Somewhere in the multiverse, another me is giving this 5 stars. 4.5/5.
The blurb: “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.
My take:
This review will be spoiler-free and therefore brief.
Dark Matter brought back strong memories of a TV show I loved: Quantum Leap. It’s very possible that readers under the age of 30 will have no idea what I’m talking about but trust me, that show was brilliant TV (particularly for the standards of the late 80s and early 90s). Obviously there are more differences between Dark Matter and Quantum Leap than similarities, but the idea of a man stranded outside his own life, desperately trying to get home, is a powerful one. It worked for Quantum Leap and it works just as well for Dark Matter.
The book also has fantastic pace. The set-up is brief and then we’re plunged straight into the action. The momentum is so gripping that I read through to page 290 in one sitting. Unfortunately, after such a build-up of tension, I felt the last 50 pages or so were a little slack. I’m not even sure why. Thinking back over what happened in those pages, I should have been on the edge of my seat, so I don’t know why I wasn’t.
All the theoretical physics is thankfully understandable and, mercifully, not really that important. At the end of the day – like Quantum Leap – this all comes down to character. We have a main character we care about – Jason – and he is separated from his family. He fights tooth and nail to get back to them and we’re with him all the way, we want him to succeed. That is why this book works. So don’t worry if this sounds too sci-fi for you and you don’t usually read sci-fi. Give it a go!
Overall: a gripping struggle-against-the-odds story with a smattering of mind-bending science. Go on, give it a try!
Claire Huston / Art and Soul
LOVE THIS BOOK OMG. One of my very favorites from 2016, and one I am throwing at everyone who loves sci-fi and asks me for a book recommendation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will do the same! 🙂 Hopefully we can persuade everyone to read it.
LikeLike
I was already tempted and now you throw in the Quantum Leap reference – sold!!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ll love it! Please read it 🙂
I’m SO glad someone else remembers Quantum Leap 🙂 I loved that show. I guess you could get box sets, but I almost don’t want to go back and watch it in case it’s now just terribly dated and it ruins all my great memories!
LikeLike
Did you say Quantum Leap!!! Oh my goodness!! Claire, I love that show to bits! Must get my hands on this book now. Must rewatch Quantum Leap 💗😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hooray! I’m so delighted to discover that I’m not the only person to have watched/remember this show 🙂
Dark Matter is – as it’s title suggests – not as cheerful as Quantum Leap (although I remember that some episodes were heavier than others), but the main idea is similar.
I’m not sure about rewatching Quantum Leap. What if it’s not as good as I remember…? I LOVED that show!
LikeLike
Great review Claire! Blake Crouch is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors!,💁🏻
LikeLike
Thank you!
I’ve been told to read Abandoned too, so that’s on my list for next year.
Sorry it took me so long to reply to your comment… it went to the spam jail 😦 Hopefully all sorted now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem Claire. I’ve just been sprung so hopefully it doesn’t happen again!💁🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard nothing but incredible things about this book. I’ll have to give it a chance soon !. Awesome review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
Please do give it a try soon. You won’t be sorry 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh wow this has such a dark concept- I love the sound of it! And I’m just getting into Sci Fi so this could very well be for me 🙂 (aka soft sci fi fans) Great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’d like it. Ultimately the sci-fi doesn’t really matter, it’s just scenery for the story of a castaway trying to get home 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This book was so good! Definitely similar to Quantum Leap. Glad you enjoyed it as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so great when the book lives up to the hype. I was worried I’d be the only person who didn’t like it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, Claire. It was a departure for me, but I’m so glad I took the chance reading it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know if I could read this, but I love the nod to Quantum Leap! Nice review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
It’s really good. I think you could read it, ignore all the physics and still enjoy it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard great things about this book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s worth the hype (for once). I’d recommend it to anyone 🙂
LikeLike
I’m under 30 (for another couple of years only…) but I loved Quantum Leap, it was fun to watch. Those haircuts.. 😀 I’m happy you confirm the physics is understandable, this was never my field and I kept putting the book off in fear I’d miss the fun because of my lack of knowledge!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hooray! It’s been so nice to find a whole heap of Quantum Leap fans! 🙂
The physics does start to get a bit mind-bending towards the end, so I just did what I did with the advanced chemistry in The Martian – ignored it 🙂
LikeLike
I felt a bit old remembering the show,haha! I think ignoring it is the best way to go with this kind of books 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: WWW Wednesday 14th December 2016 | Art and Soul
Haha I love that first line! I’m not a big sci-fi fan, but this book is without doubt brilliant. I’m so glad you were able to enjoy it as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like sci-fi, particularly when it’s the characters rather than the science who’s important. Dark Matter is a great example of that done well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: My top 10 books of 2016 | Art and Soul
Brilliant review!!
please check out my blog too!
https://mjverse.wordpress.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person