Description:
Review
“Relatable and unnerving . . . makes its characters—and readers—wonder what life would have been like had they made different decisions.”—USA Today
“A portal into other dimensions of reality . . . you’ll gulp it down in one afternoon, or more likely one night.”—The New York Times Book Review
“A mind-blowing sci-fi/suspense/love-story mash-up.”—Entertainment Weekly
“A fast, tasty read with a killer twist. It’s a whole bag of barbecue chips . . . just sitting there waiting for you to devour in one long rush.”—NPR
“A dazzling book . . . [with] a mind-bending premise, a head-spinning plot that’s dialogue-driven and adrenaline-fueled, and a gut-wrenching climax that gave me goose bumps.”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Draws on questions and anxieties we all wrestle with in the dark hours . . . Crouch has invested [sci-fi motifs] with scientific plausibility, and more unusually, with emotional depth."—The Wall Street Journal
“[A] mind-blowing speculative-science thriller that throws in an old-fashioned love story for good measure.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“A pacy, action-driven SF thriller . . . terse prose, strong characterisation and clever twists make for a quick, smart, engrossing read.”—Financial Times
“A high-tension thriller . . . always engaging and frequently moving. A strong piece of summertime get-away reading, perfect for those times when the mind wanders to contemplate an alternate reality of endless vacation.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“A mind-bending odyssey of parallel worlds and causality [that] unfolds with all the suspense and strength of a more straightforward thriller, building up to a deliciously surreal climax…memorable and well-rounded characters add a big, beating heart to the tale.”—New York Journal of Books
“Brilliant. A book to remember. I think Blake Crouch just invented something new.”—Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series
“Exceptional. An exciting, ingeniously plotted adventure about love, regret, and quantum superposition. It’s been a long time since a novel sucked me in and kept me turning pages the way this one did.”—Andy Weir, New York Times bestselling author of The Martian
“A masterful, truly original work of suspense. Crouch delivers laser-focused prose, a plot that melds science fiction and thriller to brilliant effect, and a touching, twisted love story that plays out in ways you'll never see coming. It all adds up to one hell of a ride.”—Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of The Stranger
“Wow. I gulped down Dark Matter in one sitting and put it down awed and amazed by the ride. It's fast, smart, addictive—and the most creative, head-spinning novel I've read in ages. A truly remarkable thriller.”—Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles series
“A mind-bending thriller of the first order, not merely a rollicking entertainment but a provocative investigation into the nature of second chances, all of it wrapped in a genius sci-fi package. I dare you to put it down, because I sure couldn’t.”—Justin Cronin, New York Times bestselling author of the Passage Trilogy.
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
They have a feel to them that’s outside of time.
It’s our tradition, just the three of us—family night.
My son, Charlie, is sitting at the table, drawing on a sketch pad. He’s almost fifteen. The kid grew two inches over the summer, and he’s as tall as I am now.
I turn away from the onion I’m julienning, ask, “Can I see?”
He holds up the pad, shows me a mountain range that looks like something on another planet.
I say, “Love that. Just for fun?”
“Class project. Due tomorrow.”
“Then get back to it, Mr. Last Minute.”
Standing happy and slightly drunk in my kitchen, I’m unaware that tonight is the end of all of this. The end of everything I know, everything I love.
No one tells you it’s all about to change, to be taken away. There’s no proximity alert, no indication that you’re standing on the precipice. And maybe that’s what makes tragedy so tragic. Not just what happens, but how it happens: a sucker punch that comes at you out of nowhere, when you’re least expecting. No time to flinch or brace.
The track lights shine on the surface of my wine, and the onion is beginning to sting my eyes. Thelonius Monk spins on the old turntable in the den. There's a richness to the analog recording I can never get enough of, especially the crackle of static between tracks. The den is filled with stacks and stacks of rare vinyl that I keep telling myself I'll get around to organizing one of these days.
My wife, Daniela, sits on the kitchen island, swirling her almost empty wineglass in one hand and holding her phone in the other. She feels my stare and grins without looking up from the screen.
“I know,” she says. “I’m violating the cardinal rule of family night.”
“What’s so important?” I ask.
She levels her dark, Spanish eyes on mine. “Nothing.”
I walk over to her, take the phone gently out of her hand, and set it on the countertop.
“You could start the pasta,” I say.
“I prefer to watch you cook.”
“Yeah?” Quieter: “Turns you on, huh?”
“No, it's just more fun to drink and do nothing.”
Her breath is wine-sweet, and she has one of those smiles that seem architecturally impossible. It still slays me.
I polish off my glass. “We should open more wine, right?”
“It would be stupid not to.”
As I liberate the cork from a new bottle, she picks her phone back up and shows me the screen.
“I was reading Chicago Magazine's re view of Marsha Altman's show.”
“Were they kind?”
“Yeah, it's basically a love letter.”
“Good for her.”
“I always thought . . .” She lets the sentence die, but I know where it was headed. Fifteen years ago, before we met, Daniela was a comer to Chicago's art scene. She had a studio in Bucktown, showed her work in a half dozen galleries, and had just lined up her first solo exhibition in New York. Then came life. Me. Charlie. A bout of crippling post partum depression.
Derailment.
Now she teaches private art lessons to middle-grade students.
“It’s not that I’m not happy for her. I mean, she's brilliant, she deserves it all.”
I say, “If it makes you feel any better, Ryan Holder just won the Pavia Prize.”
“What’s that?”
“A multidisciplinary award given for achievements in the life and physical sciences. Ryan won for his work in neuroscience.”
“Is it a big deal?”
“Million dollars. Accolades. Opens the floodgates to grant money.”
“Hotter TA’s?”
“Obviously, that's the real prize. He invited me to a little informal celebration tonight, but I passed.”
“Why?”
“Because ifs our night.”
“You should go.”
“I’d really rather not.”
Daniela lifts her empty glass. “So what you’re saying is, we both have good reason to drink a lot of wine tonight.”
I kiss her, and then pour generously from the newly opened bottle.
“You could've won that prize,” Daniela says.
“You could've owned this city’s art scene.”
“But we did this.” She gestures at the high-ceilinged expanse of our brownstone. I bought it pre-Daniela with an inheritance. “And we did that,” she says, pointing to Charlie as he sketches with a beautiful intensity that reminds me of Daniela when she's absorbed in a painting.
It’s a strange thing being the parent of a teenager. One thing to raise a little boy, another entirely when a person on the brink of adult hood looks to you for wisdom. I feel like I have little to give. I know there are fathers who see the world a certain way, with clarity and confidence, who know just what to say to their sons and daughters. But I’m not one of them. The older I get, the less I understand. I love my son. He means everything to me. And yet, I can't escape the feeling that I'm failing him. Sending him off to the wolves with nothing but the crumbs of my uncertain perspective.
I move to the cabinet beside the sink, open it, and start hunting for a box of fettuccine.
Daniela turns to Charlie, says, “Your father could have won the Nobel.”
I laugh. “That’s possibly an exaggeration.”
“Charlie, don’t be fooled. He’s a genius.”
“You’re sweet,” I say. “And a little drunk.”
“It’s true, and you know it. Science is less advanced because you love your family.”
I can only smile. When Daniela drinks, three things happen: her native accent begins to bleed through, she becomes belligerently kind, and she tends toward hyperbole.
“Your father said to me one night—never forget it—that pure research is life-consuming. He said . . .” For a moment, and to my surprise, emotion overtakes her. Her eyes mist, and she shakes her head like she always does when she's about to cry. At the last second, she rallies, pushes through. “He said, ‘Daniela, on my deathbed I would rather have memories of you than of a cold, sterile lab.’”
I look at Charlie, catch him rolling his eyes as he sketches. Probably embarrassed by our display of parental melodrama.
I stare into the cabinet and wait for the ache in my throat to go away.
When it does, I grab the pasta and close the door.
Daniela drinks her wine.
Charlie draws.
The moment passes.
“Where's Ryan’s party?” Daniela asks.
“Village Tap.”
“That’s your bar, Jason”
“So?”
She comes over, takes the box of pasta out of my hand.
“Go have a drink with your old college buddy. Tell him you're proud of him. Head held high. Tell him I said congrats.”
“I will not tell him you said congrats.”
“Why?”
“He has a thing for you.”
“Stop it.”
“It’s true. From way back. From our roommate days. Remember the last Christmas party? He kept trying to trick you into standing under the mistletoe with him?”
She just laughs, says, “Dinner will be on the table by the time you get home.”
“Which means I should be back here in . . .”
“Forty-five minutes.”
“What would I be without you?” She kisses me.
“Let’s not even think about it”
I grab my keys and wallet from the ceramic dish beside the micro wave and move into the dining room, my gaze alighting on the tesseract chandelier above the dinner table. Daniela gave it to me for our tenth wedding anniversary. Best gift ever.
As I reach the front door, Daniela shouts, “Return bearing ice cream!”
“Mint chocolate chip!” Charlie says. I lift my arm, raise my thumb.
I don’t look back.
I don’t say goodbye.
And this moment slips past unnoticed.
The end of everything I know, everything I love.
Reviews:
Fast Paced What If Sci-Fi Book
This was a great sci-fi read despite me realizing about 3/4 of the way through that I would not like the ending. Not that it isn't a good ending, but I don't like it. I don't like what it means for the characters. Usually I don't care, but in this case, I care and it bummed me out. So much so that I couldn't stop reading despite it getting late at night. I just had to be done with it. He ended it as well as it possibly could be but... well, wow.If you know much about physics, the blurb on the back sort of gives away what is happening to the character long before the plot does. That doesn't really diminish the read though. The pace of this book is perfect if you want to just read and read without putting it down. Something is always happening, and just when that something is sorted out, something else comes up so there's never a good stopping place.If you like well plotted, fast paced, near future sci-fi without a hint of "enemies to lovers" or whatever, this book is for you.
Jason!!!
The title of this novel, Dark Matter, gives you very little insight into the subject matter ('heh') of the novel, but fills you with intrigue. That intrigue follows you through the novel, always keeping you on edge for what is to follow. I didn't know what this novel had in store for me, and to be honest, you shouldn't either. I wouldn't say it's a perfect novel by any means-- some characters fall to the wayside, never to be seen again, some plotlines left open, never to be resolved. But that's the point-- the novel follows a focused story, and the protagonist, Jason, has a goal that he won't give up. That's all I can say without spoiling the plot.SPOILERS FOLLOW AFTER THIS POINT.-When I look back on the story, I kind of think of Fallout 3 (and other Bethesda games), if the character wanted to find his father no matter what-- glancing over the other subquests he could've taken but sticking to his main quest. Jason (9?) is kinda like that, and I understand why. His motivations, as well as Jason2's' are clear. They both want Daniela and Charlie. They're willing to do whatever to get to that point. That makes sense, but this platform of the box and the ampoules that allow a person to go between different parallel universes just opens up so many ideas and so many questions that the book can't take advantage of. The book rushes through many of the universes, giving you a taste of what "could have been" but never really fleshing them out. Look, I get why-- the character rushing through the universes makes sense-- he has a sense of urgency (because he has limited ampoules, and maybe limited time) because he wants to get back to his world. The plot is focused and tight.But therein lies the problem. This story maybe shouldn't have been this focused. It plays more like a movie that needs to get the plot wrapped up in like 2 hours. I dunno. Maybe it would've worked if it was longer and the author explored the other universes more, or maybe not. But in its current state, it leaves you wanting more. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I would definitely like to see some more world-building and exploring in a sequel (if there ever happens to be one).The tightly focused story also sacrifices some characters that were so very interesting. The cocky friend of Jason's in the beginning. Amanda comes to mind as being pretty much abandoned towards the middle. It's almost like the author didn't want to deal with a love triangle later on in the novel if Amanda and Dani had to meet. But then why even introduce her? Why not have her die saving Jason right before Jason gets in the box and uses the ampoules for the first time? I feel like Crouch really wanted to do something bigger with Amanda, but realized how difficult it would be, especially when the other numbered Jasons come into play when Jason gets back into his world. I feel like keeping Amanda around would've been less tragic-- the other Jasons could end up with their Amanda when they realize that they can't all be with Dani.I liked how the other Jasons came into play later on in the novel. But man was it confusing to grasp at first, especially when you only have the UberChat conversation to pull from.--Otherwise, I really did enjoy this novel. The brisk pace of the novel, despite my aforementioned qualms, makes it easy to continue reading. The author has a great way of explaining complicated ideas reasonably well-- things like how the multiverse works in the story (using a box and many doors because that's how the mind of humans can understand it), to the "uncanny valley" are explained quite well. That's why it gets a four-star review. Most of the characters were well developed and likeable; I sympathized with the plight of Jason2, I understood Daniela's uneasiness, etc. Not sure how I feel about the end-- I like how they left it up to Charlie to decide which world they would go into (because at least a world with Charlie is a world where Jason and Daniela came together), but I'm unsure if heading into a different universe is really that different from going on the run. It's also a whole lot more dangerous. But at least it makes sense. I guess that's what I can say about the whole novel-- every critical decision, from Jason asking Amanda to not be so close to him on the bed ("I don't want you to. But I need you to"), to more Jasons popping up in the main universe because of fragmentation in decisions in the box, makes sense.
A twisty, pulpy thriller that ends up having far more substance than I expected - and is a lot of fun
At this point, I’ve read a handful of books that Blake Crouch either wrote or co-wrote, and by and large, I’ve enjoyed them. Crouch is undeniably a pulpy author, and his prose is basically fine but unexceptional; for all of that, though, his ideas are rich and compelling, and Crouch has a knack for zigging when you think he’s going to zag (a talent that served him incredibly well in Pines, but less so in Eerie). With all of that being said, it’s been surprising seeing Dark Matter gain a more mainstream success – much more so than any other Crouch book, as far as I know. Crouch has always seemed like a fringe figure, a cult favorite, but never someone who could attain big, mainstream success.But having read Dark Matter, I get why this has been his breakout novel. Between the gripping idea, the rich characterization, the surprisingly strong prose, and the emotional ideas that Crouch is playing with, it’s undeniably his most successful, intriguing, thrilling, and inventive novel, and one that makes the best use of his talents. It’s mind-bending, exciting, unpredictable, but best of all, it’s emotionally and thematically rich, delivering a surprisingly thoughtful tale out of a pulp premise.Exactly what that premise is should best be learned slowly (although if, like me, you know the basic idea, don’t worry – Dark Matter has some surprises still coming your way). Suffice to say that the book opens in a typical night in the life of Jason Dessen, a physicist turned college professor who has a satisfying, if unexceptional, life with his wife and teenage son. But as he’s leaving a bar after celebrating a colleague’s success, he’s kidnapped and drugged, and awakes in a strange place where his life seems to be entirely different from the one he remembers. Was he dreaming? Is he dreaming now? What’s going on?Again, I don’t want to dive too much into the basic premise of the book; if you’re an avid reader or science-fiction fan, you may have a good idea where this is going. But rest assured, even if you think you know, you don’t know exactly how Crouch is going to run with this premise, pushing it way further and more inventively than I’ve ever seen an author take it. More than that, though, Crouch uses his idea not as an end – as he did in Pines, whose primary fun came in its bizarre revelations – but as a means to explore his characters, letting it all play out like some nightmarish version of It’s a Wonderful Life, where Jason gets to see how his life could have turned out had he made one critical decision differently. Crouch invests us enough in Jason that we’re right there alongside him as he debates the merits of this new life, and we find ourselves exploring the same heady questions as he does – the way our decisions shape us, the way our priorities and experiences can make us into the person we are.Mind you, this is still undeniably a Crouch book, which means it moves at a breakneck pace, keeps you guessing, and constantly evolves in front of your eyes. Dark Matter is as much a thriller as it is anything else, and although it’s rich with subtext (and text, really), that doesn’t mean that it’s not exciting and thrilling. It’s one of those books that’s going to be incredibly hard to stop reading once you start it – I basically read it in two sittings, and that one break was just because I had to force myself to go to bed. And while I was reading, I was absolutely riveted; Crouch knows how to keep a reader hooked, and manipulates you into keeping on turning those pages well past the point when you should stop.The result is a real treat, and a deserved breakthrough for Crouch – not just in terms of success, but in terms of his talent. It’s easily the richest, best book of his that I’ve read, and the first time I’ve seen him push beyond the pulpy roots that have defined most of his works for me. And yet, Dark Matter keeps those pulpy roots – a great hook, an exciting plot – intact, all while marrying them to more thoughtful, intriguing material. It’s a really fun, engaging book; a fun thriller that’s got some substance to it, some genuinely shocking moments, and a willingness to go for broke that results in at least one of the most memorable reveals I’ve read in a thriller in recent memory. It’s a blast, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Uma mistura de ficção, romance e suspense
Dark Matter combina ficção científica, suspense e romance na mesma história. O que achei mais legal é como o autor aborda os multiversos fazendo uma reflexão com as escolhas que fazemos na vida.Único ponto negativo é que do meio para frente o livro parece que caminha “com pressa” para um desfecho e algumas coisas não são muito bem explicadas. No entanto, vale a leitura mesmo assim.
Review
WOOOOW! How should I start? This was one of the best books I have read this year and probably in my life, I was completely hooked from page 13 and it's been non-stop ever since. ❤️With a very dynamic rhythm, this story captivates you, makes you dream and makes you wonder many things; how shocking would it be meeting different versions of yourself?!I highly recomend it for several reasons: a unique story, the characters make you feel different emotions, I find the ideal of the multiverse fascinating and not too far from reality...I'm pretty sure this story won't be forgotten for a long time
Redelijk spannend met goede onverwachte wendingen
Een leuk idee dat prima is uitgevoerd, was mijn gedachte tot vlak op het einde. Maar dan volgt er een twist die ik niet zag aankomen maar toch zo slim is dat het hele verhaal opeens een extra diepte krijgt. Sowieso is Crouch wel goed in net voldoende spanning toevoegen zodat je verder wilt, dus het boek leest lekker weg. Aanrader.
Un livre addictif !
A tel point que j'en ai raté mon arrêt de bus. Une histoire originale car au lieu de reprendre le thème du voyageur temporel et tous les paradoxes bien connus que cela engendre, on parle ici d'univers parallèles. L'auteur utilise avec succès les théories quantiques pour nous parler des choix, des regrets et des "et si..." qui jalonnent notre vie. Et nous livre une très belle histoire. Je ne connaissais pas cet auteur mais vais m'intéresser à ses autres livres.
Great book
I really like the drama, all this topics of different dimensions are so confusing and deep, however it explains it great and makes you feel the story
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Dark Matter: A Novel
AED13797
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Visit the Ballantine Books Store
Dark Matter: A Novel
AED13797
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Review
“Relatable and unnerving . . . makes its characters—and readers—wonder what life would have been like had they made different decisions.”—USA Today
“A portal into other dimensions of reality . . . you’ll gulp it down in one afternoon, or more likely one night.”—The New York Times Book Review
“A mind-blowing sci-fi/suspense/love-story mash-up.”—Entertainment Weekly
“A fast, tasty read with a killer twist. It’s a whole bag of barbecue chips . . . just sitting there waiting for you to devour in one long rush.”—NPR
“A dazzling book . . . [with] a mind-bending premise, a head-spinning plot that’s dialogue-driven and adrenaline-fueled, and a gut-wrenching climax that gave me goose bumps.”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Draws on questions and anxieties we all wrestle with in the dark hours . . . Crouch has invested [sci-fi motifs] with scientific plausibility, and more unusually, with emotional depth."—The Wall Street Journal
“[A] mind-blowing speculative-science thriller that throws in an old-fashioned love story for good measure.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“A pacy, action-driven SF thriller . . . terse prose, strong characterisation and clever twists make for a quick, smart, engrossing read.”—Financial Times
“A high-tension thriller . . . always engaging and frequently moving. A strong piece of summertime get-away reading, perfect for those times when the mind wanders to contemplate an alternate reality of endless vacation.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“A mind-bending odyssey of parallel worlds and causality [that] unfolds with all the suspense and strength of a more straightforward thriller, building up to a deliciously surreal climax…memorable and well-rounded characters add a big, beating heart to the tale.”—New York Journal of Books
“Brilliant. A book to remember. I think Blake Crouch just invented something new.”—Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series
“Exceptional. An exciting, ingeniously plotted adventure about love, regret, and quantum superposition. It’s been a long time since a novel sucked me in and kept me turning pages the way this one did.”—Andy Weir, New York Times bestselling author of The Martian
“A masterful, truly original work of suspense. Crouch delivers laser-focused prose, a plot that melds science fiction and thriller to brilliant effect, and a touching, twisted love story that plays out in ways you'll never see coming. It all adds up to one hell of a ride.”—Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of The Stranger
“Wow. I gulped down Dark Matter in one sitting and put it down awed and amazed by the ride. It's fast, smart, addictive—and the most creative, head-spinning novel I've read in ages. A truly remarkable thriller.”—Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles series
“A mind-bending thriller of the first order, not merely a rollicking entertainment but a provocative investigation into the nature of second chances, all of it wrapped in a genius sci-fi package. I dare you to put it down, because I sure couldn’t.”—Justin Cronin, New York Times bestselling author of the Passage Trilogy.
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
They have a feel to them that’s outside of time.
It’s our tradition, just the three of us—family night.
My son, Charlie, is sitting at the table, drawing on a sketch pad. He’s almost fifteen. The kid grew two inches over the summer, and he’s as tall as I am now.
I turn away from the onion I’m julienning, ask, “Can I see?”
He holds up the pad, shows me a mountain range that looks like something on another planet.
I say, “Love that. Just for fun?”
“Class project. Due tomorrow.”
“Then get back to it, Mr. Last Minute.”
Standing happy and slightly drunk in my kitchen, I’m unaware that tonight is the end of all of this. The end of everything I know, everything I love.
No one tells you it’s all about to change, to be taken away. There’s no proximity alert, no indication that you’re standing on the precipice. And maybe that’s what makes tragedy so tragic. Not just what happens, but how it happens: a sucker punch that comes at you out of nowhere, when you’re least expecting. No time to flinch or brace.
The track lights shine on the surface of my wine, and the onion is beginning to sting my eyes. Thelonius Monk spins on the old turntable in the den. There's a richness to the analog recording I can never get enough of, especially the crackle of static between tracks. The den is filled with stacks and stacks of rare vinyl that I keep telling myself I'll get around to organizing one of these days.
My wife, Daniela, sits on the kitchen island, swirling her almost empty wineglass in one hand and holding her phone in the other. She feels my stare and grins without looking up from the screen.
“I know,” she says. “I’m violating the cardinal rule of family night.”
“What’s so important?” I ask.
She levels her dark, Spanish eyes on mine. “Nothing.”
I walk over to her, take the phone gently out of her hand, and set it on the countertop.
“You could start the pasta,” I say.
“I prefer to watch you cook.”
“Yeah?” Quieter: “Turns you on, huh?”
“No, it's just more fun to drink and do nothing.”
Her breath is wine-sweet, and she has one of those smiles that seem architecturally impossible. It still slays me.
I polish off my glass. “We should open more wine, right?”
“It would be stupid not to.”
As I liberate the cork from a new bottle, she picks her phone back up and shows me the screen.
“I was reading Chicago Magazine's re view of Marsha Altman's show.”
“Were they kind?”
“Yeah, it's basically a love letter.”
“Good for her.”
“I always thought . . .” She lets the sentence die, but I know where it was headed. Fifteen years ago, before we met, Daniela was a comer to Chicago's art scene. She had a studio in Bucktown, showed her work in a half dozen galleries, and had just lined up her first solo exhibition in New York. Then came life. Me. Charlie. A bout of crippling post partum depression.
Derailment.
Now she teaches private art lessons to middle-grade students.
“It’s not that I’m not happy for her. I mean, she's brilliant, she deserves it all.”
I say, “If it makes you feel any better, Ryan Holder just won the Pavia Prize.”
“What’s that?”
“A multidisciplinary award given for achievements in the life and physical sciences. Ryan won for his work in neuroscience.”
“Is it a big deal?”
“Million dollars. Accolades. Opens the floodgates to grant money.”
“Hotter TA’s?”
“Obviously, that's the real prize. He invited me to a little informal celebration tonight, but I passed.”
“Why?”
“Because ifs our night.”
“You should go.”
“I’d really rather not.”
Daniela lifts her empty glass. “So what you’re saying is, we both have good reason to drink a lot of wine tonight.”
I kiss her, and then pour generously from the newly opened bottle.
“You could've won that prize,” Daniela says.
“You could've owned this city’s art scene.”
“But we did this.” She gestures at the high-ceilinged expanse of our brownstone. I bought it pre-Daniela with an inheritance. “And we did that,” she says, pointing to Charlie as he sketches with a beautiful intensity that reminds me of Daniela when she's absorbed in a painting.
It’s a strange thing being the parent of a teenager. One thing to raise a little boy, another entirely when a person on the brink of adult hood looks to you for wisdom. I feel like I have little to give. I know there are fathers who see the world a certain way, with clarity and confidence, who know just what to say to their sons and daughters. But I’m not one of them. The older I get, the less I understand. I love my son. He means everything to me. And yet, I can't escape the feeling that I'm failing him. Sending him off to the wolves with nothing but the crumbs of my uncertain perspective.
I move to the cabinet beside the sink, open it, and start hunting for a box of fettuccine.
Daniela turns to Charlie, says, “Your father could have won the Nobel.”
I laugh. “That’s possibly an exaggeration.”
“Charlie, don’t be fooled. He’s a genius.”
“You’re sweet,” I say. “And a little drunk.”
“It’s true, and you know it. Science is less advanced because you love your family.”
I can only smile. When Daniela drinks, three things happen: her native accent begins to bleed through, she becomes belligerently kind, and she tends toward hyperbole.
“Your father said to me one night—never forget it—that pure research is life-consuming. He said . . .” For a moment, and to my surprise, emotion overtakes her. Her eyes mist, and she shakes her head like she always does when she's about to cry. At the last second, she rallies, pushes through. “He said, ‘Daniela, on my deathbed I would rather have memories of you than of a cold, sterile lab.’”
I look at Charlie, catch him rolling his eyes as he sketches. Probably embarrassed by our display of parental melodrama.
I stare into the cabinet and wait for the ache in my throat to go away.
When it does, I grab the pasta and close the door.
Daniela drinks her wine.
Charlie draws.
The moment passes.
“Where's Ryan’s party?” Daniela asks.
“Village Tap.”
“That’s your bar, Jason”
“So?”
She comes over, takes the box of pasta out of my hand.
“Go have a drink with your old college buddy. Tell him you're proud of him. Head held high. Tell him I said congrats.”
“I will not tell him you said congrats.”
“Why?”
“He has a thing for you.”
“Stop it.”
“It’s true. From way back. From our roommate days. Remember the last Christmas party? He kept trying to trick you into standing under the mistletoe with him?”
She just laughs, says, “Dinner will be on the table by the time you get home.”
“Which means I should be back here in . . .”
“Forty-five minutes.”
“What would I be without you?” She kisses me.
“Let’s not even think about it”
I grab my keys and wallet from the ceramic dish beside the micro wave and move into the dining room, my gaze alighting on the tesseract chandelier above the dinner table. Daniela gave it to me for our tenth wedding anniversary. Best gift ever.
As I reach the front door, Daniela shouts, “Return bearing ice cream!”
“Mint chocolate chip!” Charlie says. I lift my arm, raise my thumb.
I don’t look back.
I don’t say goodbye.
And this moment slips past unnoticed.
The end of everything I know, everything I love.
Reviews:
Fast Paced What If Sci-Fi Book
This was a great sci-fi read despite me realizing about 3/4 of the way through that I would not like the ending. Not that it isn't a good ending, but I don't like it. I don't like what it means for the characters. Usually I don't care, but in this case, I care and it bummed me out. So much so that I couldn't stop reading despite it getting late at night. I just had to be done with it. He ended it as well as it possibly could be but... well, wow.If you know much about physics, the blurb on the back sort of gives away what is happening to the character long before the plot does. That doesn't really diminish the read though. The pace of this book is perfect if you want to just read and read without putting it down. Something is always happening, and just when that something is sorted out, something else comes up so there's never a good stopping place.If you like well plotted, fast paced, near future sci-fi without a hint of "enemies to lovers" or whatever, this book is for you.
Jason!!!
The title of this novel, Dark Matter, gives you very little insight into the subject matter ('heh') of the novel, but fills you with intrigue. That intrigue follows you through the novel, always keeping you on edge for what is to follow. I didn't know what this novel had in store for me, and to be honest, you shouldn't either. I wouldn't say it's a perfect novel by any means-- some characters fall to the wayside, never to be seen again, some plotlines left open, never to be resolved. But that's the point-- the novel follows a focused story, and the protagonist, Jason, has a goal that he won't give up. That's all I can say without spoiling the plot.SPOILERS FOLLOW AFTER THIS POINT.-When I look back on the story, I kind of think of Fallout 3 (and other Bethesda games), if the character wanted to find his father no matter what-- glancing over the other subquests he could've taken but sticking to his main quest. Jason (9?) is kinda like that, and I understand why. His motivations, as well as Jason2's' are clear. They both want Daniela and Charlie. They're willing to do whatever to get to that point. That makes sense, but this platform of the box and the ampoules that allow a person to go between different parallel universes just opens up so many ideas and so many questions that the book can't take advantage of. The book rushes through many of the universes, giving you a taste of what "could have been" but never really fleshing them out. Look, I get why-- the character rushing through the universes makes sense-- he has a sense of urgency (because he has limited ampoules, and maybe limited time) because he wants to get back to his world. The plot is focused and tight.But therein lies the problem. This story maybe shouldn't have been this focused. It plays more like a movie that needs to get the plot wrapped up in like 2 hours. I dunno. Maybe it would've worked if it was longer and the author explored the other universes more, or maybe not. But in its current state, it leaves you wanting more. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I would definitely like to see some more world-building and exploring in a sequel (if there ever happens to be one).The tightly focused story also sacrifices some characters that were so very interesting. The cocky friend of Jason's in the beginning. Amanda comes to mind as being pretty much abandoned towards the middle. It's almost like the author didn't want to deal with a love triangle later on in the novel if Amanda and Dani had to meet. But then why even introduce her? Why not have her die saving Jason right before Jason gets in the box and uses the ampoules for the first time? I feel like Crouch really wanted to do something bigger with Amanda, but realized how difficult it would be, especially when the other numbered Jasons come into play when Jason gets back into his world. I feel like keeping Amanda around would've been less tragic-- the other Jasons could end up with their Amanda when they realize that they can't all be with Dani.I liked how the other Jasons came into play later on in the novel. But man was it confusing to grasp at first, especially when you only have the UberChat conversation to pull from.--Otherwise, I really did enjoy this novel. The brisk pace of the novel, despite my aforementioned qualms, makes it easy to continue reading. The author has a great way of explaining complicated ideas reasonably well-- things like how the multiverse works in the story (using a box and many doors because that's how the mind of humans can understand it), to the "uncanny valley" are explained quite well. That's why it gets a four-star review. Most of the characters were well developed and likeable; I sympathized with the plight of Jason2, I understood Daniela's uneasiness, etc. Not sure how I feel about the end-- I like how they left it up to Charlie to decide which world they would go into (because at least a world with Charlie is a world where Jason and Daniela came together), but I'm unsure if heading into a different universe is really that different from going on the run. It's also a whole lot more dangerous. But at least it makes sense. I guess that's what I can say about the whole novel-- every critical decision, from Jason asking Amanda to not be so close to him on the bed ("I don't want you to. But I need you to"), to more Jasons popping up in the main universe because of fragmentation in decisions in the box, makes sense.
A twisty, pulpy thriller that ends up having far more substance than I expected - and is a lot of fun
At this point, I’ve read a handful of books that Blake Crouch either wrote or co-wrote, and by and large, I’ve enjoyed them. Crouch is undeniably a pulpy author, and his prose is basically fine but unexceptional; for all of that, though, his ideas are rich and compelling, and Crouch has a knack for zigging when you think he’s going to zag (a talent that served him incredibly well in Pines, but less so in Eerie). With all of that being said, it’s been surprising seeing Dark Matter gain a more mainstream success – much more so than any other Crouch book, as far as I know. Crouch has always seemed like a fringe figure, a cult favorite, but never someone who could attain big, mainstream success.But having read Dark Matter, I get why this has been his breakout novel. Between the gripping idea, the rich characterization, the surprisingly strong prose, and the emotional ideas that Crouch is playing with, it’s undeniably his most successful, intriguing, thrilling, and inventive novel, and one that makes the best use of his talents. It’s mind-bending, exciting, unpredictable, but best of all, it’s emotionally and thematically rich, delivering a surprisingly thoughtful tale out of a pulp premise.Exactly what that premise is should best be learned slowly (although if, like me, you know the basic idea, don’t worry – Dark Matter has some surprises still coming your way). Suffice to say that the book opens in a typical night in the life of Jason Dessen, a physicist turned college professor who has a satisfying, if unexceptional, life with his wife and teenage son. But as he’s leaving a bar after celebrating a colleague’s success, he’s kidnapped and drugged, and awakes in a strange place where his life seems to be entirely different from the one he remembers. Was he dreaming? Is he dreaming now? What’s going on?Again, I don’t want to dive too much into the basic premise of the book; if you’re an avid reader or science-fiction fan, you may have a good idea where this is going. But rest assured, even if you think you know, you don’t know exactly how Crouch is going to run with this premise, pushing it way further and more inventively than I’ve ever seen an author take it. More than that, though, Crouch uses his idea not as an end – as he did in Pines, whose primary fun came in its bizarre revelations – but as a means to explore his characters, letting it all play out like some nightmarish version of It’s a Wonderful Life, where Jason gets to see how his life could have turned out had he made one critical decision differently. Crouch invests us enough in Jason that we’re right there alongside him as he debates the merits of this new life, and we find ourselves exploring the same heady questions as he does – the way our decisions shape us, the way our priorities and experiences can make us into the person we are.Mind you, this is still undeniably a Crouch book, which means it moves at a breakneck pace, keeps you guessing, and constantly evolves in front of your eyes. Dark Matter is as much a thriller as it is anything else, and although it’s rich with subtext (and text, really), that doesn’t mean that it’s not exciting and thrilling. It’s one of those books that’s going to be incredibly hard to stop reading once you start it – I basically read it in two sittings, and that one break was just because I had to force myself to go to bed. And while I was reading, I was absolutely riveted; Crouch knows how to keep a reader hooked, and manipulates you into keeping on turning those pages well past the point when you should stop.The result is a real treat, and a deserved breakthrough for Crouch – not just in terms of success, but in terms of his talent. It’s easily the richest, best book of his that I’ve read, and the first time I’ve seen him push beyond the pulpy roots that have defined most of his works for me. And yet, Dark Matter keeps those pulpy roots – a great hook, an exciting plot – intact, all while marrying them to more thoughtful, intriguing material. It’s a really fun, engaging book; a fun thriller that’s got some substance to it, some genuinely shocking moments, and a willingness to go for broke that results in at least one of the most memorable reveals I’ve read in a thriller in recent memory. It’s a blast, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Uma mistura de ficção, romance e suspense
Dark Matter combina ficção científica, suspense e romance na mesma história. O que achei mais legal é como o autor aborda os multiversos fazendo uma reflexão com as escolhas que fazemos na vida.Único ponto negativo é que do meio para frente o livro parece que caminha “com pressa” para um desfecho e algumas coisas não são muito bem explicadas. No entanto, vale a leitura mesmo assim.
Review
WOOOOW! How should I start? This was one of the best books I have read this year and probably in my life, I was completely hooked from page 13 and it's been non-stop ever since. ❤️With a very dynamic rhythm, this story captivates you, makes you dream and makes you wonder many things; how shocking would it be meeting different versions of yourself?!I highly recomend it for several reasons: a unique story, the characters make you feel different emotions, I find the ideal of the multiverse fascinating and not too far from reality...I'm pretty sure this story won't be forgotten for a long time
Redelijk spannend met goede onverwachte wendingen
Een leuk idee dat prima is uitgevoerd, was mijn gedachte tot vlak op het einde. Maar dan volgt er een twist die ik niet zag aankomen maar toch zo slim is dat het hele verhaal opeens een extra diepte krijgt. Sowieso is Crouch wel goed in net voldoende spanning toevoegen zodat je verder wilt, dus het boek leest lekker weg. Aanrader.
Un livre addictif !
A tel point que j'en ai raté mon arrêt de bus. Une histoire originale car au lieu de reprendre le thème du voyageur temporel et tous les paradoxes bien connus que cela engendre, on parle ici d'univers parallèles. L'auteur utilise avec succès les théories quantiques pour nous parler des choix, des regrets et des "et si..." qui jalonnent notre vie. Et nous livre une très belle histoire. Je ne connaissais pas cet auteur mais vais m'intéresser à ses autres livres.
Great book
I really like the drama, all this topics of different dimensions are so confusing and deep, however it explains it great and makes you feel the story
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