Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

Authority (Southern Reach Trilogy, #2)

by Jeff VanderMeer

In the second volume of the Southern Reach Trilogy, questions are answered, stakes are raised, and mysteries are deepened …

Following the disastrous twelfth expedition chronicled in ‘Annihilation’, the second book of the Southern Reach trilogy introduces John Rodriguez, the new head of the government agency responsible for the safeguarding of Area X. His first day is spent grappling with the fall-out from the last expedition. Area X itself remains a mystery. But, as instructed by a higher authority known only as The Voice, the self-styled Control must battle to ‘put his house in order’.

From a series of interrogations, a cache of hidden notes and hours of profoundly troubling video footage, the mysteries of Area X begin to reveal themselves—and what they expose pushes Control to confront disturbing truths about both himself and the agency he’s promised to serve.

Undermined and under pressure to make sense of everything, Rodriguez retreats into his past in a labyrinthine search for answers. Yet the more he uncovers, the more he risks, for the secrets of the Southern Reach are more sinister than anyone could have known.

Reviewed by HekArtemis on

4 of 5 stars

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This one falls a little bit throughout, honestly I just didn't need that much back story for Control. Most of it was kind of irrelevant and felt like filler because of it. Other than that though, it was quite enjoyable and had me waiting for the metaphorical or literal tentacle to drop. The end happened so quickly though, and because of the focus on Control losing trust in his own mind and perceptions because of the hypnosis, you aren't quite sure if what he has seen is real or not. And by the time you do realise it is real, it's done. I am not sure if that is good or bad timing honestly.

Time for Acceptance.

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  • 5 December, 2019: Reviewed