Recursion: A Novel

One of the Best Sci-Fi Time Travel Stories I’ve Ever Read
• Author Blake Crouch’s story starts with a bang and keeps delivering right up until its breathtaking ending. It is an exhilarating, wild ride. I was captivated from the very first chapter, having read it with Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature. Hooked, I bought the Kindle version immediately and consumed it very rapidly.• After the initial two chapters, the story lags just a bit as the background, relationships, and environmental setting are built. But pay attention because key elements are introduced here that come back into play in the finale. At first, I didn’t completely understand the finale, thinking the author had cheated and gone against his world’s rules. (I detest authors that rely upon deus ex machina solutions or the breaking of rules they’d set up earlier in their story’s universe.) But in looking over those “background building” chapters, I see that he did not, and I am suitably impressed with what he’s built as a solid, very believable story. Also, I’ve never read about a time-travel model like the one presented here, so I believe the author’s take on a classic sci-fi theme is unique.• The characters are richly detailed, their dialogue sharp and cutting. For instance, the way Crouch uses dialogue to show nuances in the strained relationship of the male main character (MMC) Barry Sutton and his ex-wife Julia adds so much realism and depth to his character, you can feel his pain, even though you don’t (immediately) know why he has so much pain. As the story develops and we learn more about Barry & Julia, we come to understand their pain and feel so much more empathy for them. These are not simply cardboard characters created to forward a pre-determined plot. No, they are complex persons struggling with very real-life situations, and that realism adds a wonderful thickness to the story that many sci-fi tales do not. Crouch’s descriptions are succinct while adding even more layers of complexity, tiny nods to nostalgia, loss, and wistfulness that give marvelous depth to these people. These character traits are integral to understanding WHAT moves them to take drastic action and WHY.• The female main character (FMC) Helena Smith is no less complicated in her race to save her mother from the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease, seemingly unwilling to stop at nothing to attain that goal. But when she is pushed over the edge by her boss (a principal supporting character), Marcus Slade, we start to learn what Helena is truly made of. She struggles with classic dramatic questions of purpose, goals/aspirations vs. unintended consequences, and deep, deep sorrow. But you really will have no idea of Helena’s mettle until you reach the explosive conclusion, which was one of the best in science fiction I’ve read in a very long time.• I love time-travel stories, and this one did not disappoint. I will NOT spoil the ending or any of the action leading up to it, but WOW! You will be exhausted mentally (and perhaps even physically) after reaching the end. Kudos, Mr. Crouch, on such a well-done job, from start to finish. The first quarter was a little sluggish, but I understand it’s necessary to show how the “memory chair” is built and the many failings Helena and Marcus had to overcome. My only criticism is that some of that could’ve been scaled back. But by making me wait for the breakthrough that ultimately comes, you did give me a good perspective on how much they (and their colleagues) struggled to get to that discovery. The descriptions of world-changing events in the last quarter of the book are stunning in their detail, so real you’d swear you’d lived them but thankful you haven’t.• BASIC PREMISE (no spoilers): This unique story starts with Detective Barry Sutton investigating a suicide linked to an emerging “false memory syndrome” epidemic, an investigation that eventually leads him to horrific discoveries of his own. Meanwhile, neuroscientist Helena Smith struggles to build a “memory chair” to store people’s memories in the hopes of using them later to reignite any lost memories in people suffering from Alzheimer’s, like her mother. Helena’s boss, billionaire Marcus Slade, provides her with anything and everything she asks for, regardless of expense. In a remote, idyllic setting, Helena accomplishes her goal. But Slade makes an additional stunning discovery that threatens to unravel reality.• WARNING: As you enter the last quarter of the book, things will get even crazier than you’d think they could. Some of it may make you very sad about mankind and our collective future. But stick with it and try not to get confused by the multiple timelines. The ending is so worth it.• I’m on to buying my next Blake Crouch novel, “Black Matter.” Can’t wait to read more of his writing.

excellent! mind boggling.
Couldn’t stop reading! Great idea for a book. Recommend to everyone.Must read💕Futuristic & wonderful characters.Definitely 5 stars‼️

uneven but still and entertaining read (spoilers)
I have read many books by Crouch and there’s no denying he knows how to keep you turning the pages, but I find if you stop and actually think about what you are reading, his books lose some of their appeal. He starts from some really interesting and believable ideas, but hand-waves too much stuff. For example, in his “Wayward Pines” series, he makes electronic equipment and other supplies last two thousand years, when any smartphone owner can tell you getting more than 4-5 years out of them is preposterous. In this book, he starts from solid ideas like mapping memories and creating artificial memories,, and relativity (of course, and if it’s not relativity it’s quantum physics, because let’s face it, only a handful of people in the world understand either, so you can make them into anything you want and only a few will know how preposterous that is), and mashes them together into consciousness time travel.The first third of the book, when the reader still doesn’t know what is going on with the false memories, is very good and keeps you glued to the pages. Then the trick is revealed and it disappointed me a bit. After that, the book turns into a Groundhog Day, where the protagonists keep going back in time trying to fix things, which becomes boring very quickly. As others have noted, time travel is very tricky with all its paradoxes, and it’s very easy for inconsistencies to creep in.The main characters are the classic brain and brawn: the scientist that invented the memory system and a cop that finds himself in the middle of it by chance. Talking about literary subjects, only one is harder to pull off tha time travel, and that’s romance. Personally I got no idea of why the two fell for each other, she just falls for the guy on sight and pursues him, and not even that hard because apparently they are meant for each other and he immediately falls for her too, again for no apparent reason.So, to summarize, if you want an easy summer read, this is a good choice, just be prepared to send your disbelief off on its own vacation. It’s fine, you don’t necessarily need it. Traveling via memories is a cool idea, just go with it. The love story is epic in scope so don’t look too closely into it. Just have fun and enjoy a few hours with the book, you can do a lot worse than this one.

Good fascinating read

Bought this after watching the TV series Dark Matter based on a book by the same author.Superb book. Loved every page. Brilliant pacing.