Annihilation

by Jeff VanderMeer

195 pages

English language

Published Feb. 4, 2014

ISBN:: 978-0-374-10409-2
Goodreads:: 17934530

(7 reviews)

Area X has been cut off from the rest of the world 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 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 …

They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers—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.

4 editions

Jakers reviewed Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

One of the coolest takes on the "Forbidden Zone"

5 stars

Content warning General statements about themes and plot events

I am definitely going to come back and reread this one, because I feel there's still some tasty snacks hidden amongst the pages.

Honestly, this book was so good I'm having trouble what to talk about, so I'll just kinda free associate. The writing is amazing. The unreliable narrator is pulled off masterfully. There are scenes in the book that made me physically tense. The end was somehow both a happy ending and a sad ending, which are my favorite kind.

I could say more but honestly, you should just read the book.

Jakers reviewed Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

One of the coolest takes on the "Forbidden Zone"

5 stars

Content warning General statements about themes and plot events

I am definitely going to come back and reread this one, because I feel there's still some tasty snacks hidden amongst the pages.

I could say more but honestly, you should just read the book.

bupu reviewed Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

Unnerving in the best way

4 stars

A captivating story of transformation that makes your neck hairs stand on end and is hard to put down.

bupu reviewed Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

Unnerving in the best way

4 stars

A captivating story of transformation that makes your neck hairs stand on end and is hard to put down.

Erin Nova reviewed Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

Beautiful Horror

5 stars

I greatly enjoyed the movie, but loved the book even more. While the movie does a great job of visually portraying everything, it just can't compare to the books and your imagination. The book also seems to put a bit more focus on the characters conflicts with each other, and what happens between them.

It goes into such detail of the weird things happening in Area X, and all the strange happenings. I found it less scary, and more beautiful.

Not only is everything amazingly and skillfully written, but just the goings on are beautiful as well, in my opinion.

Ed@bookwyrm.social reviewed Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

A different take

3 stars

I enjoyed the oppressive tone and writing style. Not a book for those who want sharp focussed action. Would have rated it higher my was put off by commenters elsewhere who thought the Novel was the second coming and couldn’t exist alongside the movie.

bookafnd reviewed Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

creeping horror

5 stars

it's the journal of a biologist exploring an area where things are Wrong and Strange. if that sounds like an enjoyable read to you it probably will be