A mindbending, relentlessly surprising thriller from the author of the bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy.“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, … 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.
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This book wasn’t really like anything I’ve ever read before!! I loved the descriptions of the worlds in other dimensions! AMAZING read!!
I absolutely loved this book. I’ve been a fan of Blake Crouch for years, but this book tops them all! My brain had kittens when trying to follow some of the crazy twists and turns of this book. Every time I thought I had it figured out, Mr. Crouch threw something else at me that made me internally shout, “Holy alternate universes, Batman!” I will say I was a little disappointed with the ending, but only because I normally like that Blake Crouch leaves his books with ambiguous endings, and this one was all wrapped up in a cute package with a sweet bow on top.
Astrophysicist Smart
Jason, Daniela and Charlie, closer than ever, yet worlds apart. Adulting can be misleading. However, taking responsibility for one’s actions can also lead to sacrifices. Every choice matters.
Dark matter is a wild ride, centering on one man’s effort to get back to his family through the use of quantum mechanics and multiple universes. It’s a thriller, but it’s also a love story, a good one. It’s an interesting and scary notion that every choice we make creates a new multiverse of both the path taken and not. And given the science-related information, which is not overwhelming, I prefer the love story over the science-related elements. The science just kicks it up a notch. One small issue I had was I wish Crouch had spent a bit more time and focus on what consequences occur when travelling in the multiverse. It becomes apparent at the end, but it almost felt like it came out of nowhere. It’s a minor point, and I was able to believe it. It still left a satisfying end to a great book.
I was complaining to my friend Alec a while back about Lost. You know, twisting plotlines, endless branches, totally confusing TV show. “Yeah, but you’re thinking about it in terms of plot,” he said. “It’s a character show. It’s not about plot.” Since then I always thought this was a fun little scale to think about. Plot vs Character. Overly simplistic, for sure, but a kind mental model that lets a lot more art into my life. In fiction I’ve lately veered to more character based stuff so Dark Matter was a nice rubber band snap back. It’s all plot. Plot, plot, plot. I don’t even think we know what the characters look like. But the plot in Dark Matter sizzles like frying bacon. Hot, loud, fills the room, jumps up and bites your wrist here and there. This is the fastest paced book I’ve read this year. Reminded me of reading The Martian or old suspenseful Michael Crichton books. (Anyone else still thinking about the ending to Sphere?) I felt like it was a bit predictable at the beginning but he has enough twists and turns that the ending feels completely wild and results in an ultimately beautiful story about love and regret wrapped in a crispy sci-fi phyllo pastry crust. Fantastic fun.
Definitely a page turner, the story centers on the theme of dwelling on the road not taken vs. being happy with where life HAS taken us. The story gets a little out of control towards the end, but is well worth the read for those who enjoy some light sci fi.
I really enjoyed this book, I can see a sequel coming out of this.
This book was a little confusing with all the science talk, but other than that it was amazing!! i really enjoyed this. a man of science caught between the many versions and dimensions of “his world” it was a really good read 🙂
This is a thrilling plot that I tore through in three days. I must have had a dozen people tell me it was like my novel, so I had to read it. Well, both novels use the ‘many worlds’ theory as a central plot device and both examine the opportunity to relive parts of your life, and both books take place in Chicago, but that’s really where the similarities end. This book is really a very well done, action thriller, mine is much less action, more drama and philosophy. “Dark Matter” reads almost like a screenplay and I’m sure it will be an excellent movie. Crouch is a superb writer, clever and bright, and writes action as well as anyone. I really don’t want to discuss the plot much, as that’s one of the strengths of this book, is where Crouch takes the concept of parallel universes/multi-dimensions.
I was a little thrown off by his use of short paragraphs. Often, he inserts breaks even when there is no change in scene, idea, or really anything to deserve a paragraph break. Many times, it’s just a series of breaks at every sentence. I don’t think it’s a misunderstanding of the rules, I think it’s an intentional device to create a staccato feel. After I lived with it for a while, it didn’t bother me, and I think it achieved what was intended. Being a speed reader, not much takes me out of the story, and these rapid-fire sentences probably kept me focused on the details more than a traditional approach.
As I said, I don’t want to reveal any of the plot, I’ll just say this story moves fast, keeps you guessing, and finishes strong. I enjoyed it all the way though. Five stars! I’m looking forward to the movie and to reading the next novel, “Recursion”.
Unlike any book I’ve ever read. A great premise coupled with great writing. Read this book!
I never, ever, in a million years, would have picked this book up at random to read it. But on recommendation from a friend, I gave it a shot and I’m so glad I did.
I don’t generally gravitate toward science fiction-y books and this is definitely a science fiction-y book. Something about this book surpassed genre and went spoke straight to my reader-heart. Jason Dessen is a mild-mannered physics professor, married with a teenage son. By all accounts, it’s a pretty decent, if not terribly exciting, life. Then one evening he’s abducted and beaten. He wakes the next morning strapped to a gurney. Everyone seems to know who he is, but he has no idea who they are.
This isn’t a story of mistaken identity or amnesia. It’s not that AT ALL.
The writing is fast-paced, at times sparse and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Although it was Jason himself who kept me reading, racing to the end of the book so see how it would all turn out. But it’s not all chase scenes, physics lessons, and evil scientists. This also begs the reader to question how our choices–even the small ones–affect the entirety of our life and how grateful we should be for the life those choices have created.
If you’re looking for a page-turner that also begs the reader to think deeply, take a chance on this book. You wouldn’t be disappointed.
5/5 Stars
Number of Ugly Cries: 1
Loved the detail in writing & how easy a difficult concept to wrap one’s head around was to get behind. Original & very thought provoking.
A thrilling page-turner about one man’s journey into parallel universes. I’m not sharing any spoilers because the mind blowing twists in this story should be experienced first hand. Even fans of his Wayward Pines series will be surprised by Crouch’s ability to keep upping the suspense in ever more clever and exciting ways.
4.7981s! This book totally screws with your head!! In other words: I LOVED IT!!
Good real. Very entertaining.
Blake Crouch does it again!! One of the most imaginative writers of our time.
Blake Crouch carefully weaves the multiverse into a comprehensive world of choices. Actions and reactions. Keeping the reader on edge throughout the multitude of scenarios and what-ifs that resonate with each and one of us.
Is there a happy-end? What does a happy-end entail? How do choices made or not made affect our lives? This book leaves more questions than answers, but I would not have it any other way.
Okay, so this isn’t what I expected… This is meant to be a thriller kind of thing and it’s fallen very flat and bland.
So I don’t think should have had a main market of sci-fi/thriller. I think it should have focused more on Romance. For me it felt like the multiverse business was just there as a hurdle for Danielle and Jason to be happy. Everyone but Jason didn’t feel real, they all felt like side characters with no real background or personality for them. I also think they were there to just support Jason’s character.
The multiverse thing was also easy for me to understand, (maybe that’s because of the flash/Supergirl/legends/arrow) the only thing that was kind of annoying is they all found the box. Like it’s not that easy to find it.
Also.
This was way too neatly wrapped up for me.
Erm this was a bit of a let down for me, I wanted to enjoy it I just didn’t…
A true unputdownable novel. The plot is a whirlwind of action with the main character fighting for his physical life and his life that makes this life worthwhile – namely those you love and who love you. And to top it all off, there were also scientific theories that were discussed or even made use of in the novel that were mind-boggling. Great read!
Loved it, loved it, loved it. What a total mind f***, but in a good way. One of those books that is hard to put down. I stayed up way too late reading, but I wanted to see what happened.
There is a lot of science and theoretical thinking, which can make it feel a bit like a sci-fi read.
Is there a another universe, where a person is living virtually the same life, but based on different choices? And what happens if those universes collide?