Few sprawling fantasy book series have had the impact and success of Outlander. Written by Diana Gabaldon, the Outlander series is comprised of nine books in the mainline collection, with a tenth novel in the works. Though the sweeping romantic drama full of time travel and magic might not seem to have much in common with Blake Crouch's science fiction thriller, Dark Matter, the books do have some overlap, and not just that they both have TV adaptations.
Apple TV's Dark Matter is a sci-fi pulse-pounder that instantly captured the attention of many audience members thanks to the source material by Blake. Touching upon themes of multiple realities and the grief that comes with seeing a life fall apart, Dark Matter is an intense work of fiction. Outlander might seem lighter on paper because of its romance angle, but the stakes are high in both books.
It's difficult to find a book that captures a perfect balance between science fiction and romance while telling a character-driven story that readers can relate to. Works like Outlander and Dark Matter connect with audiences for different reasons. However, both are anchored by their characters and the way the narratives use their fantastical elements to craft a universal tale. The 2026 novel Under Story by Chloe Benjamin has all of this and more.
Published on September 1st, 2026, Chloe Benjamin's Under Story has taken the fiction world by storm and is the next great read that will take your breath away if you haven't read it yet. Drawing inspiration from the best parts of Outlander, Dark Matter, and any work of speculative fiction grounded in a rich emotional reality, Under Story is the kind of novel that stays with you for a long time.
It doesn't come as a shock that Good Morning America tapped Benjamin's latest novel as a Book Club Pick, as the book appeals to a wide array of readers without feeling generic. Following the story of Laurel Salter, a researcher who flees to a base in Antarctica in the wake of a devastating loss, Under Story is an emotional work that quickly takes a science fiction turn. Her solitude is disrupted by the Arc, a beam of light that a team comes to investigate, including Laurel's ex-husband, Eli.
Though the couple is estranged, Eli arrives with a shocking theory about the truth of the Arc, which could allow Laurel to change the worst moment of her life and get something back she's been desperately missing. This side of the novel is where the comparisons to Dark Matter begin, as Under Story dives into questions of quantum physics and rifts in the universe that make anything possible. Additionally, Under Story weaves in an element of environmental appreciation, capturing the harshness of the Antarctic in vivid detail.
From haunting domestic dramas to sprawling speculative epics, each book rewires how we feel about time and choice.
The relationship between Laurel and Eli parallels that between Claire and Jamie, especially in the later books, when the couple has spent years apart and has to rebuild the deep connection they once had after so much time has passed. The romance elements of Under Story aren't cut and dry, as a lot happened between Laurel and Eli before the events of the novel. However, it could be the science they uncover that brings them closer than ever.
Under Story is a completely unique sci-fi book that will take readers on an emotional journey alongside Laurel and Eli without pulling any punches. Though Benjamin's work is speculative fiction, the characters are undeniably real, making plenty of mistakes and painful missteps as they attempt to heal. Fans of Outlander and Dark Matter will fall in love with Under Story, but the novel will hit home for audiences of all kinds.
Under Story is available for purchase here.
