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 meowstina on

3 of 5 stars

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I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the first few pages of this book, I was kind of confused. The information presented goes against what I thought had happened previously. I had to go back to Annihilation to confirm that I was remembering correctly - and it turns out I was. That was when I knew Authority would be really, really good.

The second instalment balances out the first quite nicely, while still maintaining an air of suspense and mystery. It’s not quite as intense as its predecessor, but works in its own way to push further into the presence of Area X, from the outside this time. Control works in the Southern Reach office and filters through previously gathered evidence about Area X. His new role is meant to bring fresh eyes to the case, but as he gets more involved he also gets more confused. Though some questions are answered, there are a whole lot more introduced. I’m (still) as confused as Control, but in a good way. It leaves me wanting more, and wanting to finally figure out the strangeness behind Area X.

This book follows Control through every detail of his investigation, so it’s more research oriented. Although this makes it a little less exciting than exploring inside Area X with the biologist, it’s still pretty interesting and has its own form of intensity. Control is so involved in the evidence that I found myself heavily involved as well. It doesn’t feel as if he makes a ton of progress towards figuring out Area X, but a few questions are answered and he discovers a lot more evidence. I’m sure most of it will come together in the next book.

I have a feeling the last instalment won’t answer all questions or solve everything, but I think it will provide a sense of why Area X exists. I’m very excited to continue (and finish) the trilogy, so I am eagerly anticipating Acceptance.

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  • Started reading
  • 24 April, 2014: Finished reading
  • 24 April, 2014: Reviewed