Fact check: Is Blake Crouch's Recursion a sequel to Dark Matter?

Blake Crouch's science fiction novel Dark Matter, that also released as a TV show on May 8, 2024, takes the readers to an alternate universe. The question if, another of Crouch's novel, Recursion, is a sequel to Dark Matter, persists.Though the plot of this science-fiction book hints at being a sequel to Dark Matter, it is not so. Both books portray mind-bending realities and the human experience, thus exploring similar themes. However, Recursion is an original, standalone novel.

According to Pan Macmillan:

"Although touching on similar themes as Dark Matter, Recursion is not a sequel but another brilliantly original standalone novel."

Dark Matter, published in 2016, follows physicist Jason Dessen. He is kidnapped and sent to another universe where he discovers a multiverse with different realities of his life. This Apple TV+ limited series explores identity, choice, and reality. In his 2019 novel Recursion, New York Detective Barry Sutton and neuroscientist Helena Smith investigate the 'False Memory Syndrome' and eventually find something that seems to shake reality.

Blake Crouch combines science fiction and human emotion. His intricate plots that challenge reality and are grounded in deeply personal stakes are portrayed in both books. Each novel has unique characters and plotlines that do not overlap.

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Dark Matter and Recursion: Looking into the plots

Dark Matter portrays Jason Dessen, a brilliant physicist and loving father. He is abducted one night and wakes up in another world, realizing that he has been transported to a parallel universe where his life is different He fights through alternate realities to return to his family in the original universe. This exploration of the multiverse raises profound questions about our choices and their effects.

On the other hand, False Memory Syndrome, which seems to be an epidemic, forms the core of Recursion. A woman who claims to remember her past life commits suicide and Detective Barry Sutton investigates.

Helena Smith, a neuroscientist, invests in a device to preserve and restore memories. Together, they discover a greater threat: altered memories could unravel reality. Recursion examines how memory's fluidity shapes reality.

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Standalone narratives with thematic connections

Though similar in theme, these books have separate stories and Recursion is in no way, a Dark Matter sequel. The books are independent, with no narrative connections.

While speaking to Variety, Blake Crouch mentions,

"Originally, it was going to be a movie. I had written the first 140 pages of “Dark Matter” back in 2014 and didn’t have a publisher. So we sent it out as a partial, and a lot of people were interested. But during that process, those pages leaked out. And we started getting calls."

He continues saying,

"At that point, it felt like a movie because it was just 140 pages. It was up to where Episode 2 ends. So, I sold it to Sony as a feature film, finished writing the book and attached myself to adapt it."

He further mentions,

"It just started to feel like a slick, soulless, sci-fi movie. So, I thought the project was dead. Then one day my producer Matt Tolmach told me Sony Features was allowing Sony Television to take it as a TV show. And I immediately knew what the show was."

The speculation about Recursion being a sequel to Dark Matter, likely stems from Crouch's consistent exploration of the science-fiction genre and the human condition. Both novels dive deep into the mysteries of existence and the profound impact of technological advancements on our lives. They challenge readers to ponder upon big questions about identity, reality, and the choices that define us.

Although they share a common author and genre, Dark Matter and Recursion remain distinct narratives with unique stories and thought-provoking themes, each offering its own mysterious adventure.