15 new SFF books you can binge at the beach this June

Recursion – Blake Crouch

Fans of Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter will want to make a point of checking out his latest science-fiction thriller story, Recursion. This follow up to Dark Matter explores similar themes as Crouch’s last book, but it takes on a new setting and plot that’s sure to keep readers turning the pages.

Recursion tells the story of NYC police officer Barry Sutton, who is investigating a strange phenomenon called False Memory Syndrome. As you might surmise, those afflicted by False Memory Syndrome experience begin to develop memories that never actually happened to them — eventually causing them to go mad trying to distinguish between fiction and reality.

But as Barry discovers more about the disease, he realizes that more terrifying forces may be at work — forces that go well beyond disease, and that could eventually threaten history. He’ll need to work with neuroscientist Helena Smith to figure out how to stop reality from becoming altered completely, but luckily, Helena has a fair amount of experience developing technology that allows humans to preserve their memories.

With its high stakes and exploration of concepts like time and perception, Recursion is a perfect read for anyone looking to straddle the line between the science-fiction and thriller genres this summer. Not only will Crouch’s latest work be suspenseful, but given the themes, it’s bound to raise some interesting questions regarding the human mind. Recursion hits shelves on June 11, and it’ll make a great conversation starter for your next barbecue.