2024 the best science fiction books review

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A “mind-blowing” (Entertainment Weekly) speculative thriller about an ordinary man who awakens in a world inexplicably different from the reality he thought he knew—from the author of Upgrade, Recursion, and the Wayward Pines trilogy

“Are you happy with your life?”

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the kidnapper knocks him unconscious. 

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.

Before a man he’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 professor but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this life or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how will Jason make it back to the family he loves?

From the bestselling author Blake Crouch, Dark Matter is a mind-bending thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we dream of.

From the Publisher

A Conversation with Blake Crouch author of DARK MATTER

Q. In your own words, can you introduce readers to the premise of Dark Matter?

A. A brilliant physicist named Jason Dessen is living in Chicago with his wife, Daniela, and son, Charlie. He is a true genius, and while there was a point in his late twenties when his research could have made him a star in his field, he instead chose a family-focused life. One night, while walking home, he’s abducted by a mysterious masked man and injected with a drug. When he next awakes, his world has completely changed. He’s no longer married, doesn’t have a son, and has achieved professional success beyond his wildest dreams. This sets him on a thrilling, mysterious, and at times terrifying journey to learn what has happened to him, and to find his way home to the people and the life he loves.

Q. Where did the idea for the novel originate?

A. For the last decade, I’ve wanted to write a story that hinges on quantum mechanics. I tried several times to write a version of Dark Matter - getting into Spoiler Territory Here. Three different story lines had been teasing me, and I’d tried and failed to write them all separately. One story line involved the box. Another involved the idea of meeting yourself. And the last was about a man being hopelessly lost in time. The novelist Marcus Sakey is one of my good friends, and we always meet up at the inception stage of a new book to pressure-check each other on our ideas. While we were in Chicago two years ago, I was pitching each of these ideas to him separately when it occurred to me they were actually all part of the same story. They suddenly clicked together, like puzzle pieces, and I was off and running. I find the writing process endlessly mysterious and wonderful.

Q. Millions of readers will recognize you as the author of the bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy and for your suspense novels and short stories. Dark Matter is a new direction for you. Can you tell us a bit about what sparked the change?

A. In a way, Dark Matter is very much like the Wayward Pines trilogy in that it’s a thriller with a backbone of speculative science. But with this book, I wanted to push myself to do something bigger and better than I’d ever written before. The story opens up much faster than Wayward Pines and is larger in scope — about as large as it’s possible to get, really, given that it takes place (Spoilers Ahead!) in the multiverse. And the quantum-mechanics underpinning for the premise was a huge challenge to tackle. Trying to understand that science, even on a basic level — let alone incorporate it into a story without dragging the narrative down into incomprehensibility — seemed so daunting. But I knew that if I pulled it off, it would let me play with some really big ideas about our day-to-day existence and the choices we make that haunt us. It allowed me to build a really cool, far-out thriller plot around themes that felt very grounded and meaningful to me.

Q. Dark Matter is grounded in very real scientific theory and principles — quantum mechanics, superposition, etc. How did you go about weaving the science so seamlessly into the narrative and making it understandable to a lay audience?

A. I hope it’s seamless, thank you! I am definitely not a physicist. In fact, I took as few science and math courses as I possibly could on my way to my English degree at the University of North Carolina. If the science is understandable to a lay audience, it’s because I’m a lay audience. To prepare, I read a ton of books on the subject and pulled out the elements of quantum mechanics that intrigued me — and that I could actually comprehend. One of the most fascinating things I stumbled across was a Ted Talk by Aaron O’Connell entitled “Making Sense of a Visible Quantum Object.” Unlike most material on quantum mechanics, which focuses on subatomic matter and can feel very abstract, O’Connell’s talk is about how quantum mechanics might actually be at work at the macro level. At our level. And what that might imply about the world around us. His presentation (which is short and easily findable on YouTube) is worth viewing.

When the book was done, I hired a brilliant professor from USC named Clifford Johnson to read the manuscript and make sure I hadn’t gone too far off the rails. This is speculative fiction, and there’s still a certain leap the reader has to be willing to make, but I wanted to present the concepts behind the story with as much accuracy as I could.

Q. Do you yourself believe there could be other Blakes out there living in alternate realities?

A. According to the Many-Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, every choice we make and every event that affects us really does cause reality to branch into alternate timelines. So, as crazy as the concept sounds — sure, it’s absolutely possible. The idea of different versions of myself living different lives, with different careers, spouses, children, etc., was actually my main inspiration for writing this book.

Q. If you had the chance to enter “the box” and explore parallel universes, would you?

A. Never! I can’t imagine a more dangerous place to be. The chances of finding another world like ours are unimaginably slim. The odds of stepping into a world of ruin and fear and destruction are massive.

Q. While Dark Matter certainly has elements of science fiction and is a vivid suspense thriller, themes of love and family also seem to be at the heart of the story. Would you say that’s a fair assessment?

A. Absolutely. Dark Matter is a thriller, of course, but it’s also the first love story I’ve ever written, and I worked hard to strike a balance among thrills, science fiction, and genuine emotion. To me, it’s the love and family elements that make up the beating heart of Dark Matter.

Q. Daniela’s character is also essential to not only the plot of the novel but to the tone and emotional feel. What was the inspiration behind her character?

A. With Daniela, I wanted to explore the flip side of Jason’s experience. What would it be like to meet another version of your spouse? What if they were married to someone else or worked a different job or you two had never met? Would there still be a flicker of electricity? Would there be some recognition? Would the intensity of your relationship in your world bleed over, on some small level, into others?

Q. Do you see any of yourself in your characters?

A. Very much so. It never really occurs to me until I’ve finished a book, but all of my novels are ultimately therapy and reflective of what I’m dealing with personally during the writing. The last few years have been insanely busy for me on the professional front, and I often feel the tension between me the writer and me the father and husband. The pull of both worlds. It’s not as simple as either/or, but every day we make choices about the person we want to be, the life we want to have. So Jason’s story hits close to home, because I feel like I’ve been wrestling lately with the same push and pull between family and career, and trying to find that balance.

Q. Speaking of being busy, in addition to being a novelist, you’re currently adapting the screenplay of Dark Matter for Sony, producing for the Wayward Pines TV series on FOX, and writing/producing Good Behavior, a new TV series (based on another of your novels), for TNT. How are you able to move so fluently across mediums? And how do you find the time?

A. I view myself primarily as a novelist, but I love the process of taking a book and turning it into film and television. The mediums are quite different, but it’s all about story structure at the end of the day. The film/TV business lights up the extroverted part of my personality, while the novel writing very much speaks to my introverted self.

Time is becoming an issue, because I never imagined I would be lucky enough to have two TV shows going into production simultaneously and this script adaptation of Dark Matter to contend with. As much as I’m enjoying it, I also find myself getting more and more excited about that moment when I get to go back to the basics of being a novelist and figure out my next book. The brainstorming process of a new novel is my favorite part of writing. All potential and possibility.

Q. You’re originally from North Carolina and spend a great deal of time in New York and Los Angeles for your film and TV work, but you live in Durango, Colorado. What drew you there?

A. I moved to Durango out of college, sight unseen, because I love everything about the West. The wide-open space. The history. The mentality. Rain curtains over the desert. How much deeper and more rattling thunder sounds as opposed to everywhere else. Sage brush. Mountains. Desert. Snow. But most important, a serene, contemplative place to write.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Publishing Group; Reprint edition (May 2, 2017)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1101904240
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1101904244
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.18 x 0.8 x 7.95 inches
Reviewer: Josh Mauthe
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A twisty, pulpy thriller that ends up having far more substance than I expected - and is a lot of fun
Review: At this point, I’ve read a handful of books that Blake Crouch either wrote or co-wrote, and by and large, I’ve enjoyed them. Crouch is undeniably a pulpy author, and his prose is basically fine but unexceptional; for all of that, though, his ideas are rich and compelling, and Crouch has a knack for zigging when you think he’s going to zag (a talent that served him incredibly well in Pines, but less so in Eerie). With all of that being said, it’s been surprising seeing Dark Matter gain a more mainstream success – much more so than any other Crouch book, as far as I know. Crouch has always seemed like a fringe figure, a cult favorite, but never someone who could attain big, mainstream success.But having read Dark Matter, I get why this has been his breakout novel. Between the gripping idea, the rich characterization, the surprisingly strong prose, and the emotional ideas that Crouch is playing with, it’s undeniably his most successful, intriguing, thrilling, and inventive novel, and one that makes the best use of his talents. It’s mind-bending, exciting, unpredictable, but best of all, it’s emotionally and thematically rich, delivering a surprisingly thoughtful tale out of a pulp premise.Exactly what that premise is should best be learned slowly (although if, like me, you know the basic idea, don’t worry – Dark Matter has some surprises still coming your way). Suffice to say that the book opens in a typical night in the life of Jason Dessen, a physicist turned college professor who has a satisfying, if unexceptional, life with his wife and teenage son. But as he’s leaving a bar after celebrating a colleague’s success, he’s kidnapped and drugged, and awakes in a strange place where his life seems to be entirely different from the one he remembers. Was he dreaming? Is he dreaming now? What’s going on?Again, I don’t want to dive too much into the basic premise of the book; if you’re an avid reader or science-fiction fan, you may have a good idea where this is going. But rest assured, even if you think you know, you don’t know exactly how Crouch is going to run with this premise, pushing it way further and more inventively than I’ve ever seen an author take it. More than that, though, Crouch uses his idea not as an end – as he did in Pines, whose primary fun came in its bizarre revelations – but as a means to explore his characters, letting it all play out like some nightmarish version of It’s a Wonderful Life, where Jason gets to see how his life could have turned out had he made one critical decision differently. Crouch invests us enough in Jason that we’re right there alongside him as he debates the merits of this new life, and we find ourselves exploring the same heady questions as he does – the way our decisions shape us, the way our priorities and experiences can make us into the person we are.Mind you, this is still undeniably a Crouch book, which means it moves at a breakneck pace, keeps you guessing, and constantly evolves in front of your eyes. Dark Matter is as much a thriller as it is anything else, and although it’s rich with subtext (and text, really), that doesn’t mean that it’s not exciting and thrilling. It’s one of those books that’s going to be incredibly hard to stop reading once you start it – I basically read it in two sittings, and that one break was just because I had to force myself to go to bed. And while I was reading, I was absolutely riveted; Crouch knows how to keep a reader hooked, and manipulates you into keeping on turning those pages well past the point when you should stop.The result is a real treat, and a deserved breakthrough for Crouch – not just in terms of success, but in terms of his talent. It’s easily the richest, best book of his that I’ve read, and the first time I’ve seen him push beyond the pulpy roots that have defined most of his works for me. And yet, Dark Matter keeps those pulpy roots – a great hook, an exciting plot – intact, all while marrying them to more thoughtful, intriguing material. It’s a really fun, engaging book; a fun thriller that’s got some substance to it, some genuinely shocking moments, and a willingness to go for broke that results in at least one of the most memorable reveals I’ve read in a thriller in recent memory. It’s a blast, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Reviewer: Siddhesh Dabholkar
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Jason!!!
Review: The title of this novel, Dark Matter, gives you very little insight into the subject matter ('heh') of the novel, but fills you with intrigue. That intrigue follows you through the novel, always keeping you on edge for what is to follow. I didn't know what this novel had in store for me, and to be honest, you shouldn't either. I wouldn't say it's a perfect novel by any means-- some characters fall to the wayside, never to be seen again, some plotlines left open, never to be resolved. But that's the point-- the novel follows a focused story, and the protagonist, Jason, has a goal that he won't give up. That's all I can say without spoiling the plot.SPOILERS FOLLOW AFTER THIS POINT.-When I look back on the story, I kind of think of Fallout 3 (and other Bethesda games), if the character wanted to find his father no matter what-- glancing over the other subquests he could've taken but sticking to his main quest. Jason (9?) is kinda like that, and I understand why. His motivations, as well as Jason2's' are clear. They both want Daniela and Charlie. They're willing to do whatever to get to that point. That makes sense, but this platform of the box and the ampoules that allow a person to go between different parallel universes just opens up so many ideas and so many questions that the book can't take advantage of. The book rushes through many of the universes, giving you a taste of what "could have been" but never really fleshing them out. Look, I get why-- the character rushing through the universes makes sense-- he has a sense of urgency (because he has limited ampoules, and maybe limited time) because he wants to get back to his world. The plot is focused and tight.But therein lies the problem. This story maybe shouldn't have been this focused. It plays more like a movie that needs to get the plot wrapped up in like 2 hours. I dunno. Maybe it would've worked if it was longer and the author explored the other universes more, or maybe not. But in its current state, it leaves you wanting more. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I would definitely like to see some more world-building and exploring in a sequel (if there ever happens to be one).The tightly focused story also sacrifices some characters that were so very interesting. The cocky friend of Jason's in the beginning. Amanda comes to mind as being pretty much abandoned towards the middle. It's almost like the author didn't want to deal with a love triangle later on in the novel if Amanda and Dani had to meet. But then why even introduce her? Why not have her die saving Jason right before Jason gets in the box and uses the ampoules for the first time? I feel like Crouch really wanted to do something bigger with Amanda, but realized how difficult it would be, especially when the other numbered Jasons come into play when Jason gets back into his world. I feel like keeping Amanda around would've been less tragic-- the other Jasons could end up with their Amanda when they realize that they can't all be with Dani.I liked how the other Jasons came into play later on in the novel. But man was it confusing to grasp at first, especially when you only have the UberChat conversation to pull from.--Otherwise, I really did enjoy this novel. The brisk pace of the novel, despite my aforementioned qualms, makes it easy to continue reading. The author has a great way of explaining complicated ideas reasonably well-- things like how the multiverse works in the story (using a box and many doors because that's how the mind of humans can understand it), to the "uncanny valley" are explained quite well. That's why it gets a four-star review. Most of the characters were well developed and likeable; I sympathized with the plight of Jason2, I understood Daniela's uneasiness, etc. Not sure how I feel about the end-- I like how they left it up to Charlie to decide which world they would go into (because at least a world with Charlie is a world where Jason and Daniela came together), but I'm unsure if heading into a different universe is really that different from going on the run. It's also a whole lot more dangerous. But at least it makes sense. I guess that's what I can say about the whole novel-- every critical decision, from Jason asking Amanda to not be so close to him on the bed ("I don't want you to. But I need you to"), to more Jasons popping up in the main universe because of fragmentation in decisions in the box, makes sense.

Reviewer: Un libro hermoso, todas las descripciones te transportan a la escena que ocurre
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: No lo he terminado de leer pero lo compré de 2da mano y venía en excelentes condiciones. Estoy feliz con mi compra

Reviewer: Igor D.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Livro excelente do inicio ao fim.

Reviewer: Jeff Hoyle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Well developed story with realistic concept. The end was also well thought out with a believable climax. Everything about the story will make your hair stand on end.

Reviewer: Sophia
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Such a great read!!! And such an incredible concept. To be able to go back inside a memory and change the outcome of the future. Loved every minute of it.

Reviewer: valleyHD
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: El libro es una historia excelente, muy bien contada.Sin embargo, ¡NO recomiendo la serie de televisión!