it is a reasonable answer. I just wasn't able to enjoy a book balanced on a hard science explanation that then slid away into "whatever works for the story".
As I have said before, many others will, and clearly did, have no issue with this. It is a personal bugbear and leaves no stain on a well written, imaginative, and exciting book.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
February 6, 2019
Dr. Mr. Crouch,
I was first introduced to your work via my Aunt Janet “The Librarian” years ago; she started me off with your Andrew Z. Thomas/Luther Kite series and I knew I’d found a new favorite author. I branched out on my own and decided to try the Wayward Pines series; somehow I ended up liking that even more than the previous. I was on a roll! Months ago, when I first saw your new book listed on NetGalley, it was vague and sneaky, both things I like in a book, but I decided to wait on requesting until I saw a couple of reviews. Then it hit me-everyone was describing this new book as a love story. A LOVE STORY?! No thanks; not for me. I don’t do that mushy-gushy nonsense. I was disappointed; I had really hoped for something exciting and fresh! As time went on, more of my Goodreads buds kept giving me grief to the point I agreed to read it, but I put it off as long as possible until finally I just needed to clear it off my shelf. I was still a little bitter and possibly throwing a tantrum, but I was going to read it despite your utter betrayal into the land of touchy feely.
Boy was I wrong. I know; I should have trusted you. And I finally get all those “this is truly a love story-blah blah blah” comments, because at heart, it is just that. You made sure to include all the intelligent, thrilling components of a Blake Crouch masterpiece that made me almost cancel my date night because I had to read “just one more chapter”. I’m not sure who’s bright idea it was to release your book during this Stranger Things phenomenon, but it was genius. My brain hasn’t had to process this much science since college, and it’s given me the illusion that I can moonlight as an intellectual again. Hehe. Anyway, no plot summary, giveaways, or spoilers here, but thank you good sir for putting in the time and effort to create an unforgettable journey that is sure to stay with all its readers for years to come. I appreciate you keeping it simple enough for my brain to keep up, and hopefully I’m not the only one who feels this way. I’ll be recommending this to everyone in the near future and am sure to include this in my Top Books of 2016 round up.
Thanks again, and looking forward to the next book. I promise to be more trusting the next go around.
All the best,
Chels
P.S. I received my digital copy via NetGalley from Crown Publishing in exchange for an honest and fair review. I ended up loving it so much that they sent a paper arc that was leftover and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival to add to my collection of awesome books that were keepers.
I was first introduced to your work via my Aunt Janet “The Librarian” years ago; she started me off with your Andrew Z. Thomas/Luther Kite series and I knew I’d found a new favorite author. I branched out on my own and decided to try the Wayward Pines series; somehow I ended up liking that even more than the previous. I was on a roll! Months ago, when I first saw your new book listed on NetGalley, it was vague and sneaky, both things I like in a book, but I decided to wait on requesting until I saw a couple of reviews. Then it hit me-everyone was describing this new book as a love story. A LOVE STORY?! No thanks; not for me. I don’t do that mushy-gushy nonsense. I was disappointed; I had really hoped for something exciting and fresh! As time went on, more of my Goodreads buds kept giving me grief to the point I agreed to read it, but I put it off as long as possible until finally I just needed to clear it off my shelf. I was still a little bitter and possibly throwing a tantrum, but I was going to read it despite your utter betrayal into the land of touchy feely.
Boy was I wrong. I know; I should have trusted you. And I finally get all those “this is truly a love story-blah blah blah” comments, because at heart, it is just that. You made sure to include all the intelligent, thrilling components of a Blake Crouch masterpiece that made me almost cancel my date night because I had to read “just one more chapter”. I’m not sure who’s bright idea it was to release your book during this Stranger Things phenomenon, but it was genius. My brain hasn’t had to process this much science since college, and it’s given me the illusion that I can moonlight as an intellectual again. Hehe. Anyway, no plot summary, giveaways, or spoilers here, but thank you good sir for putting in the time and effort to create an unforgettable journey that is sure to stay with all its readers for years to come. I appreciate you keeping it simple enough for my brain to keep up, and hopefully I’m not the only one who feels this way. I’ll be recommending this to everyone in the near future and am sure to include this in my Top Books of 2016 round up.
Thanks again, and looking forward to the next book. I promise to be more trusting the next go around.
All the best,
Chels
P.S. I received my digital copy via NetGalley from Crown Publishing in exchange for an honest and fair review. I ended up loving it so much that they sent a paper arc that was leftover and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival to add to my collection of awesome books that were keepers.
December 9, 2018
This reread on Audio was good! I enjoyed the narrator!
I just read the craziest book and it was so good. I was going along wanting to find out what in the world has happened to Jason! Why has he lost his identity. Who are these people after him! I mean one minute, you have a wife and kid and then you don't. Your in another world .. ish.
AND. THEN. IT. WAS. DOWN. THE. RABBIT. HOLE. Just trying to enjoy this book and they lured me right on down that hole!
So now. What am I going to say in this review that won't give anything away. I mean this is a book that you need to talk about with people. It is full of science and alternate this and alternate that. Holy crow, the things Jason has to go through just to try to find his wife Daniela and his son Charlie is CRAZY!!!
The book is good though, it will definitely keep you on your toes and have a lot of those what the.. moments. And when you find out who is behind a lot of this stuff when he goes to different realities, it will throw you for a loop! I was like, no way!!!! I would not want to be this man!
Anyway, all of you science peeps out there should read it and some others too. I want to see what some of my friends think about it.
**I would like to thank Penguin Random House for a print copy of this book through The Reading Room in exchange for my honest review.**
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
I just read the craziest book and it was so good. I was going along wanting to find out what in the world has happened to Jason! Why has he lost his identity. Who are these people after him! I mean one minute, you have a wife and kid and then you don't. Your in another world .. ish.
AND. THEN. IT. WAS. DOWN. THE. RABBIT. HOLE. Just trying to enjoy this book and they lured me right on down that hole!
So now. What am I going to say in this review that won't give anything away. I mean this is a book that you need to talk about with people. It is full of science and alternate this and alternate that. Holy crow, the things Jason has to go through just to try to find his wife Daniela and his son Charlie is CRAZY!!!
The book is good though, it will definitely keep you on your toes and have a lot of those what the.. moments. And when you find out who is behind a lot of this stuff when he goes to different realities, it will throw you for a loop! I was like, no way!!!! I would not want to be this man!
Anyway, all of you science peeps out there should read it and some others too. I want to see what some of my friends think about it.
**I would like to thank Penguin Random House for a print copy of this book through The Reading Room in exchange for my honest review.**
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
August 10, 2016
The best part of theorizing about a multiverse with infinite realities is that somewhere there is a version of me that chose not to read Dark Matter. The use of a multiverse to justify an infinite number of realities and thereby claiming anything that can happen will happen is a cheap narrative device the author wildly abuses by the end, ultimately creating an infinity loop of boredom. Unfortunately we are the reality in which this awful book got published. Beyond the indulgence in multiverse mechanics, the characters are incredibly dull. If a version of the protagonist is intelligent enough to create the gateway to the center of the multiverse why does he spend 90% of the book obsessing over alternate reality versions of his wife and hijinx/near death ensues. Overly vague, repetitive and generally flat but a quick read nonetheless, mainly because nothing really happens. Or everything happened?
August 15, 2016
Wow. Mind-blown. Amazed. Completely enamored.
This book shook me up, made me think and held my heart captive.
I’m beyond impressed with Blake Crouch’s writing. The philosophical nature of this story and his ability to paint such a vivid world with his words really got to me. It shook me to my core.
“Are you happy in your life?”
I’m the first to admit, science-fiction isn’t my thing. Not my go-to genre or even one I read with any type of consistency. In fact, it was seeing sci-fi in the blurb that initially made me run the other way. I couldn’t ignore the sheer number of stellar reviews I kept seeing though and ultimately that’s what piqued my curiosity enough to give it a go. I’m so glad I did. I loved every single moment of Jason’s story.
Right out of the gate, it was a heart-pounding, on the edge of my seat, ‘what is going on?’ kind of story. Jason goes from having a quiet family night with his wife and 14 year-old son; to being abducted at gunpoint, stripped naked and taken to an abandoned warehouse. From there, an unexpected journey ensues. It’s a race to find his way back home, to the life he wants and those he loves the most.
Along the way, the author presents so many questions and quandaries about life. Things that will make you sit back and think. Not only about Jason’s journey, but you might even find yourself examining your own life. If you had the chance to live as a different version of yourself, would you? This book is deep, so be prepared.
“I can’t help thinking that we’re more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identity.”
Jason was such an easy character to connect with. His sheer will and perseverance is what drew me to him the most. I loved that he never, not for one single moment, wavered on his decision and ultimately what he wanted. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a love story. Which in this instance and in this genre felt completely unexpected, to me.
“What would I be without you?”
My one question - what happened to Amanda? I wish we were given a final chapter from her perspective. I would love to know where she ended up.
*A huge THANK YOU to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book shook me up, made me think and held my heart captive.
I’m beyond impressed with Blake Crouch’s writing. The philosophical nature of this story and his ability to paint such a vivid world with his words really got to me. It shook me to my core.
“Are you happy in your life?”
I’m the first to admit, science-fiction isn’t my thing. Not my go-to genre or even one I read with any type of consistency. In fact, it was seeing sci-fi in the blurb that initially made me run the other way. I couldn’t ignore the sheer number of stellar reviews I kept seeing though and ultimately that’s what piqued my curiosity enough to give it a go. I’m so glad I did. I loved every single moment of Jason’s story.
Right out of the gate, it was a heart-pounding, on the edge of my seat, ‘what is going on?’ kind of story. Jason goes from having a quiet family night with his wife and 14 year-old son; to being abducted at gunpoint, stripped naked and taken to an abandoned warehouse. From there, an unexpected journey ensues. It’s a race to find his way back home, to the life he wants and those he loves the most.
Along the way, the author presents so many questions and quandaries about life. Things that will make you sit back and think. Not only about Jason’s journey, but you might even find yourself examining your own life. If you had the chance to live as a different version of yourself, would you? This book is deep, so be prepared.
“I can’t help thinking that we’re more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identity.”
Jason was such an easy character to connect with. His sheer will and perseverance is what drew me to him the most. I loved that he never, not for one single moment, wavered on his decision and ultimately what he wanted. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a love story. Which in this instance and in this genre felt completely unexpected, to me.
“What would I be without you?”
My one question - what happened to Amanda? I wish we were given a final chapter from her perspective. I would love to know where she ended up.
*A huge THANK YOU to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2022
What on Earth can I say about this book? I don’t even know how to describe it. I’m just going to say it was totally AWESOME!!! It's an incredibly unique page-turner, and I couldn't put it down.
This was my first read by Blake Crouch, and Dark Matter was literally an action packed roller coaster ride! I was thoroughly engaged and engrossed by the story. I went into this book totally blind and had no idea of the plot. Also, there were surprises along the way, the book is unpredictable, and I remained on edge until the end.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers and honestly can’t believe anybody would hate it. I thought it was AMAZING and so far the best thrilling fiction I’ve read in a long, long time.
I’m hoping for a second book, and I’m looking forward to reading more by this author. I can surely see this adapted into a movie or TV series, seriously!
My rating on this one is 5*****
You can see this review and others @ www.readrantrockandroll.com
This was my first read by Blake Crouch, and Dark Matter was literally an action packed roller coaster ride! I was thoroughly engaged and engrossed by the story. I went into this book totally blind and had no idea of the plot. Also, there were surprises along the way, the book is unpredictable, and I remained on edge until the end.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers and honestly can’t believe anybody would hate it. I thought it was AMAZING and so far the best thrilling fiction I’ve read in a long, long time.
I’m hoping for a second book, and I’m looking forward to reading more by this author. I can surely see this adapted into a movie or TV series, seriously!
My rating on this one is 5*****
You can see this review and others @ www.readrantrockandroll.com
June 19, 2023
Ohh jak to było świetnie napisane i ciekawie skonstruowane! Bardzo miło się zaskoczyłam i cieszę się, że aż tak mnie wciągnęła, że przeczytałam ją w jeden dzień.
Choć przyznaję- miałam nadzieję, że pójdzie w bardziej naukową stronę.
Edit: podnoszę ocenę z 4 gwiazdek na 5, bo często o niej myślę i jestem wciąż pod ogromnym wrażeniem.
June 19, 2018
congratulations! semifinalist in goodreads' best science fiction category 2016!
what is this book….???
i suppose it's best described as a sci fi/speculative fiction love story with philosophy sauce all over it.
it's also another one of those reviewing-on-eggshells books, because of all the spoilers that could possibly be spoilt, where we're going to have to dance our way around a bunch of important nouns and verbs.
so, this little puzzle book of genre-blending mastery... i know i wrote "love story" up there and that might make you want to give this a pass, but don't let it dissuade you! it's absolutely a love story - if this book were a turducken, the love story would be the chickeny center the rest of the meat is swaddled around, but it's a real love story as opposed to a romance - a love story in which the participants are mature and equally-matched and their love has deepened and endured over the years from that first burst of sexxytime infatuation into the calm steadiness of sweatpants and chores and family love.
and now it is threatened by an unforseeable obstacle.
but don't worry - it's got so much duck/turkey whizzbangery wrapped around it that you won't feel like you're reading some kissyface book. the largest, most visible part is the SF turkey outer layer, which takes the shape of a super-actiony thriller - gripping, exciting, suspenseful, and flashing so many scenes that left me jawdropped with hopelessness because of what an asshole science is
and i'm not saying i understand all of it because this brain is a garbage-brain, but the parts i did understand were so satisfying and creepy and oh no you didn't and amaaaaaanda!
it's a great thinky romp that definitely put an end to any inclination i might otherwise have had to even consider regretting choices i have made in my life or wondering 'what if...?'
because it is NOT worth it, man. trust me.
come to my blog!
what is this book….???
i suppose it's best described as a sci fi/speculative fiction love story with philosophy sauce all over it.
it's also another one of those reviewing-on-eggshells books, because of all the spoilers that could possibly be spoilt, where we're going to have to dance our way around a bunch of important nouns and verbs.
so, this little puzzle book of genre-blending mastery... i know i wrote "love story" up there and that might make you want to give this a pass, but don't let it dissuade you! it's absolutely a love story - if this book were a turducken, the love story would be the chickeny center the rest of the meat is swaddled around, but it's a real love story as opposed to a romance - a love story in which the participants are mature and equally-matched and their love has deepened and endured over the years from that first burst of sexxytime infatuation into the calm steadiness of sweatpants and chores and family love.
and now it is threatened by an unforseeable obstacle.
but don't worry - it's got so much duck/turkey whizzbangery wrapped around it that you won't feel like you're reading some kissyface book. the largest, most visible part is the SF turkey outer layer, which takes the shape of a super-actiony thriller - gripping, exciting, suspenseful, and flashing so many scenes that left me jawdropped with hopelessness because of what an asshole science is
and i'm not saying i understand all of it because this brain is a garbage-brain, but the parts i did understand were so satisfying and creepy and oh no you didn't and amaaaaaanda!
it's a great thinky romp that definitely put an end to any inclination i might otherwise have had to even consider regretting choices i have made in my life or wondering 'what if...?'
because it is NOT worth it, man. trust me.
come to my blog!
June 28, 2024
Every Labor Day weekend, it's tradition for me to travel from my home on the island of Nantucket, to the beautiful State of Maine, for a weekend filled with family, friends and fun.
As exciting as this is, getting there can be a real bitch.
The journey begins with me sitting in my car on a ferry for 2-hours and 15-minutes. Once on the mainland, then comes the drive.
As many of you know, and may have even experienced, Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest travel weekends in the United States.
Getting off the Cape and through Boston, into New Hampshire and through Southern Maine can be challenging and take a LONG time!
Needless to say, I take great pains to select just the right audiobook for that trip.
This year, I hit the jackpot!
I had heard only good things about this Adult SciFi novel, however, I essentially knew nothing about the plot. Nothing.
It’s one of those books where people don’t want to spoil anything, so all you are really told is that it is excellent!
Blake Crouch is a bestselling author, who also penned The Wayward Pines trilogy, which was adapted into a well-received television series on FOX starring Matt Dillon.
I watched it, I enjoyed it, but I never read the books.
Dark Matter follows scientist turned Professor, Jason Dessen, as he struggles with the after effects of the strangest night of his life.
After a couple of drinks at his local watering hole, he is kidnapped and assaulted. When he wakes, and tries to return to his life, nothing is as it should be.
This book started off with an absolute bang. Crouch wastes no time in getting straight into the action.
The narrator for the audiobook, Jon Lindstrom, had the perfect voice for this story. It was easy to focus on his storytelling even whilst navigating traffic.
My road trip was essentially a 5-hour drive each way and I was able to complete the book in that time period.
It was so exciting and confusing, in a good way, that it easily kept me awake and engaged the entire trip.
One little thing I will reveal on the plot is that it revolves around a which is on of my all-time favorite tropes!
I was so stoked once I discovered that was where this plot was going.
I was even more sold than before. I felt it was handled so well as far as the science is concerned and in a very unique fashion.
Crouch is an excellent writer and I definitely plan to read more of his work!
Dark Matter made my trip bearable. I got where I needed to go and crushed a great book in the interim. Win, win all around.
To me, the narrator can make or break a story.
Even if a book you may enjoy if you were the person reading it, has a terrible narrator, it can completely ruin the story. I would definitely listen to more books narrated by Jon Lindstrom!
As exciting as this is, getting there can be a real bitch.
The journey begins with me sitting in my car on a ferry for 2-hours and 15-minutes. Once on the mainland, then comes the drive.
As many of you know, and may have even experienced, Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest travel weekends in the United States.
Getting off the Cape and through Boston, into New Hampshire and through Southern Maine can be challenging and take a LONG time!
Needless to say, I take great pains to select just the right audiobook for that trip.
This year, I hit the jackpot!
I had heard only good things about this Adult SciFi novel, however, I essentially knew nothing about the plot. Nothing.
It’s one of those books where people don’t want to spoil anything, so all you are really told is that it is excellent!
Blake Crouch is a bestselling author, who also penned The Wayward Pines trilogy, which was adapted into a well-received television series on FOX starring Matt Dillon.
I watched it, I enjoyed it, but I never read the books.
Dark Matter follows scientist turned Professor, Jason Dessen, as he struggles with the after effects of the strangest night of his life.
After a couple of drinks at his local watering hole, he is kidnapped and assaulted. When he wakes, and tries to return to his life, nothing is as it should be.
This book started off with an absolute bang. Crouch wastes no time in getting straight into the action.
The narrator for the audiobook, Jon Lindstrom, had the perfect voice for this story. It was easy to focus on his storytelling even whilst navigating traffic.
My road trip was essentially a 5-hour drive each way and I was able to complete the book in that time period.
It was so exciting and confusing, in a good way, that it easily kept me awake and engaged the entire trip.
One little thing I will reveal on the plot is that it revolves around a which is on of my all-time favorite tropes!
I was so stoked once I discovered that was where this plot was going.
I was even more sold than before. I felt it was handled so well as far as the science is concerned and in a very unique fashion.
Crouch is an excellent writer and I definitely plan to read more of his work!
Dark Matter made my trip bearable. I got where I needed to go and crushed a great book in the interim. Win, win all around.
To me, the narrator can make or break a story.
Even if a book you may enjoy if you were the person reading it, has a terrible narrator, it can completely ruin the story. I would definitely listen to more books narrated by Jon Lindstrom!
March 4, 2024
➳
5/5 stars
"I can’t help thinking that we’re more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identity"
This thriller is a masterpiece – it had me hooked from the first page, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the wee hours of the night. It's the kind of book you can't put down even if you try. The suspense and intrigue are simply unparalleled.This author consistently delivers, and this book lived up to my high expectations. The plot twists, storyline, and writing were impeccable. What truly stood out was how the author skillfully explained quantum superposition and the concept of the multiverse.
In this intriguing tale, Jason Dessen, a physicist, abandons his dream of creating a quantum superposition object visible to the human eye to build a family with the love of his life. However, his life takes a bizarre turn when he's abducted and wakes up in an alternate reality—one of the multiverses in superposition. The meticulous details unfold a story that oscillates between awe and fear, delving into the intricacies of existence.
In this alternate reality, Jason Dessen isn't the professor, devoted husband, and father we know. Here, he's an award-winning physicist who has cracked the code to tap into the boundless universes. As he grapples with this unexpected shift, the narrative unfolds, taking us on a journey where Jason must navigate through the infinite universes to return to his own universe, all in a quest to protect his family and rediscover the clarity he once had.
This book is one of those books that leave you with existential dread and so many what ifs?? like what if there's a different version of you living in a complete different reality than you and all of this depends on your choices and decisions. Every decision stem into a new universe and in these infinite universe there are infinite versions of us living on the basis of advantages and disadvantages our choices.Every moment, every breath, contains a choice. But life is imperfect. We make the wrong choices. So we end up living in a state of perpetual regret. The vastness of the universe introduces the thrilling possibility of a multiverse and parallel dimensions, shaped by the decisions and choices we make. It's both exciting and daunting to contemplate the infinite variations that could exist, adding a layer of mystery to the fabric of our reality
In the vast universe of choices, this book left me feeling like a mere speck. It beautifully explores the anxiety of wrong decisions, making me realize that what seems wrong might be the catalyst for our destiny. Amidst its profound insights, I found myself engrossed, unable to put it down—no easy feat with the chaos of university life.
°˖➴ Overall, this book is an absolute masterpiece soo if you're in mood for a literary gem that not only blows your mind but also leaves you questioning the very fabric of existence, then this might be your perfect catch 💌
°˖✧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚✧˖°
ᥫ᭡ pre-read review ✧˖°.
so I have read another book by this author which turned out to be one of best thriller i have ever read, so im BEYOND EXCITED for this one!! hope it delivers 🌷🩷
"I can’t help thinking that we’re more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identity"
This thriller is a masterpiece – it had me hooked from the first page, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the wee hours of the night. It's the kind of book you can't put down even if you try. The suspense and intrigue are simply unparalleled.This author consistently delivers, and this book lived up to my high expectations. The plot twists, storyline, and writing were impeccable. What truly stood out was how the author skillfully explained quantum superposition and the concept of the multiverse.
In this intriguing tale, Jason Dessen, a physicist, abandons his dream of creating a quantum superposition object visible to the human eye to build a family with the love of his life. However, his life takes a bizarre turn when he's abducted and wakes up in an alternate reality—one of the multiverses in superposition. The meticulous details unfold a story that oscillates between awe and fear, delving into the intricacies of existence.
In this alternate reality, Jason Dessen isn't the professor, devoted husband, and father we know. Here, he's an award-winning physicist who has cracked the code to tap into the boundless universes. As he grapples with this unexpected shift, the narrative unfolds, taking us on a journey where Jason must navigate through the infinite universes to return to his own universe, all in a quest to protect his family and rediscover the clarity he once had.
This book is one of those books that leave you with existential dread and so many what ifs?? like what if there's a different version of you living in a complete different reality than you and all of this depends on your choices and decisions. Every decision stem into a new universe and in these infinite universe there are infinite versions of us living on the basis of advantages and disadvantages our choices.Every moment, every breath, contains a choice. But life is imperfect. We make the wrong choices. So we end up living in a state of perpetual regret. The vastness of the universe introduces the thrilling possibility of a multiverse and parallel dimensions, shaped by the decisions and choices we make. It's both exciting and daunting to contemplate the infinite variations that could exist, adding a layer of mystery to the fabric of our reality
In the vast universe of choices, this book left me feeling like a mere speck. It beautifully explores the anxiety of wrong decisions, making me realize that what seems wrong might be the catalyst for our destiny. Amidst its profound insights, I found myself engrossed, unable to put it down—no easy feat with the chaos of university life.
°˖➴ Overall, this book is an absolute masterpiece soo if you're in mood for a literary gem that not only blows your mind but also leaves you questioning the very fabric of existence, then this might be your perfect catch 💌
°˖✧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚✧˖°
ᥫ᭡ pre-read review ✧˖°.
so I have read another book by this author which turned out to be one of best thriller i have ever read, so im BEYOND EXCITED for this one!! hope it delivers 🌷🩷
August 3, 2022
Okay, I'm bumping this up to a 5 stars. Even though it's been a few hours since I finished reading it, I genuinely cannot stop thinking about it. This book was bonkers! SO good! Sci-fi was never a genre I gravitated towards, but now I want to read them all!
This book poses the question of “Are you happy in your life?” after the main character is abducted one night. It's a question the kidnapper poses to him, which leads to them 'swapping lives'. The plot is centred around the initial question posed and takes off from there. It's definitely best to go into it knowing as little as possible.
The concept and approach of the storyline was just ingenious. It completely blurs the line of what's real, or what we perceive to be the reality that has been fixed and known to the world for eons, and the possibility that there are 'other worlds' out there, other versions of ourselves, living the life that we perhaps intended or that steered in a direction we weren't anticipating. It's philosophical and I loved that. It made it engaging and it allowed readers to decipher what it is we want from this life and what's important to us.
It was exhilarating to read and extremely thought-provoking.
Highly recommend it if the concept sounds interesting to you. Even if you're not into sci-fi, this will probably make you love it. Or at least spark a huge interest.
This book poses the question of “Are you happy in your life?” after the main character is abducted one night. It's a question the kidnapper poses to him, which leads to them 'swapping lives'. The plot is centred around the initial question posed and takes off from there. It's definitely best to go into it knowing as little as possible.
The concept and approach of the storyline was just ingenious. It completely blurs the line of what's real, or what we perceive to be the reality that has been fixed and known to the world for eons, and the possibility that there are 'other worlds' out there, other versions of ourselves, living the life that we perhaps intended or that steered in a direction we weren't anticipating. It's philosophical and I loved that. It made it engaging and it allowed readers to decipher what it is we want from this life and what's important to us.
It was exhilarating to read and extremely thought-provoking.
Highly recommend it if the concept sounds interesting to you. Even if you're not into sci-fi, this will probably make you love it. Or at least spark a huge interest.
January 12, 2019
(4.5) This is the cure to a reading slump!
Sci-fi/Thriller mixed together is one of my favorite combo. I wasn't able to put this book down and kept trying to figure out how it would end... I didn't.
The characters and dialogues could have been better and it overall read like a script for a movie.
I'm generally more of a plot driven reader so it wasn't an issue for me.
Totally recommend!
Sci-fi/Thriller mixed together is one of my favorite combo. I wasn't able to put this book down and kept trying to figure out how it would end... I didn't.
The characters and dialogues could have been better and it overall read like a script for a movie.
I'm generally more of a plot driven reader so it wasn't an issue for me.
Totally recommend!
April 27, 2024
Looking for a book that will bend your mind? This is it.
This book features in my Best Sci-fi & Fantasy Books video on BookTube.❤️
Click here to watch a video review of on my (old) BookTube channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
To describe this book would be to distract from the elements of surprise, mystery and thrilling confusion found within its pages. Dark Matter is best picked up with as little knowledge of the story as possible and its events explored with the same sense of vulnerable astonishment as the protagonist, Jason Dessen.
The pacing and structure of this novel are brilliant. Events unfold in evermore enticing ways, and Crouch masterfully concludes each chapter in such a way that there's an urgent need to promptly being reading the next one. The unique sentence structure employed by Crouch further increases the sense of speediness and tension. There's no dawdling; everything is immediate.
The warm autumn day is cloudless.
Windless.
Timeless.
The air redolent of -
Roasted peanuts.
Popcorn.
Plastic cups filled to the brim with beer.
The wood is dry and gray, several seasons old, and it quickly takes the flame.
Soon the walls of the living room are aglow.
Shadows flickering across the ceiling.
Though complex scientific theories are explored, they are presented in a comprehensive manner that makes them accessible to all readers. One needn't have a degree in physics or mathematics to fully appreciate the phenomena of Jason Dessen's mind-bending venture.
We're all just wandering through the tundra of our existence, assigning value to worthlessness, when all that we love and hate, all we believe in and fight for and kill for and die for is as meaningless as images projected on Plexiglas.
Dark Matter is a sensational technothriller that transcends the ordinary and escorts readers to an unexplored realm of infinite possibility. Highly recommend!
I've always known, on a purely intellectual level, that our separateness and isolation are an illusion. We're all made of the same thing - the blown-out pieces of matter formed in the fires of dead stars.
This book features in my Best Sci-fi & Fantasy Books video on BookTube.❤️
Click here to watch a video review of on my (old) BookTube channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
To describe this book would be to distract from the elements of surprise, mystery and thrilling confusion found within its pages. Dark Matter is best picked up with as little knowledge of the story as possible and its events explored with the same sense of vulnerable astonishment as the protagonist, Jason Dessen.
The pacing and structure of this novel are brilliant. Events unfold in evermore enticing ways, and Crouch masterfully concludes each chapter in such a way that there's an urgent need to promptly being reading the next one. The unique sentence structure employed by Crouch further increases the sense of speediness and tension. There's no dawdling; everything is immediate.
The warm autumn day is cloudless.
Windless.
Timeless.
The air redolent of -
Roasted peanuts.
Popcorn.
Plastic cups filled to the brim with beer.
The wood is dry and gray, several seasons old, and it quickly takes the flame.
Soon the walls of the living room are aglow.
Shadows flickering across the ceiling.
Though complex scientific theories are explored, they are presented in a comprehensive manner that makes them accessible to all readers. One needn't have a degree in physics or mathematics to fully appreciate the phenomena of Jason Dessen's mind-bending venture.
We're all just wandering through the tundra of our existence, assigning value to worthlessness, when all that we love and hate, all we believe in and fight for and kill for and die for is as meaningless as images projected on Plexiglas.
Dark Matter is a sensational technothriller that transcends the ordinary and escorts readers to an unexplored realm of infinite possibility. Highly recommend!
I've always known, on a purely intellectual level, that our separateness and isolation are an illusion. We're all made of the same thing - the blown-out pieces of matter formed in the fires of dead stars.
August 15, 2016
4.5 Big Fat Stars*
*Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Well - what a ride that was! Not just any old roller coaster ride though (definitely not) but one that was really quite unique. What's this ride about? Well, it's definitely a thrill a minute ride that's for sure, but it's also a love story between Jason & Daniela Dessen, and if that isn't enough, it's mixed with a great big dollop of sci-fi.
The opening scene is one of complete domesticity, family life at it's most simple and comforting. Jason and Daniela are cooking supper in their brownstone home - their son Charlie quietly doing his homework. But never take things for granted because in just a very short time Jason's life will change for ever. Jason, encouraged by Daniela, decides to walk to his local bar to have a drink with an old buddy, but on his journey home he is abducted at gun point and made to drive to an abandoned warehouse. I won't say any more than this, because it would be too easy to give the whole game away. Just one point though, have you ever wondered which way your life would have gone if you'd decided to take another path, chosen a different option? Well, just be careful what you wish for!
In terms of weirdness it doesn't get much weirder than this storyline, but suspend disbelief and just go with the flow, because I think you might find yourself,( along with the rest of us) on the weirdest most exciting roller coaster ride of your life!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Well - what a ride that was! Not just any old roller coaster ride though (definitely not) but one that was really quite unique. What's this ride about? Well, it's definitely a thrill a minute ride that's for sure, but it's also a love story between Jason & Daniela Dessen, and if that isn't enough, it's mixed with a great big dollop of sci-fi.
The opening scene is one of complete domesticity, family life at it's most simple and comforting. Jason and Daniela are cooking supper in their brownstone home - their son Charlie quietly doing his homework. But never take things for granted because in just a very short time Jason's life will change for ever. Jason, encouraged by Daniela, decides to walk to his local bar to have a drink with an old buddy, but on his journey home he is abducted at gun point and made to drive to an abandoned warehouse. I won't say any more than this, because it would be too easy to give the whole game away. Just one point though, have you ever wondered which way your life would have gone if you'd decided to take another path, chosen a different option? Well, just be careful what you wish for!
In terms of weirdness it doesn't get much weirder than this storyline, but suspend disbelief and just go with the flow, because I think you might find yourself,( along with the rest of us) on the weirdest most exciting roller coaster ride of your life!
August 2, 2018
*4.5 stars!*
Boxes and multiverses and quantum physics, oh my!
This is one thought-provoking, page-turning, blood-pressure-elevating, fast-paced son of a book, and I enjoyed every little action-packed minute of it!
I don’t read much science-fiction, and for that reason I’m gonna go ahead and say you don’t have to be a scifi veteran in order to get sucked into the brilliance of this one. You don't even have to be that big a fan of the genre, in my opinion.
It’s best I tiptoe around spoilers here, because *details* can be dangerous little revealers, so I’ll focus on writing…
You know that feeling when you’re reading a book whose ideas are so unique and intelligent and intricately-constructed that you have to reread certain concepts once or five times just to prove to yourself that you got this, and that, no, you are not an actual idiot?
Well, yeah, some of that, but I sorted it out.
The way this author has formed a reality based off these concepts is astounding, and all of it—every single minute detail—has a sturdy foundation to stand upon and will hold up well under scrutiny. Go back and check for yourself if you want, Blake’s got it all covered.
The prose here is beautiful—eloquent wording materializing into imagery so vivid you'll feel as though you’re inside of it, leaving your own footprints in the snow alongside these characters. We are made to dissect our choices in life. To be concerned over where they'll lead us and accept the fact that we’ll never truly know unless we live them.
DARK MATTER is a thrilling ride that'll keep you on edge, tense with anticipation until that final page is swiped. It proposes the theory that we hold the power to create our own reality--our own destiny--an idea not so far off-base for many, myself included, and makes you wonder just how far you’d go to live out your best life possible.
This story is not only about science, but sacrifice and strength and LOVE. Namely love, in fact—because, truly, what in all the worlds is more important?
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Science Fiction/Thriller/Mystery
▪ Characters: Well-constructed and memorable. Not too large a cast.
▪ Plot: A man of science struggles between world: the one he has, and the one he always thought he’d have.
▪ Writing: Brilliant. A knock-your-socks-off kind of beautiful prose.
▪ POV: 1st person Narrative: Hero
▪ Cliffhanger: None. Standalone
*Traveling Friends Read*
Boxes and multiverses and quantum physics, oh my!
This is one thought-provoking, page-turning, blood-pressure-elevating, fast-paced son of a book, and I enjoyed every little action-packed minute of it!
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious."—Einstein
I don’t read much science-fiction, and for that reason I’m gonna go ahead and say you don’t have to be a scifi veteran in order to get sucked into the brilliance of this one. You don't even have to be that big a fan of the genre, in my opinion.
It’s best I tiptoe around spoilers here, because *details* can be dangerous little revealers, so I’ll focus on writing…
"No one tells you it’s all about to change, to be taken away. There’s no proximity alert, no indication that you’re standing on the precipice."
You know that feeling when you’re reading a book whose ideas are so unique and intelligent and intricately-constructed that you have to reread certain concepts once or five times just to prove to yourself that you got this, and that, no, you are not an actual idiot?
Well, yeah, some of that, but I sorted it out.
The way this author has formed a reality based off these concepts is astounding, and all of it—every single minute detail—has a sturdy foundation to stand upon and will hold up well under scrutiny. Go back and check for yourself if you want, Blake’s got it all covered.
"Every moment, every breath, contains a choice. But life is imperfect. We make the wrong choices. So we end up living in a state of perpetual regret, and is there anything worse?"(LOVE this quote!)
The prose here is beautiful—eloquent wording materializing into imagery so vivid you'll feel as though you’re inside of it, leaving your own footprints in the snow alongside these characters. We are made to dissect our choices in life. To be concerned over where they'll lead us and accept the fact that we’ll never truly know unless we live them.
"Until everything topples, we have no idea what we actually have, how precariously and perfectly it all hangs together."
DARK MATTER is a thrilling ride that'll keep you on edge, tense with anticipation until that final page is swiped. It proposes the theory that we hold the power to create our own reality--our own destiny--an idea not so far off-base for many, myself included, and makes you wonder just how far you’d go to live out your best life possible.
This story is not only about science, but sacrifice and strength and LOVE. Namely love, in fact—because, truly, what in all the worlds is more important?
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Science Fiction/Thriller/Mystery
▪ Characters: Well-constructed and memorable. Not too large a cast.
▪ Plot: A man of science struggles between world: the one he has, and the one he always thought he’d have.
▪ Writing: Brilliant. A knock-your-socks-off kind of beautiful prose.
▪ POV: 1st person Narrative: Hero
▪ Cliffhanger: None. Standalone
*Traveling Friends Read*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68,886 reviews