An intense sci-fi story that develops into something truly extraordinary, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is one of my favourite reads of the year.
Author: Blake Crouch
Genre: Sci-Fi
Publication Date: 26th July 2016
Publisher: Macmillon
Format: eBook
Blurb:
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.
It starts with a man in a mask kidnapping him at gunpoint, for reasons Jason can’t begin to fathom—what would anyone want with an ordinary physics professor?—and grows even more terrifying from there, as Jason’s abductor injects him with some unknown drug and watches while he loses consciousness.
When Jason awakes, he’s in a lab, strapped to a gurney—and a man he’s never seen before is cheerily telling him “welcome back!”
Jason soon learns that in this world he’s woken up to, his house is not his house. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born.
And someone is hunting him.
My (no spoiler) thoughts…
I had just gotten Recursion out from the library when I started seeing Dark Matter all over Instagram. As Dark Matter was Crouch’s earlier novel, I decided to see what it was about before starting with the one I had in front of me. I saw it was available to borrow as an ebook, and so I started reading the first few pages. Two days later, I have finished a book that may have just changed my life.
As I reach the front door, Daniela shouts, “Return bearing ice cream!”
“Mint chocolate chip!” Charlie says.
I don’t look back.
I don’t say goodbye.
And this moment slips past unnoticed.
The end of everything I know, of everything I love.
Page 5
That might sound overdramatic, and a part of me cringes for writing it, but I can’t help but feel it’s true. I have never read a book like this before, and I am a different person now I have read it. I like science-fiction, the more psychological the better. Throw in time travel and alternate universes and I am sold. But rarely do they hit the nail on the head quite as squarely as Dark Matter does.
I really didn’t see the ending coming. I had no idea what was coming on the next page. Holding my breath at the end of each chapter, I was completely sucked in from the word go. I didn’t have to think too hard about a rating for Dark Matter – it’s an easy five stars for me. I don’t rate all that many books five stars. In fact this is the only ‘5 star’ book I have read so far this year. The other being Normal People by Sally Rooney.
I whisper, “Now what?”
And he says, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Page 30
There is so much I could say about this book. However, I went into this blind and had the best experience. Anythign I say I’m scared will spoil that experience for you too, so all I can say is I wholeheartedly recommend it! I now have high expectations for Recursion, and if it lives up to them, Blake Crouch may soon become one of my favourite authors.
Thank you for reading my review of Dark Matter. Have you read it? Do you plan on reading it soon?
