Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

[gilda_elise]

“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.

An imaginative and unique use of the multiverse theory. I assume the title is taken from dark matter’s integral role in that theory, but it doesn’t play much of a part when it comes to the book’s actual plot.

I did wonder why it took Dessen so long to figure things out; even if in his own universe he’s only a college professor, he’s still a genius. But that’s a very small quibble for a book that pulled me in early on and kept me hooked until the very end.

Hard science fiction has over the years become harder for me to find. This book is one of the best of that genre that I’ve recently read.

Comments

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

That sounds good - I shall look out for it! My friend from bookgroup also likes hard science fiction, and we're always looking for good stuff, so I'll mention it to her too. Thanks! *g*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Great! With fantasy being the big draw right now, hard scifi has gotten harder and harder to find. I'm glad I could help your friend out.

[vysila.livejournal.com]

I got hooked by The Wayward Pines show last year on TV and so looked up the books by Blake Crouch. I thought the concept was wonderful but Crouch's execution of the idea less so. I swore I would never read another Blake Crouch book again - but should I give this one a try?

ETA: I now see he wrote Good Behavior, which another TV show is based on.

He does know how to work TV/movie deals if nothing else.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I haven't see The Wayward Pines, nor read the book. What was so wrong with the book? I've got Good Behavior on the DVR, but haven't had time to watch it yet. Didn't know it was based on a book. I hadn't realized so much of his work was on TV right now.

I think you should give this book a try. I really do think that he did an excellent job with the concept. But now I wonder if it's going to show up as a series at some point!

[tinny]

Wow, this sounds interesting!

I'll put it on the wishlist immediately!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Good to hear! I think it's well worth reading.