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Dark Matter
Scientists have long known of the danger of gamma-ray bursts – powerful emissions of energy from distant cosmic events.
It began with a bang. The Earth shook as it was bombarded by high-energy particles without warning, and after that moment nothing would ever be the same again. Violent chemical reactions in the atmosphere rained down acid, dark clouds blotted out the sun and gave the impression of a desolate wasteland – but this was only the beginning …
Something else had caught a ride on the interstellar storm. Something only postulated by meagre human science without any comprehension of its true nature. Dark matter was transported to the Earth – and it was not simply inorganic as expected. It was alive, and it was wreaking havoc with reality itself.
Astrophysicist Emily Young is left to deal with a world gone crazy. Gravity has increased, leading to all sorts of cataclysms; acid pours from the sky at regular intervals; and something … anything … must be done about the dark matter – lest this marks the end of life on Earth.
It began with a bang. The Earth shook as it was bombarded by high-energy particles without warning, and after that moment nothing would ever be the same again. Violent chemical reactions in the atmosphere rained down acid, dark clouds blotted out the sun and gave the impression of a desolate wasteland – but this was only the beginning …
Something else had caught a ride on the interstellar storm. Something only postulated by meagre human science without any comprehension of its true nature. Dark matter was transported to the Earth – and it was not simply inorganic as expected. It was alive, and it was wreaking havoc with reality itself.
Astrophysicist Emily Young is left to deal with a world gone crazy. Gravity has increased, leading to all sorts of cataclysms; acid pours from the sky at regular intervals; and something … anything … must be done about the dark matter – lest this marks the end of life on Earth.
348 pages, ebook
Published March 18, 2023
18 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Patrick
5 books33 followersFrom a young age S.J. Patrick has been an avid reader, with loves spanning between fantasy, science fiction, and especially horror. As a published scientific author, he branched out into fiction in 2021 and had a blast doing so!
Released in 2023 were his first two novels, DARK MATTER and THE SENTIENCE, each combining his dual loves of science and horror into plots both thrilling and scientifically accurate.
In 2024 came an homage to his favourite horror niche, vampires! EXHUMED has become an instant hit in the genre, with a sequel, SIREN, releasing later in the year.
Finally in 2025 released GOLDEN BLOOD which brought the Exhumed trilogy to a thrilling conclusion!
Released in 2023 were his first two novels, DARK MATTER and THE SENTIENCE, each combining his dual loves of science and horror into plots both thrilling and scientifically accurate.
In 2024 came an homage to his favourite horror niche, vampires! EXHUMED has become an instant hit in the genre, with a sequel, SIREN, releasing later in the year.
Finally in 2025 released GOLDEN BLOOD which brought the Exhumed trilogy to a thrilling conclusion!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 25, 2023
Dark Matter is my first published work (while actually being my second novel written). First penned in 2021, it represents a combination of my loves of hard science with horror and the post-apocalyptic subgenre. I hope you enjoy it, and I welcome discussion about it whether you liked it or not!
March 23, 2023
I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy as a beta reader for S.J. Patrick and I loved the story. It was fast paced and a real page turner with a great storyline. I connected with the characters really well and even shed a tear at the end which is very unusual for me. Didn't want it to end!
March 24, 2023
Great read. Really enjoyed it
July 4, 2023
Fun story but ridiculous science.
Self aware visible dark matter? A survivable gamma ray burst? Individuals functioning under double earth's gravity caused by dark matter. The bit about weird mutated life is fun. The writing could use polish. If you want a break from any sort of reality this is it.
Self aware visible dark matter? A survivable gamma ray burst? Individuals functioning under double earth's gravity caused by dark matter. The bit about weird mutated life is fun. The writing could use polish. If you want a break from any sort of reality this is it.
March 19, 2023
being interested in space, science as well a sci fi thrillers this book has opened my mind. with great imagination and a brilliant story line I would definetly recommend this book to read.
April 3, 2024
Read it on KU, good read! fast paced, character driven more than story, but for a first book for an author, its damn good effort! colour me impressed, will read the next two books next
February 6, 2025
Interesting concept but poorly executed
June 12, 2025
- Unique idea for an apocalypse.
- I liked the opening chapters.
- Would be more effective as a novella (there is commentary that does not add to the story or repeats what has already been established).
- This book tells instead of shows. For example, George’s personality is telling jokes but a joke is never actually said: “George got everyone’s attention with one of his customary jokes.”
- The characters are described with reference to how “fit” they are.
- Not sure why “doctor” was in quotes when referring to a veterinarian (they are doctors).
- Characters are bit too one dimensional for me and I didn’t feel like Em and Jack had chemistry.
- Em is referred to as intelligent, smart, logical, analytical, etc. and “fit” in almost every chapter: “It was fortunate she has such an analytical mind…”
- For me, the Dark Matter speaking to Em - and only Em thanks to her “superior intelligence” - did not add anything of value to the story. There should have been more build up to this earlier, if anything, to make this brief plot line land better.
The human race is just a chemical scum on a moderate-sized planet, orbiting around a very average star in the outer suburb of one among a hundred billion galaxies. - Stephen Hawking
We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out - and we have only just begun. - Neil deGrasse Tyson
Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception. - Carl Sagan
Not only is the Universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think. - Werner Heisenberg
- I liked the opening chapters.
- Would be more effective as a novella (there is commentary that does not add to the story or repeats what has already been established).
- This book tells instead of shows. For example, George’s personality is telling jokes but a joke is never actually said: “George got everyone’s attention with one of his customary jokes.”
- The characters are described with reference to how “fit” they are.
- Not sure why “doctor” was in quotes when referring to a veterinarian (they are doctors).
- Characters are bit too one dimensional for me and I didn’t feel like Em and Jack had chemistry.
- Em is referred to as intelligent, smart, logical, analytical, etc. and “fit” in almost every chapter: “It was fortunate she has such an analytical mind…”
- For me, the Dark Matter speaking to Em - and only Em thanks to her “superior intelligence” - did not add anything of value to the story. There should have been more build up to this earlier, if anything, to make this brief plot line land better.
The human race is just a chemical scum on a moderate-sized planet, orbiting around a very average star in the outer suburb of one among a hundred billion galaxies. - Stephen Hawking
We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out - and we have only just begun. - Neil deGrasse Tyson
Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception. - Carl Sagan
Not only is the Universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think. - Werner Heisenberg
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews