Annihilation is the first volume of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy. The story follows the twelfth expedition into Area X, a coastal region that has been cut off from the rest of the world for decades. The team consists of four women: a biologist, an anthropologist, a psychologist, and a surveyor. Their mission is to map the terrain, record observations, and avoid contamination by Area X. As they delve deeper, they encounter strange and unexplainable phenomena, including hybrid vegetation and creatures, and uncover secrets about the previous expeditions and the true nature of Area X. The novel explores themes of control, mystery, and the transformative power of the unknown environment[2][3][5].
Jeff VanderMeer's "Absolution" serves as a prequel to his acclaimed Southern Reach trilogy. The novel delves into the mysterious Area X, exploring three separate expeditions that predate the events of the original books. VanderMeer's signature blend of surrealism, horror, and environmental themes is on full display, offering a deeper understanding of the enigmatic Area X and its impact. The narrative expands upon unanswered questions from the trilogy, enriching the overall narrative and adding layers of complexity. Readers will find themselves immersed in VanderMeer's unique and unsettling world.
Jeff VanderMeer is the author of the novel Absolution, available from MCD Books. It was the official November pick of the Otherppl Book Club.
VanderMeer's New York Times-bestselling Southern Reach Trilogy has been translated into more than thirty-seven languages. The first novel, Annihilation, won the Nebula Award and the Shirley Jackson Award. His other books include Hummingbird Salamander, Dead Astronauts, Borne (in development as a TV series at AMC), and The Strange Bird. VanderMeer has lectured at MIT, Yale, Vanderbilt, and Columbia. Most recently, he gave the John Hersey Memorial Address at the Key West Literary Seminar. His Florida reporting has appeared in Current Affairs, Time, the Nation, and Esquire.
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