A fascinating theory on memory…

Recursion is a complex fiction novel that had me on the edge of my seat as I tried to keep up with the complicated and interesting scientific theories at the story’s center.

Two Characters, Two Timelines…

The story begins with Barry Sutton, a detective who is arrives after hearing a call about a woman sitting on the ledge of the building in 2018; a woman who is suffering from a mysterious disease called False Memory Syndrome. Soon after the narrative switches to Helena Smith, who in 2007 is reaching the saddening end of her research due to lack of funding. As the story progresses, the reader is brought back and forth between the two characters stories as they face their own conflicts.

Crouch does a wonderful job of using the two separate timelines to explain the scientific theories without overwhelming the reader.

While the beginning of the story does not give much time to get to know the characters on a personal level, immediately jumping into the two characters, I felt that the more the story progressed, the more vivid the image of them became in my mind.

A Cinematic Experience…

For readers who enjoy books for the deep insight in the personal lives of a character, this book may seem disappointing in that area. Recursion, much like the previous Blake Crouch novel I read, tells the story in cinematic way. Each “scene” dives into the action of the characters, never taking a moment for the characters to relax. Each scene ends much like it would in a television series, open ended and often in a suspenseful way before jumping to the other character, then continuing right where it left off.

However, for readers who find such leisure moments in a story to be mundane, this book may be more exciting than most. In Recursion, there is never a dull moment. Crouch has created a story which continuously follows the two main characters through every theory, obstacle, and revelation they face. As the story comes closer to its end, much like a film, it becomes more intense and the stakes grow higher.

Usually, when I find a story written like a movie/show, I find it difficult to finish. In the case of the stories I’ve read, as the author writes their story with the image of their own movie in mind, the story becomes “stages”.

They begin to lose detail, often focusing on the boring details such as where a person sits and what they grab. With Crouch, I never felt this was a problem. I was impressed by his ability to paint such a vivid and immersive experience.

While the science may be overwhelming to some, it is carefully explained.

A Complex Sci-Fi…

Although Science Fiction has always been my favorite genre of cinema, before Black Crouch, I had not had any experience with reading the genre.

Watching movies and shows such as Interstellar, Arrival, and Dark helped me easily grasp the theoretical science. Yet despite the similarities to the theories introduced in stories I viewed in the past, Blake Crouch managed to introduce me to something entirely new without diminishing the credibility of it all. The more I learned, the more I felt the story was well researched. Some may find the concept to be ridiculous or unrealistic, but that is why they are called “theories”, because they are not proven. Like most sci-fi stories, an open mind can make all the difference in whether you come to love or hate Recursion.

What I loved most…

As a lover of science fiction, my favorite parts were of course when the story delved into Helena’s research. While I found Barry’s segments interesting, Helena’s segments were the ones which kept me unwilling to put the book down. From the beginning when her research is introduced, to the moment her own story’s conflict becomes the center of the story, I was engrossed. Although I wish I was given more time to get to know her thoughts and emotions through the whole ordeal, I was still able to fall in love with her character.

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