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_david_'s review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Oof to me, every part of this book missed its mark. In general I found everything in the book a bit over the top.
First of all, Jason is supposed to be a genius. Yet it takes him ages to even think of the theory which can be figured out as a reader very quickly. If you've figured it out before Jason, there's not much joy in reading the story until he has figured it out too. You're just waiting and turning the pages until he does and you can finally continue. The way he acts is so hard to relate to. It's very hard to imagine the situations he encounters so it's hard to emphasize with his choices. However, at least after it all goes wrong once you'd think he change his behaviour right?
Secondly, I'd like to discuss the science behind it. To me, it's very noticable that what we're reading has been written by an author who wanted to tell a story and then looked up the physic theories which would fit it best. The logic is not consistent and some of it almost works like magic. Yet the characters in the book use big words and existing theories to clarify the science behind it all. This is a very personal ick, I've barely ever encountered a piece of media that manages to do this well. The only ways I have seen this be pulled off, is to make up your own very clear very consitent rules or just pretend it's magic and do not explain it beyond what is necessary.
My favourite part of the book beyond the very first chapter, in which Jason only talks about his family night and life choices, are the final few chapters. Yet I wish they pushed a little further. Let Jason be a little more selfish or a little more existential. I've read another review which points out a major flaw related to the inconsistent physics which did ruin these last chapters for me as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Blood, Physical abuse, Gore, Violence, Murder, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Grief, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Abortion, Car accident, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Alcohol, Animal death, Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Self harm, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
melaschnie's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Death, Drug use, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Stalking, Suicide, Grief, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Child death, Toxic friendship, and Torture
anni_swanilda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child death and Sexual content
jodie_mathers's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, and Gun violence
shelfreflectionofficial's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“We couldn’t possible contend with simultaneously observing all possible realities at once… but if we could, where would it take us?”
This book lives up to the hype!
This is my first Blake Crouch book and I know it won’t be my last. It was definitely a story that was hard to put down.
I know a lot people aren’t into sci-fi or feel like books about the multiverse hurt their brains, but I think this one is pretty accessible to any reader.
This book seeks to explore the questions— What if my life could have been different? What if I had made different choices? Am I actually living the life I want?
“My life is great. It’s just not exceptional. And there was a time when it could have been.”
Even though I don’t believe the multiverse exists, it’s a compelling concept for a story and a way to think about those questions that a lot of people ask themselves.
Our lives don’t always end up being what we thought they would. We have to make hard choices about where to go, what to do, and who to be with. Sometimes it’s tempting to ask- is this my best life?
“Fighting always against the whispers of what might have been.”
I really liked what Crouch did with these questions. There is a lot to be said of contentment. There is constant cultural pressure to dream big and do what it takes to achieve those dreams— whatever it takes— because we deserve them.
But there is not much said about self-sacrifice and self-denial for the sake of another. That’s generally seen as settling, giving up, and not living up to your potential rather than a noble choice with a meaningful purpose.
Dark Matter is a poignant tale that forces us to see that what we think might be better, may not actually be. Sometimes the little things are the big things.
Brief Plot Summary
The main character in the book— Jason— is an atomic physicist and professor at a small college in the Chicago suburbs married to an aspiring artist, Daniela, and father to a 15-year-old son, Charlie.
When he and Daniela got unexpectedly pregnant with Charlie they made the choice to build their family. Jason gave up intense quantum physics research. Daniela gave up time spent advancing her art.
They see friends and colleagues achieving the things they used to think they would do.
Well all that changes for Jason. A version of himself from a different universe made the choice to continue his research instead of being a family man. His research led him to create a special box that allows him to break the barriers of reality and traverse through the multiverse. Having realized his research-focused life was unfulfilling, he enters Jason’s universe and effectively takes over his life, forcing Jason to switch places with him.
This launches Jason into a heart-wrenching and devastating journey across the multi-verse to try to get back to his family. He has to continually make the choice whether to take the life he could have had or choose Daniela and Charlie as it is now, if he can even get back to them.
“What if all the pieces of belief and memory that comprise who I am—my profession, Daniela, my son— are nothing but a tragic misfiring in that gray matter between my ears? Will I keep fighting to be the man I think I am? Or will I disown him and everything he loves, and step into the skin of the person this world would like for me to be?”
If you like this concept, you should definitely read Brian Freeman’s book Infinite. It also takes place in Chicago and involves a man dealing with another version of himself from another universe ruining his life. I wouldn’t be surprised if Freeman was inspired by Crouch’s book since his came out in 2021. But it’s somewhat the inverse of Dark Matter in that Dylan’s wife has died and he has to struggle with not taking over other lives where she is still alive.
Also, this book feels similar to The Midnight Library by Matt Haig but with more action and violence.
Dark Matter
The book is called Dark Matter because dark matter is the term used by astrophysicists to describe “the [theoretical] force holding stars and galaxies together—the thing that makes our whole universe work.” and “some string theorists think it might be a clue to the existence of the multiverse.”
You don’t really have to understand the quantum mechanics of the theory at the base of this story. Thanks to Marvel we’re probably all somewhat familiar with the multiverse, and we can just accept the fact that the box works the way it does without having to fully comprehend the ‘how.’ Since that’s all theoretical anyway.
But let’s explore some of the concepts in this book for fun…
Part of the idea behind the box is the theory that “observation determines reality.” An object can be in two states at once until it is observed in a single state.
I don’t think that observation is the only thing that determines reality. Does observation require sight? Touch? Hearing? All at the same time? Not everyone can give that. Are their surroundings less real? Observation obviously influences our perception of reality, but it doesn’t determine reality itself.
I’m not sure how many people actually believe in the multiverse. But to indulge in that line of thinking I’ll also bring up that I disagree with Jason’s conclusion on how the multiverse influences his view of identity:
“My understanding of identity has been shattered— I am one face of an infinitely faceted being… I can’t help thinking that we’re more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identity.”
Perhaps that makes sense within the context of the particular story, but I don’t think that theory can hold any weight. What a burden it would be to carry the weight of every choice you effectively DON’T take but COULD HAVE. What importance would any choice really have if the multiverse says you actually made every choice or your identity is formed in part from choices you didn’t take. How could you have any identity?
Plus this multiverse theory doesn’t hold up to a biblical worldview. In that theory, there would be universes where Jesus didn’t die on the cross. Universes where God’s actions didn’t happen. It is inconsistent with the character and sovereignty of God.
So if the multiverse scares you, fear not. It can’t be true biblically. We don’t have to worry about our other selves living in a universe where Jesus didn’t save us from our sins. A universe where Jesus didn’t defeat the death we deserve.
We only have one soul. It can’t be both saved and not saved.
Our hope is assurance, not just luck that we happen to be conscious of our self living in the ‘right’ universe.
But that does make your choices all the more important. You don’t get infinite chances to try until something works. You get this life. And your choices will have eternal consequences.
Jason comments, “I suppose we’re both just trying to come to terms with how horrifying infinity really is.”
Infinity is impossible to comprehend. And depending what infinity is applying to, it can be horrifying.
Or it can be comforting. I know that I will spend infinite time in heaven when I die. But if I wasn’t sure about that… that would be a terrifying reality I would have to contend with.
The multiverse is a fun idea that makes for good books and movies and creative hypothetical conversations. But it’s not real. It doesn’t excuse the choices we make today and it doesn’t burden us with the ones we didn’t.
It does allow us to ponder the significance of the life we wake up to every day and the choices we make right now. It does remind us to be thankful for what we do have instead of pining for what we do not.
And that’s what I liked most about this book. The way it invested me in Jason’s story and the way he fights for his family and his ‘mediocre’ life. The here-and-now taking precedence over the what-ifs.
Recommendation
I would definitely recommend this book! It is a super fast read because you won’t be able to put it down.
It immediately draws you into the main character’s dilemma and wanting his family to be together.
I could definitely have done without some of the swearing, but in this case I think the story was worth dealing with that.
Even if you don’t like quantum physics, I think you’ll still be engaged in the drama of Jason trying to get back to his wife and son.
The overarching concept of this story is relatable to pretty much everyone and will hopefully help you see the blessings of the life you currently live.
Book to Film FYI
This is being made into a series on Apple TV that is set to release with two episodes on May 8th and then weekly beyond that. I’m excited to see how they portray this story. Fingers crossed that they don’t increase the swearing/sexual content from the book, but these days that seems to be a lot to ask for.
I’ll add my book to show comparison at some point for anyone interested.
[Content Advisory: a decent amount of f-words (mostly used in relation to sex); a couple sex ‘moments’ but nothing graphic or erotic; some gore/violence throughout but a graphic stabbing/ ‘fight scene’ at the end]
This book lives up to the hype!
This is my first Blake Crouch book and I know it won’t be my last. It was definitely a story that was hard to put down.
I know a lot people aren’t into sci-fi or feel like books about the multiverse hurt their brains, but I think this one is pretty accessible to any reader.
This book seeks to explore the questions— What if my life could have been different? What if I had made different choices? Am I actually living the life I want?
“My life is great. It’s just not exceptional. And there was a time when it could have been.”
Even though I don’t believe the multiverse exists, it’s a compelling concept for a story and a way to think about those questions that a lot of people ask themselves.
Our lives don’t always end up being what we thought they would. We have to make hard choices about where to go, what to do, and who to be with. Sometimes it’s tempting to ask- is this my best life?
“Fighting always against the whispers of what might have been.”
I really liked what Crouch did with these questions. There is a lot to be said of contentment. There is constant cultural pressure to dream big and do what it takes to achieve those dreams— whatever it takes— because we deserve them.
But there is not much said about self-sacrifice and self-denial for the sake of another. That’s generally seen as settling, giving up, and not living up to your potential rather than a noble choice with a meaningful purpose.
Dark Matter is a poignant tale that forces us to see that what we think might be better, may not actually be. Sometimes the little things are the big things.
Brief Plot Summary
The main character in the book— Jason— is an atomic physicist and professor at a small college in the Chicago suburbs married to an aspiring artist, Daniela, and father to a 15-year-old son, Charlie.
When he and Daniela got unexpectedly pregnant with Charlie they made the choice to build their family. Jason gave up intense quantum physics research. Daniela gave up time spent advancing her art.
They see friends and colleagues achieving the things they used to think they would do.
Well all that changes for Jason. A version of himself from a different universe made the choice to continue his research instead of being a family man. His research led him to create a special box that allows him to break the barriers of reality and traverse through the multiverse. Having realized his research-focused life was unfulfilling, he enters Jason’s universe and effectively takes over his life, forcing Jason to switch places with him.
This launches Jason into a heart-wrenching and devastating journey across the multi-verse to try to get back to his family. He has to continually make the choice whether to take the life he could have had or choose Daniela and Charlie as it is now, if he can even get back to them.
“What if all the pieces of belief and memory that comprise who I am—my profession, Daniela, my son— are nothing but a tragic misfiring in that gray matter between my ears? Will I keep fighting to be the man I think I am? Or will I disown him and everything he loves, and step into the skin of the person this world would like for me to be?”
If you like this concept, you should definitely read Brian Freeman’s book Infinite. It also takes place in Chicago and involves a man dealing with another version of himself from another universe ruining his life. I wouldn’t be surprised if Freeman was inspired by Crouch’s book since his came out in 2021. But it’s somewhat the inverse of Dark Matter in that Dylan’s wife has died and he has to struggle with not taking over other lives where she is still alive.
Also, this book feels similar to The Midnight Library by Matt Haig but with more action and violence.
Dark Matter
The book is called Dark Matter because dark matter is the term used by astrophysicists to describe “the [theoretical] force holding stars and galaxies together—the thing that makes our whole universe work.” and “some string theorists think it might be a clue to the existence of the multiverse.”
You don’t really have to understand the quantum mechanics of the theory at the base of this story. Thanks to Marvel we’re probably all somewhat familiar with the multiverse, and we can just accept the fact that the box works the way it does without having to fully comprehend the ‘how.’ Since that’s all theoretical anyway.
But let’s explore some of the concepts in this book for fun…
Part of the idea behind the box is the theory that “observation determines reality.” An object can be in two states at once until it is observed in a single state.
I don’t think that observation is the only thing that determines reality. Does observation require sight? Touch? Hearing? All at the same time? Not everyone can give that. Are their surroundings less real? Observation obviously influences our perception of reality, but it doesn’t determine reality itself.
I’m not sure how many people actually believe in the multiverse. But to indulge in that line of thinking I’ll also bring up that I disagree with Jason’s conclusion on how the multiverse influences his view of identity:
“My understanding of identity has been shattered— I am one face of an infinitely faceted being… I can’t help thinking that we’re more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identity.”
Perhaps that makes sense within the context of the particular story, but I don’t think that theory can hold any weight. What a burden it would be to carry the weight of every choice you effectively DON’T take but COULD HAVE. What importance would any choice really have if the multiverse says you actually made every choice or your identity is formed in part from choices you didn’t take. How could you have any identity?
Plus this multiverse theory doesn’t hold up to a biblical worldview. In that theory, there would be universes where Jesus didn’t die on the cross. Universes where God’s actions didn’t happen. It is inconsistent with the character and sovereignty of God.
So if the multiverse scares you, fear not. It can’t be true biblically. We don’t have to worry about our other selves living in a universe where Jesus didn’t save us from our sins. A universe where Jesus didn’t defeat the death we deserve.
We only have one soul. It can’t be both saved and not saved.
Our hope is assurance, not just luck that we happen to be conscious of our self living in the ‘right’ universe.
But that does make your choices all the more important. You don’t get infinite chances to try until something works. You get this life. And your choices will have eternal consequences.
Jason comments, “I suppose we’re both just trying to come to terms with how horrifying infinity really is.”
Infinity is impossible to comprehend. And depending what infinity is applying to, it can be horrifying.
Or it can be comforting. I know that I will spend infinite time in heaven when I die. But if I wasn’t sure about that… that would be a terrifying reality I would have to contend with.
The multiverse is a fun idea that makes for good books and movies and creative hypothetical conversations. But it’s not real. It doesn’t excuse the choices we make today and it doesn’t burden us with the ones we didn’t.
It does allow us to ponder the significance of the life we wake up to every day and the choices we make right now. It does remind us to be thankful for what we do have instead of pining for what we do not.
And that’s what I liked most about this book. The way it invested me in Jason’s story and the way he fights for his family and his ‘mediocre’ life. The here-and-now taking precedence over the what-ifs.
Recommendation
I would definitely recommend this book! It is a super fast read because you won’t be able to put it down.
It immediately draws you into the main character’s dilemma and wanting his family to be together.
I could definitely have done without some of the swearing, but in this case I think the story was worth dealing with that.
Even if you don’t like quantum physics, I think you’ll still be engaged in the drama of Jason trying to get back to his wife and son.
The overarching concept of this story is relatable to pretty much everyone and will hopefully help you see the blessings of the life you currently live.
Book to Film FYI
This is being made into a series on Apple TV that is set to release with two episodes on May 8th and then weekly beyond that. I’m excited to see how they portray this story. Fingers crossed that they don’t increase the swearing/sexual content from the book, but these days that seems to be a lot to ask for.
I’ll add my book to show comparison at some point for anyone interested.
[Content Advisory: a decent amount of f-words (mostly used in relation to sex); a couple sex ‘moments’ but nothing graphic or erotic; some gore/violence throughout but a graphic stabbing/ ‘fight scene’ at the end]
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
jocelynbold's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Blood
sierrabedwell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a great science fiction story that is extremely relatable to the average reader. Have you ever wanted to change one decision that you have made and wonder what your life would be like if you had chosen differently? This book realistically answers that question through quantum mechanics and the theory of the multiverse. It sounds insane and it really is, but it also makes you think about your morals and what you would do if you were in the situation that Jason is in. If you’re a science lover and can comprehend complex situations, such as multiple versions of the same character in the same room, then go ahead and read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, Child death, Gaslighting, Gore, Abandonment, Abortion, Violence, Gun violence, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
daniellekat's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Interesting concept with lots of fast paced action but the writing was awful. I hated how the author constantly used very short, list-like, repetitive sentence structures. I thought the characters lacked depth and found the main character’s inner monologue ridiculous. I especially hated the ending, it was both unfulfilling and anticlimactic. I liked that this was relatively short for a thriller, but I can’t say I’ll be turning to this author again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content
michaelion's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Something must've been in the book publishing water in the 2010s because this is the second book I've read dealing with the multiverse. Now there's so many multiverse movies! Or maybe this is nothing because I don't have enough evidence but still !!!
At first I thought this was just like that episode of Rick and Morty, then I realized it was like a different episode of Rick and Morty, kinda, then I realized none of these other medias will ever be EEAAO. So.
Negative points for being written by a man. When he said "Spanish eyes" I went oh lord here we go but also the action scenes made me think aww boys having fun playing with their toys so he kinda got the points back there. I really liked the ending.I like when things can't go back to how they were. Even though, after we learn there's multiple other Jasons, that means there are universes with no Jasons at all and he could've just went to one of those... But also loving your wife so much you'd kill multiverse versions of yourself? That's so real. This one's for the yearners.
Last note, nothing to do with the book, it must be really acclaimed because when I placed the audiobook hold I started off in 57th place. Had it on hold almost 3 months.
At first I thought this was just like that episode of Rick and Morty, then I realized it was like a different episode of Rick and Morty, kinda, then I realized none of these other medias will ever be EEAAO. So.
Negative points for being written by a man. When he said "Spanish eyes" I went oh lord here we go but also the action scenes made me think aww boys having fun playing with their toys so he kinda got the points back there. I really liked the ending.
Last note, nothing to do with the book, it must be really acclaimed because when I placed the audiobook hold I started off in 57th place. Had it on hold almost 3 months.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Murder, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Stalking, Misogyny, Torture, Gun violence, Death, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Police brutality, Body horror, Medical trauma, and Infidelity
kellyisntcool's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Reminds me why sci-fi is one of the coolest genres and how much I loved reading it when I was younger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Sexual content