A review by theravenkingx
Recursion by Blake Crouch

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

Blake Crouch is my couch friend. He is one of those author for me who is always there to grab my hand and pull me back when I am on the verge of falling into a reading slump.

Recursion, like his other work, delivers a fast paced, edge of the seat experience.  Crouch remains undefeated in the art of blending science fiction, suspense and psychological thriller. His narrative and writing prowess is so captivating and cinematic that it sets him apart from his contemporaries.

Before you hop on this the roller coaster, make sure your seatbelt is memory-proof, because you’re in for a ride that will flip your past, present, and future upside down!

Synopsis
The book follows a grieving father, a detective named Barry. A life-changing call drives him to a woman suffering from FMS - fake memory syndrome - a mysterious condition where individuals are haunted by vivid memories of lives never lived. Tragically, the woman’s struggle ends in suicide, propelling Barry into a relentless investigation that leads him to a laboratory where overzealous scientists are tampering with human consciousness. They believe they can help humanity by allowing people to send their consciousness into their past selves, offering them a chance to change the trajectory of their lives. However, their are unintended consequences of their experiment. The ripple effect of altered memories doesn’t just affect the subjects, but also those entwined in their past, overwhelming them with an onslaught of disorienting recollections.  He meets a woman named Halena, a scientist responsible for this mind breaking discovery. Together they try to undo repercussions of this new technology. But how can one succeed when memories of alternate lives persistently converge?

This book gives a unique twist to time travel. The grandfather paradox doesn't exist here since individuals can only send their consciousness back into their past selves using their most vivid memories. This process influences not only the traveler but also the lives and memories of those they encounter, who start to form new memories. When the present timeline catches up, these individuals are flooded with memories of their original timeline all at once, creating a complex web of memories across different timelines. This new memory paradox creates a challenge for our main character, who aims to erase the knowledge of this time travel technology from the minds of people who seek to exploit it for selfish reasons. But every try yields the same result where the bad guys end up remembering and recreating the technology. Both Halena and Barry relive their lives many times over to figure out a solution, enduring physically and emotionally throughout their journey. Their struggle seem real. They don't miraculously conjure a solution but face many hardships. They are both well written characters but it's less about them and more about the delimma they are stuck with. 

I have never read anything like this before. It's incredibly fresh and mind-bending. I’d love to see it adapted into a movie. I know apple is working on "Dark Matter" I just hope they pick this one up too.