"Memory makes reality" Recursion is an entertaining science fiction thriller about time, identity and memory with a time-travel aspect. The story is unique and nothing like anything you have read before. The book deals with FMS (False Memory Syndrome), a mysterious disease that drives its victims mad with memories of a life never lived. The disease is contagious.

Helena Smith, neuroscientist, wants to build a device to allow people to preserve their most intense memories. Barry Sutton, NYPD policeman, is investigating FMS as many people are reporting that they have contacted this disease. These two characters become the narrators for the story.

The novel is action-packed and the story is fast-paced which makes for a very interesting read. I have read Dark Matter and enjoyed that book too. I'm not really a science fiction buff but Crouch's writing is excellent and makes for a very easy-to-understand novel. I am now interested in what Crouch comes up with next. I would highly recommend this book to those who love unique science fiction thrillers.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Crown Publishing for a free copy for an honest review.

I liked Dark Matter more, but this was an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. A good book, but it isn't for my middle grade classroom.

The first time-travel novel I ever read was The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. I was 9 years old at the time, in 4th grade, and became fascinated by the concept of time travel, following H.G. Wells with Richard Matheson in Bid Time Return, Ray Bradbury in his story, "The Sound of Thunder", and Time and Again by Jack Finney, the movie "Arrival" and the story from which it was derived, "The Story of Your Life", up to and including Blake Crouch's Wayward Pines Trilogy and Dark Matter, but never, in my 60 years as an avid reader has my mind been quite so completely blown as it was in Recursion, a brilliant, engrossing and mind-bending read and the perfect follow-up to Dark Matter. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would.

In Recursion, Mr. Crouch adds a new dimension to the time-travel trope by including the very concept of time being linked to individual memories in the way that our perception of time and reality are inextricably linked to the present--that being the only way our minds can comprehend what we view as our reality. But what if the past, present and future are all happening simultaneously? That topic formed the basis of the film "Arrival," which included alien intelligence, while in Recursion, one lone woman scientist, Helena, is desperately wanting to restore the memories lost to her Alzheimer-stricken mother, to give her back some of her past, and Helena devotes her life to trying to create a device (in this case a chair) to do just that, but work is slow, her research grant is running out, and her mother's memories are disappearing faster than she can create a way to preserve those memories her mother still has left. That is until she meets, Marcus Slade, a multi-billionaire, willing to give her unlimited funding to hasten her research, but little does anyone know his true motives, or what Helena linking herself to Slade will ultimately mean, not just to her, but to the entire world.

As the novel opens, on a different timeline, Detective Barry Sutton is investigating a possible suicide and another attempt at one, both believed to be related to what is being designated as FMS, false memory syndrome, in which some people suddenly and inexplicably begin to experience memories of living lives they don't believe they've ever lived, and unable to rationalize what's happening to them, begin to think they are losing their minds and commit suicide, and such occurrences are increasing. The CDC is trying to find what they believe is the pathogen infecting those with FMS, but what you'll soon learn is that it
s not a pathogen at all, it's both something miraculous in many ways, and terrifying in others, and it will you have questioning your own life and wondering what if you could go back into your own past and change something that happened to you, or undo something you did or said, or that someone else did--what long-term effect would that have on the rest of your life, and every other life on the planet? Even if you're not a fan of science fiction, I believe that this novel and its characters cannot fail to move you, impress you, and engross you in their lives and their experiences. I've been reading Blake Crouch novels for years and in my opinion, this is his best novel to date.

It took me a full week to read this novel, a rarity for me (I read Moby Dick in a single day), because I had to keep stopping to apply the questions raised by Mr. Crouch and his characters to my own life and experience. What if I could have prevented the death of my mother when I was 15 years old? What if she had lived? I'd never have met my step-family, and probably would never have met my husband of almost 43 years. What if that one single change affected everything and everyone else? I think you'll find yourself doing the same thing while reading this amazing, thrilling, terrifying and masterful novel, and it's one I cannot recommend highly enough.

Kudos to Blake Crouch for taking me on this mind-bending, mind-boggling journey with this brilliantly conceived and beautifully written novel.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

I tried so hard to get into this one as I have multiple family members who have suffered from dementia and Alzheimer's but this was just too far out there for me.

As good as Dark Matter, if not BETTER! A very clever idea about human memory and it's relation to the human being. A story that was intricately woven together in a manor only Blake Crouch can do.
LOVED IT!

Love love love this book! This book was absolutely amazing! It was not what I expected but the realness of it made it so interesting and thought provoking! I would highly recommend this book!

♾My brain officially hurts. I haven’t used so much brain power since my Calc 2 class freshman year in college. Recursion might have actually made my IQ rise a few points because of all of my comprehension efforts. Thank you Blake Crouch for making me do allllll the thinking! In short, Recursion was brilliant. It was fascinating. Thought-provoking. And utterly terrifying. If you love the movie Minority Report and all of its mind-bendiness...then Recursion is about to become your best book friend!⁣
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♾Barry is a divorced police officer who has never stopped mourning the tragic death of his daughter. His days are ordinary until the moment he is called in to assist on a suicide attempt. The distraught women is suffering from False Memory Syndrome. An ailment where you have two sets of memories. One set from the life you’re living and another from a completely different life. Only a few are afflicted, but those who are, are driven to the point of insanity as they try to decipher- What memory is real? Helena is a neuroscientist whose spent her life studying and working on restoring memory inspired by her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Working for and with some of the most brilliant minds in the world, they focus on creating a technology that can preserve and recall old memories. As Barry and Helena’s world’s collide, the results are devastating. What started out as a possible medical marvel has resulted in a world on the brink of destruction. ⁣
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♾I truly could not have possibly predicted the turns this book would take. It was brilliant. I couldn’t count the number of times I had to stop reading and take a break, merely to process and digest what I just read. By no means should you speed read Recursion if you truly want to understand what the hell is going on! This was July’s #notyomamasbookclub choice and for that I am grateful. We had the opportunity to discuss the book midway and at the end and really dissect each nook and cranny. And each and every mind was truly blooooown away!

Another excellent dive into physics-related fiction. I can't imagine how the author has dreamed up the ideas for Recursion and Dark Matter as well. An excellent premise, well worth anyone's time.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for a review copy of this book. A fun fast paced book that takes an interesting look at memory, time, and the destructive nature of human beings. I don’t want to give anything away but this novel will keep you on your toes, wanting to keep reading to find out what happens.

I liked this book... it's different from that i normally read. It took my a while to get into it, but once I did it was good.

There is time traveling but it's not the same as "regular time travel" . I'm not sure how best to explain in without giving anything away.

Thanks NetGalley

I do not know how Blake Crouch comes up with these ideas that totally mess with your mind. This is a book you won't be able to put down once you start. Highly recommend.

It’s difficult to write about a Blake Crouch novel without an endless stream of deep, existential thoughts and sheer awe that one person could possess so much imagination and talent. Here’s my best attempt…

Recursion is another time travel masterpiece from the mind of Blake Crouch, taking us into a world where the very understanding of timelines changes drastically. We follow two characters, one who is central to this monumental technology, another who happens to find himself at the center thanks to a strange series of events. Crouch never falters in his storytelling, seamlessly transitioning between timelines, stretching decades in either direction. This is a story that will blow your mind and you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of time to get immersed in this wild ride. I picked it up and plowed straight through to the epic conclusion.

Trek no further if you want nothing spoiled…

I’m honestly floored by how much Recursion changes the concept of diverging timelines in relation to time travel. With most books, events change and most people aren’t aware of alternate timelines. Time travelers hide in alleyways, going on their missions, shaping the future in ways that benefit whatever organization they work for. In this instance, everyone remembers everything. All timelines converge at the moment things were changed, creating a catastrophic explosion of consequences each time. That concept is baffling to imagine. People begin to go insane, the world begins to fall apart, and everything collapses. What starts as an exciting technology with world-changing implications quickly becomes pure horror as millions mentally deteriorate in a matter of minutes. It’s shocking to imagine and, with each failed attempt to save the future, a fearful ending to the book looms.

Crouch has a way of connecting you to his characters on a deeply emotional level. One moment, you’re reading a story and the next, you’re anxiously flying through pages to see if this new acquaintance survives. The two main characters are multilayered at the start and, as they continue to live more versions of the same life, their experiences grow more complicated. By the end, it’s nearly impossible to imagine what each person must be feeling as five or ten or twenty streams of memories come crashing down on them. To see lost children and spouses, missed opportunities and untimely deaths would be shocking, to say the least. Just trying to picture it while reading is discombobulating. Through it all, a deep love story emerges, one that has spanned over a century of combined time. It’s anything but perfect, filled with repeated fights and struggles, but watching Helena and Barry grow closer gives the book the final spark it needs to gain perfection.

I could go on and on discussing the brilliance of this novel and Crouch as a writer. Overall, Recursion is another brilliant addition to his catalog, giving us a story that begs to be discussed for weeks with anyone who will listen. He’s undoubtedly one of the greatest science fiction writers of our time.

I'm not a huge fan of the si-fi Genre , But OMG , this book was AMAZING .
Everything about it ,especially the writing style and the plot , was unbelievable .
I loved it so much .
While Reading I was so immersed in the story , I finished it in one sitting .

Definitely , Blake Crouch is one of my new favorite authors .

Blake Crouch has done it again!

I must admit that I had a hard time getting into this book, but all of a sudden, it was a "whoa.... why did THAT happen" moment, which led me down the road of non stop reading to find out why that DID happen.

AMazing story, just as amazing characters and I have already told ALL my coworkers they need to read this book!

Recursion is the 2nd book I’ve read by Blake Crouch, after 2016’s Dark Matter. If I hadn’t known whose worked I’d picked up, I think I would have picked out Crouch’s storytelling style and particular take on (male) characters. At first, they tend to be a bit stereotypical, but the story quickly subverts many of those notions as the plot picks up pace.

[Aside – I haven’t read his Wayward Pines trilogy, but thoroughly enjoyed the limited series it spawned.]

As with Dark Matter, Recursion relies on a genre audience who will question the “science” in the fiction just enough to give credence to the theories on which the plot revolves, and once you’re there for it, hold on tight.

As a reader, I’m not interested in whether the central conceit could “really happen”. (Just as I’m not watching Ant-Man for a serious, true-to-life depiction of the quantum realm…although if Paul Rudd was in the quantum realm, I’m just saying, it would be worth exploring.) The more interesting question/concern in a mind-bending thriller is how you feel about it. In the case of Recursion, how would you cope if everything you knew, your memories, identity, your life, your self were called into question?

The big baddie in Recursion is False Memory Syndrome, which is introduced as a rare, but terrifying disorder that makes people “remember” a life they never lived. Protagonist Barry Sutton, grizzled NYC cop, investigates an incident and displays bravery (or stupidity – the line between which is always thin) when he tries to save a diseased victim’s life despite not knowing if FMS could be transmitted by touch or even proximity.

From there, Crouch takes the reader on a wild ride. Rarely does fiction force me to consider the fundamental nature of reality in as visceral a manner. In fact, I find the intricacies of real science to be trippy enough. Just don’t try to make Crouch’s fiction line up with fact or you’ll be pulled right out of the story, which makes you contemplate the nature of the universe, as well as the nature of the human heart.

Bonus Recommendations: For another brain-melting plunge into the notion of identity, purpose, & eternity, check out Peter Watts’ The Freeze-Frame Revolution. Recursion also brings to mind Greg Bear, another who has a rare talent for crafting a breathless, thrilling story that takes you on a wild ride into entirely unexpected and uncharted territory.

4.5 STARS! WOW! If you're like me and only occasionally pick up a Sci-Fi book let this be one of them! I couldn't put it down! Just when I thought it was going to end it kept on going and I kept on reading! I hesitated on requesting this on Netgalley and choosing it for my BOTM pick but after reading the reviews that said it was intriguing and you would want to know what happened - that was good enough for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the approval to read!

I received an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review - thanks NetGalley.

Highly recommend this book! I would call this pop sci-fi. I’m not someone who usually reads science fiction and I really enjoyed this. It doesn’t delve extremely deep into the science of it all, and focuses more on the humanitarian effects and social consequences involved with the science. There’s a bit of a love story but the book doesn’t focus on that. If you enjoyed the Butterfly Effect, you would like this. This made me want to go back and read other titles by this author.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an extremely entertaining summer read -- it has heart but it also required you to think.

This mind bending story of a False Memory Syndrome had me pushing the limits on my reading time. The main characters of Helena and Barry were so real that I felt as if I were in the rooms with them as they dealt with the world effect of this affliction driving people mad. The set-up takes a little while and lulls you into the idea of what is happening – but reality and your memories are not the same things as the reader quickly learns.
I gave up predicting what would happen next as the author had so many unique and contrary ideas to what I thought would happen.

What a trippy book! Much like it's predecessor Dark Matter, this was insane, smart, and I had no idea what was going on half the time! I think I liked Dark Matter a tiny bit more, but this was still a fantastic read!