Scan barcode
A review by shakita45
Area X: The Southern Reach Trilogy: Annihilation; Authority; Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
As this is a collection of three books, I'll address my thoughts to each one:
Annihilation: This is by far my favorite of the trilogy. I've read it twice now, and it feels so chilling and oddly peaceful at the same time. There's so many things going wrong for the MC, but there's an ethereal nature to it, and it leaves me feeling oddly wistful for the very painful and horrifying experience she went through just because of the way it's portrayed.
Authority: This book was a SLOG, and I almost DNF'd several times, because I found Control to be so. boring. I understand why they were setting up this character and that this book was needed as a ridge between Annihilation and Acceptance, but I was entirely unengaged by him and his experience, and I really only got into his narrative in the last, say, 10% of the Authority section.
Acceptance:The scream I scrumpt when we got the first chapter from Saul's point of view. I felt like this book was SO rich with revelation without "showing the monster" so to speak, even though they literally did show the monster, and I loved that the book ended on a very open note. Plus, the Director's letter to Saul at the very end cast the whole book in a very allegorical light, and I like having these two different lenses with which I can view the series.
With beautiful prose and a likable cast of unexpectedly diverse characters, I think this is an exquisite sci-fi series that's left me feeling rather compassionate towards the world at large, and hopeful in a way I think is much needed these days.
Annihilation: This is by far my favorite of the trilogy. I've read it twice now, and it feels so chilling and oddly peaceful at the same time. There's so many things going wrong for the MC, but there's an ethereal nature to it, and it leaves me feeling oddly wistful for the very painful and horrifying experience she went through just because of the way it's portrayed.
Authority: This book was a SLOG, and I almost DNF'd several times, because I found Control to be so. boring. I understand why they were setting up this character and that this book was needed as a ridge between Annihilation and Acceptance, but I was entirely unengaged by him and his experience, and I really only got into his narrative in the last, say, 10% of the Authority section.
Acceptance:
With beautiful prose and a likable cast of unexpectedly diverse characters, I think this is an exquisite sci-fi series that's left me feeling rather compassionate towards the world at large, and hopeful in a way I think is much needed these days.