Kemper's Reviews > Dark Matter
Dark Matter
by
by
Kemper's review
bookshelves: 2016, sci-fi, thriller, we-are-family, blinded-me-with-science
Sep 27, 2016
bookshelves: 2016, sci-fi, thriller, we-are-family, blinded-me-with-science
I’m late to the party on this one, and judging by all the 4 and 5 star reviews I can only assume that the mob will be after me with pitchforks and torches for 3 starring it. Come at me, Goodreads!
Jason Dessen is just an average guy with a wife and son he loves, and a job teaching physics at a small college. One night he goes out to meet a friend for drinks, but he ends up being kidnapped by a mysterious man who somehow rips him out of his life and drops him in the middle of a nightmare.
This is one of those books that’s nearly impossible to review without spoilers because so much of what happens comes after major revelations are made. Even if you see the first big twist coming then you’ll probably still be surprised by what comes next.
Here’s the 100% spoiler free review: This is an entertaining sci-fi thriller that reminds me of recent books like Influx (Slightly better than this.) and The Fold (Slightly worse.) It’s got a pretty good hook, and the story is begging to be turned into a movie although the trailer will probably give away the entire plot once they film it. It flirts with big crazy science ideas, but in the end is more interested in being a human drama about family and choices we make. It didn’t hit a mind blowing level for me on the science side, and it did a better than average job for this type of book of getting me invested in the character side. Overall, it still fell a little short of its ambitions.
In short, I liked it but didn’t love it. No regrets about reading it, and I’ll see the inevitable movie version if it’s got a decent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
To dig into this in more detail here’s some specifics. I’m not giving away the ending, but I do address the overall plot in general terms.
(view spoiler)
So its sci-fi elements aren’t as deep or well presented as other books I’ve read dealing with a similar concept, and its major theme rubbed the wrong way a bit. Still, it was an entertaining read with some big ideas that I enjoyed.
Note: I'm getting comments that are discussing things I spoiler tagged with no warnings. If you want to comment on some aspect that is under the spoilers section then please use that function. Any comments that don't will be deleted.
Jason Dessen is just an average guy with a wife and son he loves, and a job teaching physics at a small college. One night he goes out to meet a friend for drinks, but he ends up being kidnapped by a mysterious man who somehow rips him out of his life and drops him in the middle of a nightmare.
This is one of those books that’s nearly impossible to review without spoilers because so much of what happens comes after major revelations are made. Even if you see the first big twist coming then you’ll probably still be surprised by what comes next.
Here’s the 100% spoiler free review: This is an entertaining sci-fi thriller that reminds me of recent books like Influx (Slightly better than this.) and The Fold (Slightly worse.) It’s got a pretty good hook, and the story is begging to be turned into a movie although the trailer will probably give away the entire plot once they film it. It flirts with big crazy science ideas, but in the end is more interested in being a human drama about family and choices we make. It didn’t hit a mind blowing level for me on the science side, and it did a better than average job for this type of book of getting me invested in the character side. Overall, it still fell a little short of its ambitions.
In short, I liked it but didn’t love it. No regrets about reading it, and I’ll see the inevitable movie version if it’s got a decent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
To dig into this in more detail here’s some specifics. I’m not giving away the ending, but I do address the overall plot in general terms.
(view spoiler)
So its sci-fi elements aren’t as deep or well presented as other books I’ve read dealing with a similar concept, and its major theme rubbed the wrong way a bit. Still, it was an entertaining read with some big ideas that I enjoyed.
Note: I'm getting comments that are discussing things I spoiler tagged with no warnings. If you want to comment on some aspect that is under the spoilers section then please use that function. Any comments that don't will be deleted.
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Reading Progress
June 22, 2016
– Shelved
September 22, 2016
–
Started Reading
September 27, 2016
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-42 of 42 (42 new)
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message 1:
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Kelly (and the Book Boar)
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Sep 27, 2016 12:46PM
Well, SOMEONE was bound to read it wrong (I just figured it would be Dan 2.0) . . .
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Yeah, I figure this is gonna be one of those 3 stars ones that I get told that I read it wrong a lot.
That's where my years of anti-troll experience comes in handy.
That's where my years of anti-troll experience comes in handy.
I really liked this book, but I also agree with what annoyed you: some aspects could have been fleshed out a bit more and made the story a little deeper; I just wonder if that might have ruined the fast pacing.
Ɗắɳ 2.☠ wrote: "Wait, slightly worse than The Fold? Those are fighting words!"
No, I said Influx was slightly better. The Fold was slightly worse.
No, I said Influx was slightly better. The Fold was slightly worse.
Gabrielle wrote: "I really liked this book, but I also agree with what annoyed you: some aspects could have been fleshed out a bit more and made the story a little deeper; I just wonder if that might have ruined the..."
That's a good point. A lot of the appeal here is sheer momentum.
That's a good point. A lot of the appeal here is sheer momentum.
Kemper wrote: "No, I said Influx was slightly better. The Fold was slightly worse."
Ah okay, I read that backwards somehow. I also just checked your spoiler, and I can't begrudge you any of those points. Solid argument, and nice review.
Ah okay, I read that backwards somehow. I also just checked your spoiler, and I can't begrudge you any of those points. Solid argument, and nice review.
:) THANK YOU for the alternate (universe) review for this novel! It's easy to get swept up in a 5-star trend, but your insight into this one was just what I was looking for. No, not that I yearn to read that I novel was average, whereas everyone else thought it was awesome :) but to see some true insight into the core of this novel, past all of the sci-fi effects and flash. Great review!
Ɗắɳ 2.☠ wrote: "Ah okay, I read that backwards somehow. I also just checked your spoiler, and I can't begrudge you any of those points. Solid argument, and nice review. ..."
Well, that's some weak trolling right there....
Thanks. I do get why so many went crazy for this, and again, I did like it quite a bit. It just didn't hit the sweet spot of greatness for me.
Well, that's some weak trolling right there....
Thanks. I do get why so many went crazy for this, and again, I did like it quite a bit. It just didn't hit the sweet spot of greatness for me.
Navidad wrote: ":) THANK YOU for the alternate (universe) review for this novel! It's easy to get swept up in a 5-star trend, but your insight into this one was just what I was looking for. No, not that I yearn to..."
Thanks!
Thanks!
Ran wrote: "I so agree with you on the "one-note" feeling. Loved the Miranda reference. Excellent review!"
Thanks!
Thanks!
I appreciate the comments, but I'm getting several where points under the spoiler tag are being discussed with no warning. If you want to comment on anything in the spoiler section then please be considerate to others and hide them using the spoiler function. Any spoiler comments not hidden will be deleted.
Anthony wrote: "Kemper versus The Hype, round (?)"
This is one where The Hype is gonna make me seem a lot more critical than I actually am. I liked it fine, but I just didn't think it was the mind blowing orgasm that some found it to be.
This is one where The Hype is gonna make me seem a lot more critical than I actually am. I liked it fine, but I just didn't think it was the mind blowing orgasm that some found it to be.
Anthony wrote: "I also agree with the points you made in the spoiler tag. [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)
(view spoiler)
While I did give this a 5 star review, I truly appreciated every point you made in your well written review. I feel refreshed seeing reviews that differ from my own as it makes for a more "well-rounded" view of each book.
Thanks for another great review, Kemper. I'd heard of this book and the first part that you mentioned in your spoiler and was intrigued. Still am, but am also wondering if you recommend other books in the same vein that are perhaps better (to you, anyway). Thanks.
Chelsea wrote: "While I did give this a 5 star review, I truly appreciated every point you made in your well written review. I feel refreshed seeing reviews that differ from my own as it makes for a more "well-rou..."
Thanks. I do get why so many loved this more than me, and you're right that it'd be boring if we all liked everything the same.
Thanks. I do get why so many loved this more than me, and you're right that it'd be boring if we all liked everything the same.
Chuck wrote: "Thanks for another great review, Kemper. I'd heard of this book and the first part that you mentioned in your spoiler and was intrigued. Still am, but am also wondering if you recommend other books..."
Like I said, I thought this was pretty good and had a lot of stuff I did like so give it a try if you think the main idea appeals to you because the reasons it didn't hit greatness for me are pretty personal and specific. The two books I mentioned in the review, Influx and The Fold were both entertaining with some similarities.
There's one book that I love that I think is kind of the gold standard that has the same kind of sci-fi idea, but it's also very different in a lot of ways and I'm kinda giving something away just by linking the two. Send me a message if you still want to know, and I'll explain.
Like I said, I thought this was pretty good and had a lot of stuff I did like so give it a try if you think the main idea appeals to you because the reasons it didn't hit greatness for me are pretty personal and specific. The two books I mentioned in the review, Influx and The Fold were both entertaining with some similarities.
There's one book that I love that I think is kind of the gold standard that has the same kind of sci-fi idea, but it's also very different in a lot of ways and I'm kinda giving something away just by linking the two. Send me a message if you still want to know, and I'll explain.
Oh so true. I actually have very fond memories of that show as well. If Magnum PI were my first love, that may have been my second.
If I spoiler tag it then 20 people are just going to start talking about it in the comments and I gotta delete them all. I'm about worn out dealing with spoilers on this one.
But Anthony's right. It is a Quantum Leap tie-in.
But Anthony's right. It is a Quantum Leap tie-in.
I really appreciate your review, especially your critique in the spoiler section. I won't say anything more so as not to reveal something most readers probably wouldn't want to know, but I'm glad I do.
Anyone can describe me the fisionomy of any character? And no, saying that Daniela is latina doesn't count.
The book goes to be a good movie, I think, but as literature, sorry, no. And come on, it's quantum physics, quantum physics!, (the only thing who makes me actuly buy the book), and yet, i barely can find an setence on the matter explaining whatsover. And, again, saying general stuff about multiverse anyone can say.
The book goes to be a good movie, I think, but as literature, sorry, no. And come on, it's quantum physics, quantum physics!, (the only thing who makes me actuly buy the book), and yet, i barely can find an setence on the matter explaining whatsover. And, again, saying general stuff about multiverse anyone can say.
Good review. I liked this much more than his novel Pines. I thought this did a good job telling a story using science without losing itself. I agree that the idea of "settling" always being the right choice seems a bit flat. One of the early plot points nagged at me as well: (view spoiler) Other than that hole, I did enjoy it as a quick read.
Yup. Agreed. I marked as 3 stars too (before reading your review). To me, it was a less original, less creative Robert J. Sawyer book.
PS seems crazy that various reviews of this book have literally hundreds of likes. Guess somehow this book hit the popularity lottery?
Finished last night. I'd say it falls short of potential more than ambitions... I'm not sure Crouch wanted to do more than he did. Definitely agree that there were Big Ideas. I felt like it
I generally agree with your review, though, I gave it 4 stars. (view spoiler)
Overall I found your review to be fair and well-thought out. I like that you were able to point out criticisms, without missing the books strong points.
Overall I found your review to be fair and well-thought out. I like that you were able to point out criticisms, without missing the books strong points.
Chip PS seems crazy that various reviews of this book have literally hundreds of likes. Guess somehow this book hit the popularity lottery?
For me, at least, I learned about the book from the Goodreads Book of the Year voting. I learned about the voting from some of my favorite authors, Sanderson and Sullivan, and when I got to the Sci Fi section I saw Dark Matter and some other books that I thought I might like. I'm guessing that maybe similar for a lot of other people.
Oh and I also got an email from Goodreads yesterday telling me to participate in the discussion about the book with my friends who'd also read it. Actually, none of them had done anything more than rate it, but I was drawn to the comments nonetheless.
For me, at least, I learned about the book from the Goodreads Book of the Year voting. I learned about the voting from some of my favorite authors, Sanderson and Sullivan, and when I got to the Sci Fi section I saw Dark Matter and some other books that I thought I might like. I'm guessing that maybe similar for a lot of other people.
Oh and I also got an email from Goodreads yesterday telling me to participate in the discussion about the book with my friends who'd also read it. Actually, none of them had done anything more than rate it, but I was drawn to the comments nonetheless.
Great review. It was an easy read, but nothing over the top.
I agree with how underdeveloped the sci-fi elements are in this book.
Another thing is the title and how it realates to the story? It doen't make sense even to my physicist sister.
I agree with how underdeveloped the sci-fi elements are in this book.
Another thing is the title and how it realates to the story? It doen't make sense even to my physicist sister.
Agree with you. For me however, the fast pace kept me in going and very forgiving. No time to wander about what could have been. Only getting needlessly in danger over emotions was somewhat annoying, especially if he was supposed to be all scientific.
I'm even later to the party - friended you to comment on your review only to find out you read it 5 years ago!
OK yes totally agree with you. I found it very strange that he was totally not OK with a certain life just because the restaurant at the corner was different or his wife was a graphic designer instead of art teacher. I can see the conundrum of having to kill or remove an innocent and unknowing version of yourself, but still.
Also, with all of his training on how to manifest the best life and how at first it can go so wrong, why tf did he let his son do it with the last option they had!?
And what happened to his female partner? I’d like to know.
Also, with all of his training on how to manifest the best life and how at first it can go so wrong, why tf did he let his son do it with the last option they had!?
And what happened to his female partner? I’d like to know.