Crouch argues that Koepp’s Aurora showcases high-stakes thriller writing with swift pacing and vivid characters, echoing Dark Matter’s themes of societal collapse and control in disaster scenarios.

The broader arc of Koepp’s career is noted, including his work on The Trigger Effect and blockbusters like The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull.

Blake Crouch, the author of Dark Matter, shares personal book recommendations in interviews.

Crouch calls out several notable reads, including Veronica Roth’s Chosen Ones, Ted Chiang’s Exhalation, Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary, and especially David Koepp’s Aurora.

Aurora centers on a geomagnetic storm that cuts power and follows two survivors—a billionaire and his sister—navigating life after the blackout.

Koepp, famed for Jurassic Park and other major works, wrote Aurora in 2022 and Cold Storage in 2019, with Cold Storage later being adapted into a 2026 film script.

Aurora has earned positive reviews for its brisk pace and plotting, described as a post-COVID thriller about leadership and science skepticism amid disasters.

A thematic link is drawn between Aurora and Dark Matter through shared Chicago-area settings and their exploration of catastrophe, control, and human responses to crisis.