Annihilation
By Jeff VanderMeer
- Release Date: 2014-02-04
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM ALEX GARLAND, STARRING NATALIE PORTMAN AND OSCAR ISAAC
The Southern Reach Trilogy begins with Annihilation, the Nebula Award-winning novel that "reads as if Verne or Wellsian adventurers exploring a mysterious island had warped through into a Kafkaesque nightmare world" (Kim Stanley Robinson).
Area X has been cut off from the rest of the continent for decades. Nature has reclaimed the last vestiges of human civilization. The first expedition returned with reports of a pristine, Edenic landscape; the second expedition ended in mass suicide; the third expedition in a hail of gunfire as its members turned on one another. The members of the eleventh expedition returned as shadows of their former selves, and within weeks, all had died of cancer. In Annihilation, the first volume of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy, we join the twelfth expedition.
The group is made up of four women: an anthropologist; a surveyor; a psychologist, the de facto leader; and our narrator, a biologist. Their mission is to map the terrain, record all observations of their surroundings and of one another, and, above all, avoid being contaminated by Area X itself.
They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers—they discover a massive topographic anomaly and life forms that surpass understanding—but it's the surprises that came across the border with them and the secrets the expedition members are keeping from one another that change everything.
Reviews
Amazing
5By dosioshdlqlqpqI could not stop reading this book. It is so captivating and area x has such an insidious yet overwhelmingly terrifying tone. I wish the movie had followed the book more.Great Read
4By jasminebrksI really liked the mystery of this book, I found myself theorising along with the main character. Definitely left wanting more as it ended. The only thing I personally didn’t love was how wordy it felt at times, it felt inauthentic to use words that are not used in everyday conversation, especially when the character is supposed to be relaying an account. Overall really enjoyed.Great read!
5By Idklol...Had to peel myself away to stop reading. Finished reading in 2 days.Interesting
4By Jory ColvinThis book held my attention well. The flashbacks to the narrator’s earlier life nearly started losing me but is likely due to it being from a FMC point of view.Read, Watch, Listen
5By RoryMaddI read this book listening to the Anhiliation Movie soundtrack. It’s perfect for this read. I then watched the movie after and it really pulled everything together. Already diving into the sequel!Short and sweet
4By Soup.of.MandrakeIt’s worth a read and I’m strongly considering reading the next book. I have some comments related to the climax but then I would have to talk about spoilers. I say go for it.amazing book- better than the movie
5By jembusseI had watched the Annihilation movie before discovering it came from a book and I was very compelled to read this after finding the movie a bit confusing (still a great film don’t get me wrong). The movie is probably more confusing now because it’s a totally different story than what is written in the book, and the story in the book is far better and richer than the one onscreen. (I have come to love them both as separate things). This book constantly challenged me, especially having preconceived thoughts from seeing the movie. I fell in love with this story, and read the whole trilogy. If this book confuses you, then I recommend reading the other two that follow it in the trilogy, they provide ample info about the phenomena outlined in this book. Truly a captivating series.Weirdest Book
1By CreekNinethe author must be on hypnotic drugs. can’t get back the hours it took to plow through this.A study of consciousness
5By Rae HowardAn unflinching vision quest. Surreal, profound, deeply disturbing. My sense of what is human has been brought into question. If one were to ask me what this story is about I think I’d have to say love. Self love, love of nature, love of the fear of the unknown. I would also have to say, I have no idea what this novel is about! This is one of the best novels I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. I highly, highly recommended embracing the unknown of it all!Yes
5By God Emperor AcrobatThis book absolutely rips. Psychedelic horror of an amorphous variety that seems to have left others frustrated, but I absolutely loved every second of it. Highly recommendGreat book
5By korareneebWill read number 2Wow. This was one of the biggest waste of time since
3By relaxeauI like everything, but not thisThis is my new favorite book.
5By Logan's Rotten Old DadThis book has a good ending, one that fits a great story. The character is unlike others this is a worthy read.Mind = Blown
5By DorcelleI haven’t read a book in a while and read this for book club, and my do i have no regrets. This book is engaging and leaves you wondering. It makes you question things the entire time you’re reading. You search for clues in the text. 100% recommend.Review
3By lele1:45Pretty decently, was let down when the main character met with another main characterBooks gives no answers
1By SdfrdeghfrjedWhat you read in the beginning is the same as the end. You learn nothing newNot a fan...
1By ash_a_dashSo many long words and pages of just rambling and talking about nothing. I kept waiting for the climax, crazy part of this story and there wasn’t one... kinda bummed I paid for this book.One of the Best Books I Have Ever Read
5By J_P_P_Wow! What an amazing title! This should truly be hailed as a literary standard, in which all other books follow. It was very, very interesting, with many page-turners and cliffhangers. I truly hope that the rest of the books in The Southern Reach trilogy live up to this glory, because I will be sure to read them all. Thank you so much, Jeff VanderMeer, for such an phenomenal book.A M A Z I N G
5By ashleycaroline_Such an amazing work of art. 20/10. Would read 100 more times and probably will.
