Dark Matter (Blake Crouch) and Ace Rimmer

[tombow]

I’m reading Dark Matter right now, and it’s pretty gripping. Not sure if anyone else here has read it or seen the recent tv adaption, but its about alternate universes/life paths and a man trying to find his way back to his original universe –  I don’t want to give anymore spoilers. 

I was put in mind of Ace though, when we meet one character who is a quantum physicist and universe explorer who is sent on a possibly one way trip (his superiors want him to find a way back) to meet a less successful version of himself. The difference is – (mild spoilers ahead) – his less successful version is happier and the explorer is actually jealous of him and wants his life.

Not noticed any specific Dwarf easter eggs so far though, there’s as much Michael Crichton, Total Recall and Long Earth in it as Dwarf to be fair, but I was struck by that particular “Ace” type scenario. 

Topic

[Warbodog]

sent on a possibly one way trip (his superiors want him to find a way back)

What do the Space Corps even get out of losing their top pilot (or one of them) and their experimental ship to a one-way trip? Did someone secretly think Ace was a twat and want to get rid of him? I can’t remember if it was clarified in the novel version (besides the predestination angle of seeing another Ace’s corpse that wasn’t even his own).

[Technopeasant]

I believe the novel makes it clear there was a short window to send a signal back, so they at least would know it worked.

[Author]

Replies