Craving a change of pace after Walter Tevis’s “Mockingbird”, I finally picked up “Dark Matter”, which I’d been saving for a page-turner. To be honest, I knew very little about it, having skipped the back cover blurb entirely. However, knowing it had been adapted for television, I assumed it wouldn’t be a dense read. This proved accurate, despite the complexity of the theme.

“Dark Matter” by Blake Crouch is a thrilling science fiction novel that explores the idea of the multiverse and the impact of choices on our lives. We follow Jason Dessen, a seemingly ordinary physics professor, who has his life irrevocably altered when he’s abducted and thrust into a reality that’s uncannily different from his own. Driven by a desperate need to return to his family, Jason embarks on a dangerous and arduous journey through unknown worlds, grappling with questions of identity, reality, and the essence of what makes a life worth living. The novel is a race against time that explores the profound ramifications of even the smallest decisions.

While complex scientific concepts, such as Quantum superposition, are central to the plot, Crouch manages to stay away from jargon. His presentation of the multiverse theory is both intriguing and understandable, allowing for seamless immersion in the story’s fantastical setting.

My main criticism is that the plot felt a little too by-the-numbers, hitting all the typical beats before a pretty solid finale. But, perhaps this approach was a deliberate creative decision, designed to enhance the story’s engagement, so I will not dwell on it.

So, should you read it? If you’re a die-hard sci-fi enthusiast, this might not be your cup of tea. However, if you enjoy thrillers with a sci-fi twist, in the style of Michael Crichton, you’ll likely love it. I’ll give it an 8 (on the low end of the scale by comparison with other novels).

– S –