Reviewing Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

TL;DR

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is an immensely enjoyable, fast-paced thriller about physicist Jason Dessen trying to return to the wife and son missing from his alternate life. The reviewer praises its propulsive blend of science fiction, danger, and romance, despite increasingly noticeable plot holes near the end. Read on for the premise, comparisons, criticisms, and reasons it could become a great summer tentpole movie.

Transcript

I wanna talk to you about Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. This book is generating a ton of buzz. Ann and Michael at the now defunct Books on the Nightstand talked about how much buzz this was generating internally at Penguin Random House. They haven’t seen the likes of which since Girl on the Train. Now cynically I think this is another one of those b... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚂 Dark Matter has generated significant buzz, similar to other popular thrillers like The Girl on the Train.
• 👣 The author, Blake Crouch, has a track record of success, with his Wayward Pines trilogy being adapted into a TV series.
• 🔬 Dark Matter offers a unique blend of genres, combining elements of thrillers, science-fiction, and romance.
• 👾 The book does not focus on intricate details but instead propels readers forward with a relentless pace.
• 🛟 Dark Matter explores the concept of choices and the consequences they can have on one's life.
• 🙈 The protagonist's journey in Dark Matter can be compared to the classic film It's A Wonderful Life, where he sees an alternate reality.
• 📔 The book touches on themes of regret, identity, and the pursuit of success.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Dark Matter by Blake Crouch about?

Jason Dessen is a 40-year-old physics professor in Chicago who lives with his wife, Daniela, and their son, Charlie. After a masked man abducts and knocks him unconscious, Jason wakes in a lab where he is a celebrated physicist, but never married Daniela or had Charlie. He must find his way home.

Q: Is Dark Matter a fast-paced book?

Yes. The reviewer calls it a propulsive page-turner in which events move as quickly as scenery on a roller coaster. It is described as a relatively short read that can be finished in one or two sittings.

Q: Why does Jason Dessen question his life before the abduction?

Jason is happy with his quiet family life, but he feels some disappointment about where his career has ended up. After celebrating an old friend’s Pavia Prize for physics and enduring the friend’s condescension, Jason wonders what might have happened had he taken a different path.

Q: What is different about Jason Dessen’s alternate life?

In the alternate life, Jason has limitless resources, major recognition, and a career at the cutting edge of physics. Those achievements resulted from different choices: he pursued science single-mindedly, never married Daniela, and never had Charlie.

Q: How does Dark Matter compare with The Girl on the Train?

The reviewer says the comparison is apt because both stories give readers imperfect information and invite them to puzzle out how the author will resolve carefully constructed problems. Dark Matter has no unreliable narrator, however, and does not linger on details.

Q: What other stories does the reviewer compare Dark Matter to?

The reviewer calls it a quantum-mechanical It’s a Wonderful Life. Its mixture is also compared with the love story of The Time Traveler’s Wife, the thrills and danger of The Man from Primrose Lane, and a dollop of Fringe.

Q: Does the reviewer identify any flaws in Dark Matter?

Yes. The reviewer notes gaping plot holes that accumulate closer to the ending and says some plot points deserved a closer look. The relentless pace leaves little time to examine those issues, but the reviewer still enjoyed the book immensely.

Q: Could Dark Matter work as a movie?

The reviewer thinks it could make a great summer tentpole movie. Sony had already inked a $1.25 million deal based on a 150-page manuscript, while the book’s rapid pace, escalating action, and near-over-the-top crescendo support the reviewer’s assessment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dark Matter follows protagonist Jason Dessen, a physics professor, who is abducted and wakes up in a parallel universe where he never married and has achieved immense success in his career.

• The book combines elements of thrillers like The Girl on the Train with fast-paced action and a love story reminiscent of The Time Traveler's Wife.

• While the book may have some plot holes, it is a page-turner that would make for an exciting summer tentpole movie.