Shreela
Written on Jan 19, 2023
If J.J. Abrams and Margaret Atwood collaborated on a novel, it might look something like `Annihilation’, the first in an extraordinary trilogy.
For thirty years, Area X, monitored by the secret agency known as the Southern Reach, has remained mysterious and remote behind its intangible border– an environmental disaster zone, though to all appearances an abundant wilderness. Eleven expeditions have been sent in to investigate; even for those that have made it out alive, there have been terrible consequences.
`Annihilation’ is the story of the twelfth expedition and is told by its nameless biologist. Introverted but highly intelligent, the...
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If J.J. Abrams and Margaret Atwood collaborated on a novel, it might look something like `Annihilation’, the first in an extraordinary trilogy.
For thirty years, Area X, monitored by the secret agency known as the Southern Reach, has remained mysterious and remote behind its intangible border– an environmental disaster zone, though to all appearances an abundant wilderness. Eleven expeditions have been sent in to investigate; even for those that have made it out alive, there have been terrible consequences.
`Annihilation’ is the story of the twelfth expedition and is told by its nameless biologist. Introverted but highly intelligent, the biologist brings her own secrets with her. She is accompanied by a psychologist, an anthropologist and a surveyor, their stated mission: to chart the land, take samples and expand the Southern Reach’s understanding of Area X.
But they soon find out that they are being manipulated by forces both strange and all too familiar. An unmapped tunnel is not as it first appears. An inexplicable moaning calls in the distance at dusk. And while each member of the expedition has surrendered to the authority of the Southern Reach, the power of Area X is far more difficult to resist.
`Annihilation’ is the first volume in Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach trilogy, which will be published throughout 2014: volume two (’Authority’) in May, and volume three (’Acceptance’) in September 2014.
- ISBN13 9780007550708
- Publish Date 4 February 2014
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint Fourth Estate Ltd
- Format eBook (EPUB)
- Pages 208
- Language English
- URL http://harpercollins.co.uk
9780374710774
eBook
9781482956740
Audiobook
9781482956757
Audiobook
9780374104092
Paperback
9781482956733
Audiobook
Reviews
maggiefan
Written on Jul 23, 2020
I'm contemplating whether I should read the next one in the series.
HekArtemis
Written on Dec 21, 2019
Feeding a surprising Lovecraftian/cosmic-horror craving. Not quite as Lovecraftian as Lovecraft of course, not quite as dread filled, but still has several moments that had me holding my breath in anticipatory dread. And I am definitely intrigued. Onwards to the next instalments.
thepunktheory
Written on Jul 16, 2019
You find my description of the plot to be confusing and - well - rather undescript? That's because the entire book is this way.
It's irritating and will leave you with a...Read more
Full review on my blog!
You find my description of the plot to be confusing and - well - rather undescript? That's because the entire book is this way.
It's irritating and will leave you with a ton of unanswered questions.
Novels like that frustrate me a great deal.
The idea behind Annihilation is interesting enough. The beginning is also intriguing, so dove in, desperate to get some more info on Area X.
However, we don't know how reliable (if reliable at all) the narrator is. The story is told by the biologist who is a member of the expedition sent into Area X.
She doesn't even know herself whether what she sees is real or if she's been hypnotized (which is a thing in this book). We actually never find out what is true and was is not.
While I could sometimes relate to the biologist, I mostly found the book rather dull. That annoyed so much because the idea was so promising and many moments throughout the book had me hoping. But ultimately the novel fails to live to expectations it raises.
I really wanted to like the book, I tried to be intrigued but for every sentence that captured my interest an entire chapter of boredom followed.
Furthermore, the book kept piling up questions without answering a single one of them.
You find my description of the plot to be confusing and - well - rather undescript? That's because the entire book is this way.
It's irritating and will leave you with a ton of unanswered questions.
Novels like that frustrate me a great deal.
The idea behind Annihilation is interesting enough. The beginning is also intriguing, so dove in, desperate to get some more info on Area X.
However, we don't know how reliable (if reliable at all) the narrator is. The story is told by the biologist who is a member of the expedition sent into Area X.
She doesn't even know herself whether what she sees is real or if she's been hypnotized (which is a thing in this book). We actually never find out what is true and was is not.
While I could sometimes relate to the biologist, I mostly found the book rather dull. That annoyed so much because the idea was so promising and many moments throughout the book had me hoping. But ultimately the novel fails to live to expectations it raises.
I really wanted to like the book, I tried to be intrigued but for every sentence that captured my interest an entire chapter of boredom followed.
Furthermore, the book kept piling up questions without answering a single one of them.
bettyehollands
Written on May 17, 2019
ross91
Written on Oct 17, 2017
There's no explanation whatsoever and I confess I decided to read the summary of the next two books just because I wanted to know what happened but didn't have...Read more
The idea is great, but I didn't understand a single thing.
There's no explanation whatsoever and I confess I decided to read the summary of the next two books just because I wanted to know what happened but didn't have the strength to read 2 full books...
The movie trailer seems cool though!
There's no explanation whatsoever and I confess I decided to read the summary of the next two books just because I wanted to know what happened but didn't have the strength to read 2 full books...
The movie trailer seems cool though!
jamiereadthis
Written on Jul 7, 2017
I’m 0-for-3 on the quick, fun reads lately. This book is so short, but I almost gave up at least three different times. Nothing happens, the characters aren’t intriguing, the plot twists are so vague as to be practically meaningless.
There are a few good lines, like “Perhaps I should have left the psychologist alone, let her die without providing any answers, but I could not find that level of grace within me.”
Or, “Was it the remnants of the scientist in me, trying to regroup, trying to apply logic when all that mattered was survival?”
But without the emotional hook, they’re just that: good lines. I want the good story.
There are a few good lines, like “Perhaps I should have left the psychologist alone, let her die without providing any answers, but I could not find that level of grace within me.”
Or, “Was it the remnants of the scientist in me, trying to regroup, trying to apply logic when all that mattered was survival?”
But without the emotional hook, they’re just that: good lines. I want the good story.
Beth C.
Written on Sep 2, 2015
I was hesitant to read this book, having heard both great things and less-than-great things. However, I was also very intrigued by the back cover blurb, so when I ran across a worn paperback copy at the local library, sitting out like it was waiting for me, I decided to sit a spell and read. Roughly an hour later, the library was closing, and I was checking the book out to finish it.
It's not a graceful read, but the words have a sort of rawness to them that matches the storyline. It is a fascinating read, and if I didn't have another book that I need to finish first, I would be starting immediately on the sequel to this one. Frankly, I may cave and start it anyway.
It's not a graceful read, but the words have a sort of rawness to them that matches the storyline. It is a fascinating read, and if I didn't have another book that I need to finish first, I would be starting immediately on the sequel to this one. Frankly, I may cave and start it anyway.
empressbrooke
Written on Dec 11, 2014
This book was rather short, but it took me a few days to get through it. Every time I was too busy to pick it back up, or had to put it down to go to sleep, I felt an overwhelming NEED TO KNOW what happens next. It's mysterious and creepy and at times frankly terrifying. I don't know what the next two books in the trilogy will focus on, but my library hold can't come in fast enough.
Michael @ Knowledge Lost
Written on Nov 13, 2014
A section of America has been cut off from the rest of the continent; this has been dubbed Area X. While no one has been too sure what caused Area X to be cut off, a clandestine government agency called the Southern Reach keeps sending expeditions to this new ecosystem, to study the last vestiges of an untouched environment. Eleven expeditions have gone to this abandoned and unspoilt stretch of US coastline, eleven catastrophic failures. Four women known only by their disciplines: surveyor, anthropologist, psychologist and biologist are preparing for the twelfth expedition; will they find the answers to explain Area X, this enigmatic and frightening ecosystem?
Annihilation is the first book in the much talked about Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer; a short 200 page novel that packs a huge punch. The reader is thrown into this world and soon finds themselves with many questions; however the answers will only lead to more questions and so you will find yourself in a spiral of tension and excitement. Think Cormac McCarthy meets James Smythe; you have this thrilling and complex novel that sees four women and their impending doom.
I am hesitant in talking about this book too much because everything is shrouded in mystery and deception. I don't want to give too much away but I can say that Annihilation, on the surface, is a thrilling science-fiction novel. However as you dive deeper into the plot you will soon discover that this is full metafictional and psychoanalytical allegory that leads to a whole new type of exploration for those interested in critical reading. This is so annoying because I want to talk about this book but I don’t want to give anything away.
I have had similar issues reviewing The Explorer by James Smythe, I want to say so much more about this book but I want people to discover it for themselves. I am desperate to read Authority, followed by Acceptance but I know that reviewing them is going to be even more difficult (much like The Echo). Do yourself a favour, go out and pick up a copy of Annihilation if you haven’t done so already, but trust me when I say you will need the other two books in the Southern Reach Trilogy.
This review originally appeared on my blog: http://literary-exploration.com/2014/12/09/annihilation-by-jeff-vandermeer/
Annihilation is the first book in the much talked about Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer; a short 200 page novel that packs a huge punch. The reader is thrown into this world and soon finds themselves with many questions; however the answers will only lead to more questions and so you will find yourself in a spiral of tension and excitement. Think Cormac McCarthy meets James Smythe; you have this thrilling and complex novel that sees four women and their impending doom.
I am hesitant in talking about this book too much because everything is shrouded in mystery and deception. I don't want to give too much away but I can say that Annihilation, on the surface, is a thrilling science-fiction novel. However as you dive deeper into the plot you will soon discover that this is full metafictional and psychoanalytical allegory that leads to a whole new type of exploration for those interested in critical reading. This is so annoying because I want to talk about this book but I don’t want to give anything away.
I have had similar issues reviewing The Explorer by James Smythe, I want to say so much more about this book but I want people to discover it for themselves. I am desperate to read Authority, followed by Acceptance but I know that reviewing them is going to be even more difficult (much like The Echo). Do yourself a favour, go out and pick up a copy of Annihilation if you haven’t done so already, but trust me when I say you will need the other two books in the Southern Reach Trilogy.
This review originally appeared on my blog: http://literary-exploration.com/2014/12/09/annihilation-by-jeff-vandermeer/