SUCCESS TO BUILD ON: Dark Matter and Recursion were New York Times bestsellers, building on Blake’s mega-successful Wayward Pines trilogy. And with raves from critics, ecstatic consumer reviews, and accolades like a Goodreads Choice win for best science fiction, he’s truly made a place for himself on this shelf.

CINEMATIC, SURPRISING—AND PERFECTLY ON-BRAND: In this new standalone, Blake is again putting his own brilliant twists on a classic Hollywood science-fiction trope here—while making the crazy plot elements feel approachable and heartfelt, as only he can.

BECOMING POST-HUMAN: Explores the wish-fullfillment possibilities of the topic—what would it feel like to be three times smarter, to have perfect recall?—in clever, satisfying ways…while also opening up new territory for the genre. 

INCREDIBLY TIMELY: Genetic engineering is in the headlines more and more, from the synthetic mRNA behind Covid vaccines to the latest CRISPR-Cas9 advances. 

HOLLYWOOD ON THE HORIZON: We’ll have news to reveal on this one soon. Meanwhile, mega-producer Shonda Rhimes is developing Recursion into a feature film *and* TV series for Netflix—hot off her blockbuster Bridgerton success—and Blake himself is adapting Dark Matter for Apple Plus. 

Blake Crouch is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. His novels include Recursion, Dark Matter, and the Wayward Pines trilogy, which was adapted into a television series for FOX. Crouch also co-created the TNT show Good Behavior, based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. He lives in Colorado.

Author Residence: Durango, CO

“If Michael Crichton had written a superhero novel, it would look a lot like Upgrade…. Sleek and propulsive, a page-turner with unexpectedly beautiful passages that give you pause amid the thrills.”—Amal El-Mohtar, The New York Times Book Review

“A lot of fun…Crouch knows how to do a chase, when to blow stuff up and when to bring the house lights down…. But what makes Upgrade special is that his path is unique. He takes turns that are unexpected [and] explores some stunning vistas along the way.”—NPR

“From the first page, it’s clear you’re in the hands of a master storyteller; Upgrade is by turns mysterious, fascinating, and deeply moving—exploring the very nature of what it means to be human. Spellbinding.”—Alex Michaelides, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient and The Maidens

“Imaginative, perfectly paced, and extremely clever, Upgrade walks the fine line between page-turning thriller and smart sci-fi. Another killer read from Blake.”—Andy Weir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary

“The incomparable Blake Crouch has, once again, completely blown my mind. Upgrade is more than a brain-bending thriller; it’s a siren in the night, warning us all of the dangers of playing God with the human species.”—Justin Cronin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Passage Trilogy

“Blake Crouch has a mind like Crichton and a heart like King—Upgrade is riveting, tense, scrupulously researched, and deeply heartfelt.”—David Koepp, author of Cold Storage and screenwriter of Jurassic Park

“Blake Crouch doesn’t pull any punches in this taut and evocative examination of what humanity really is—and how it fails us. A hugely entertaining and emotionally resonant thriller that you’ll be thinking about long after you turn the last page.”—Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Chosen Ones and Divergent

“[A] nail-biting near-future science thriller…Crouch fully develops his alarming concept and its implications along with delivering masterful characterizations. This is the best yet from a creative and gifted author.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Mind-bending…an excellent follow-up to Crouch’s other dark-science novels…Will appeal to readers interested in climate fiction or superhero origin stories, as well as those who enjoy smart thrillers.”—Booklist

“High-octane action, some moral complexity, and a surprisingly emotional ending elevate this novel. Recommended—even for reluctant science fiction readers.”—Kirkus Reviews