Title: Dark Matter
Author: Blake Crouch
Published: 2016
Publisher: Broadway Books
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Jason is an average guy living in Chicago with his wife, Daniela and son, Charlie. He is a professor at a local University, and she is an artist. They have made the choice of parenthood over their careers, and both wonder, every once in a while, what might have been, especially when they see their friends winning awards and being recognized in their fields. One night, after celebrating his old college roommate’s new award and grant money, Jason is abducted. When he wakes up, he has no idea where he is, or what the hell is going on, only that he must find his way back to his family.
That’s really the most I would read about Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter before diving into it. I read virtually nothing, and was blown away by the twists and turns of the story, so I would recommend you approach it the same way. If you are interested in a bit more of my thoughts, though, keep reading.
BookTube has played a big role in my reading choices lately, and I’m glad it has because the results have been fantastic. Dark Matter is one that I’d see discussed a ton, and to virtually universal praise. After devouring this book over the past week, I absolutely see why. Blake Crouch managed to mix action, intrigue, romance, and science fiction in a world that constantly kept me guessing. Even when I managed to guess some of the twists, there was something else that came out of nowhere to blindside me, and it was a fantastic feeling.
At its core, Dark Matter is a story of love. When everything is going against him, and the odds seem insurmountable, the love for his wife and son keep pushing him forward, which is what keeps the pace clipping along. I’m by no means a quick reader, but I found myself devouring 50+ pages a day because I needed to know what was going to happen next. Then, once it happened, I needed to figure out how Jason would overcome it, if he could. Dark Matter was just fun to read from the opening chapter on.
Crouch’s writing style is wonderfully accessible as well. The characters dive into some relatively complex scientific theories, but Crouch handles them so naturally that the novel never gets bogged down in these details. It never feels confusing, but, at the same time, Crouch doesn’t oversimplify, either. He made me think, and I really enjoyed that about this story.
There is a little bit of everything in Dark Matter, which is why I think it’s so universally well-regarded. If you enjoy sci-fi, thrillers, romance, or twisty rides in general, you should absolutely give Dark Matter a shot. It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I cannot wait to see how the film turns out as the story lends itself exceptionally well to that medium. Dark Matter is another example of a book living up to – and exceeding – the hype that surrounds it, and I’m so glad I jumped into this fascinating world that Crouch has created.
Branden has been a film fan since he was young, roaming the halls of Blockbuster Video, trying to find the grossest, scariest looking VHS covers to rent and watch alone in the basement. It wasn’t until recently, though, that Branden started seeking out the classics of cinema, and began to develop his true passion for the art form. Branden approaches each film with the unique perspective of having studied the art from the inside, having both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in acting. He has been a film critic since 2010, and has previously written for Inside Pulse Movies, We Love Cult, and Diehard Gamefan. His biggest achievement as a film critic, to date, has been founding Cinefessions and turning it from a personal blog to a true film website, housing hundreds of film and television reviews, and dozens of podcasts.
