I haven’t devoured a book like this in a hot minute. It was an all encompassing experience that I truly enjoyed the whole way through. I also watched the show shortly after, but the pacing and reveals are way better done in the novel version, so make sure to read it first before even looking up the show.

Dark Matter is a story about a man being forced into a different world where everyone idolizes him for his scientific breakthroughs. Doesn’t sound so bad right? Well he has a wife and son, and a happy life, so all he wants to do is get back to them. However, the science that he’s known for is groundbreaking, so the organization he works for is not about to let him go. It’s a story that explores the idea of superposition in a way that highlights the human condition and made me question my own life decisions. Other than causing my own introspection, it also helps to break down what makes a person, them. It’s a story that really wants the reader to question life and I think it presents these ideas in a fluid way.

I want to be vague with my description, because the plot really gets into some interesting stuff. Its focus on Jason and his family is deliberate as delving into other characters can make the reader lose sight of the purpose of the story. Amanda and Ryan are, admittedly, underused but they serve to help the reader understand who Jason is to others in his life. It really fleshes him out and gives another perspective on his family dynamic. The subtleties surrounding these other characters were enough for me to feel their presence was justified.

This novel is definitely one of my favorites. It was really engrossing and well told. While some characters just kind of taper off, their inclusions were validated by how they affected Jason. The story explores some philosophies that cause introspection and the pacing keeps you on your toes. I would recommend this to any sci-fi fan, but the ideologies wouldn’t be lost on the general populace either.