Sure, any work of fiction takes place in a "version of reality"—but Dark Matter takes this to a whole new level. The quantum level, to be specific. Our hero, Jason Dessen, is a family man whose life is stolen by a doppelgänger from an alternate reality—a reality where Jason himself then finds himself marooned. He has a hard time adapting to a parallel reality that's so different from his own, and upon escaping, he encounters a whole range of other universes even stranger and more frightening than the place where he started. It's a wild ride. What's more, it completely upends the understanding of reality we take for granted every day.
Questions About Versions of Reality
- Which parallel universe is the worst? Explain your answer.
- Is Jason right to question his mental health at first?
- How does the concept of "uncanny valley" apply to the novel's parallel universes?
- How does quantum physics affect your understanding of the nature of reality? Explain.