Annihilation
19 journalers for this copy...
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Publisher's description:
"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; all the members of the second expedition committed suicide; the third expedition died 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 months of their return, all had died of aggressive cancer.
This is the twelfth expedition.
Their 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 and collect specimens; to record all their observations, scientific and otherwise, of their surroundings and of one another; and, above all, to 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."
This is the first book in Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy.
Publisher's description:
"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; all the members of the second expedition committed suicide; the third expedition died 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 months of their return, all had died of aggressive cancer.
This is the twelfth expedition.
Their 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 and collect specimens; to record all their observations, scientific and otherwise, of their surroundings and of one another; and, above all, to 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."
This is the first book in Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy.
This book is reserved for a bookring. See the forum discussion for details, including current shipping order:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/515838
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/515838
Annihilation is a psychological thriller set in a mysterious Area X. The narrator, a biologist, is sent in as part of a team to investigate and record the strange happenings there. Through her possibly unreliable account, we learn more about the denizens and history of Area X and how it drastically changes the people who venture in.
This is a creepy, suspenseful novel that I found hard to put down. I would have given this book a higher rating if it were not for the fact that it was ultimately unsatisfying. It is the first of a trilogy but reads more like the first third of a single novel. It establishes the setting and characters beautifully and raises a load of fascinating questions but doesn’t take us much farther than that. Fortunately, the rest of the trilogy will be published later this year so we won’t have to wait long to see how the story develops.
This is a creepy, suspenseful novel that I found hard to put down. I would have given this book a higher rating if it were not for the fact that it was ultimately unsatisfying. It is the first of a trilogy but reads more like the first third of a single novel. It establishes the setting and characters beautifully and raises a load of fascinating questions but doesn’t take us much farther than that. Fortunately, the rest of the trilogy will be published later this year so we won’t have to wait long to see how the story develops.
This one left me a little bewildered. Not sure that I see the point. However, I would like to read the next in the trilogy to see if it all comes together.
Back in my hands now.
This book is on its way to Brookler now. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 7 by Brookler at Powell River, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Arrived today. Thanks, I'm looking forward to reading it.
I really liked this! Creepy and mysterious. I really enjoy books that make you think, where you can't easily figure out what's happening. Where is the truth amid the lies? Looking forward to the next book, though in my opinion, this one could stand alone.
On its way to BookBirds. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 10 by BookBirds at Somewhere in the USA, -- Wild Released somewhere in USA -- USA on Monday, March 2, 2015
It's here! I'm still working on All the Light We Cannot See, but this one is next! I'm surprised this one made it to the Tournament of Books (themorningnews.org/tob) as Vandermeer's books are usually described as 'New Weird'. I've also heard Alex Garland will be writing/directing a movie and I like Garland's projects.
Journal Entry 11 by BookBirds at Somewhere in the USA, -- Wild Released somewhere in USA -- USA on Saturday, March 14, 2015
Love these types of books! It's very odd and terrifying. Not everything gets answered or wrapped up in a neat bow, but that is what makes it more effective, like only casually mentioning doppelgangers. I'm eager to pick up the other two in the trilogy. If I had them in my hands, I would read them next! It's interesting to see the biologist study predator/prey scenarios in an environment but then the roles are reversed and she becomes the prey. Vandermeer's writing is imaginative while also reminding me of many things: Lost, Fallout 3, At the Mountains of Madness by Lovecraft, Oryx & Crake by Atwood, Far North by Theroux, and I believe I've compared at least a couple books to all of these things, so there are probably more I'm missing at the moment. An odd choice for the ToB but I loved finishing the book right before I read the judgment (themorningnews.org/tob). This is the first Vandermeer book I've read, but I'm not disappointed there are three more waiting on the shelves.
I will be mailing this out soon! Thanks again for sharing!
I will be mailing this out soon! Thanks again for sharing!
Journal Entry 12 by BookBirds at Somewhere in the USA, -- Wild Released somewhere in USA -- USA on Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Released 9 yrs ago (3/25/2015 UTC) at Somewhere in the USA, -- Wild Released somewhere in USA -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed to BouncingFerret today... I'm so sorry it took so long to mail! Thanks again for sharing!
Journal Entry 13 by BouncingFerret at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Got this book in the mail today! Will start this weekend; looking forward to it! Thank you:)
Journal Entry 14 by BouncingFerret at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Released 9 yrs ago (4/7/2015 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Great read~ had me captivated throughout the book but unfortunately the ending was not very satisfying so I may have to find the next in the series to read!
Mailed to the next in the ring yesterday!
Thanks for the ring:)
Mailed to the next in the ring yesterday!
Thanks for the ring:)
This book arrived about 2 weeks ago. Sorry, I thought I'd journalled it earlier!
I just finished reading the book today. I agree with mathgirl40's assessment that Annihilation is unsatisfying, and I also thought that it seemed like the first part of a longer book (which I suppose it is, in a way). It's probably cynical of me, but I wonder whether the three parts really needed to be published separately, or whether it was just a money grab/publicity stunt on the part of the publisher.
Having said that, I do want to read the remaining two parts of the trilogy. Vandermeer's writing is very evocative, and I'd like to see where he's going with the story.
Will now PM dutch-book for her address and send the book on ASAP.
I just finished reading the book today. I agree with mathgirl40's assessment that Annihilation is unsatisfying, and I also thought that it seemed like the first part of a longer book (which I suppose it is, in a way). It's probably cynical of me, but I wonder whether the three parts really needed to be published separately, or whether it was just a money grab/publicity stunt on the part of the publisher.
Having said that, I do want to read the remaining two parts of the trilogy. Vandermeer's writing is very evocative, and I'd like to see where he's going with the story.
Will now PM dutch-book for her address and send the book on ASAP.
Now on the way to dutch-book.
ETA 10 June: I resent the book today, as it was delivered to my address (the return address) instead of to dutch-book.
ETA 10 June: I resent the book today, as it was delivered to my address (the return address) instead of to dutch-book.
Journal Entry 17 by 
dutch-book
at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, June 15, 2015
dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, June 15, 2015
There it is! Looks great. To be read.
Journal Entry 18 by dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Tuesday, August 4, 2015
dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Tuesday, August 4, 2015
And I´ve finished it. I liked this book, but yet I may have found this a bit confusing. I would have loved more descriptions. I wonder what the second book is going to tell me about this mystery.
Journal Entry 19 by dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Thursday, August 20, 2015
dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Thursday, August 20, 2015
Released 8 yrs ago (8/20/2015 UTC) at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to Lamilla.
With me now!
The edition looks peculiar, like a child played with scissors and decided to go artistically on this book
ETA: very fast read, went through the book in a weekend
The edition looks peculiar, like a child played with scissors and decided to go artistically on this book
ETA: very fast read, went through the book in a weekend
Sent to the next reader from the local post office as unregistered surface mail.
Well received . Manu thanks . NeXt on m'y reading pile !
waiting for the second part for more action
Journal Entry 24 by JonniC at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, November 21, 2015
Just got this through the post today, I'll be reading it next and I'll send it off to the next person asap
Journal Entry 25 by JonniC at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, January 21, 2016
I am dearly sorry it's taken me this long to get around to reading this book. However I've started it now and I should finish it within a week, if that, that's if I'm lucky.
Personal problems arose, hence why it took me so long to get around to it. I'm sorry, it is no excuse, but I will finish it as quickly as I can and send it on it's way when I get the chance :)
Personal problems arose, hence why it took me so long to get around to it. I'm sorry, it is no excuse, but I will finish it as quickly as I can and send it on it's way when I get the chance :)
Journal Entry 26 by JonniC at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, February 11, 2016
Well this was a little weirder than I expected it to be. But I was captured from the first page. Mysterious and interesting, I didn't know quite know what was going on.
It was a complete mystery to me, full of beautiful imagery, that put me right in the centre of every scene. I felt like I was on the journey too.
I'm not so keen on having no names, This stripped identification to me, and I felt it was difficult to follow who was who, and I was forever skipping back a few pages to understand who was who, this made it slightly difficult to follow, however as the amount of characters dimmed, it started working out much better, and each personality of each character flowed through more.
I felt I needed the perceptions of the other characters, at times, as I couldn't understand if everything we were seeing through the eyes of the main protagonist was real. Yet I feel this was exactly the point.
This both excited me and worried me me, this is a little too weird! However, all I know is... I need to read the sequel to this, I need to understand it more!
By the way HappyHarryBabe has asked to be skipped.
It was a complete mystery to me, full of beautiful imagery, that put me right in the centre of every scene. I felt like I was on the journey too.
I'm not so keen on having no names, This stripped identification to me, and I felt it was difficult to follow who was who, and I was forever skipping back a few pages to understand who was who, this made it slightly difficult to follow, however as the amount of characters dimmed, it started working out much better, and each personality of each character flowed through more.
I felt I needed the perceptions of the other characters, at times, as I couldn't understand if everything we were seeing through the eyes of the main protagonist was real. Yet I feel this was exactly the point.
This both excited me and worried me me, this is a little too weird! However, all I know is... I need to read the sequel to this, I need to understand it more!
By the way HappyHarryBabe has asked to be skipped.
Sent this book off, it's now in the post!
Sent off to Catsalive, I hope you enjoy this!
Sent off to Catsalive, I hope you enjoy this!
It's here with me, thanks, Jonniboi.
Strange & intriguing, yet I agree with others that it remained unsatisfying. Too much left to be uncovered in the next books. That said, I am looking forward to getting my hands on the rest of the the story & would have continued through them all if I had them nearby. I just hope I can remember this one when it comes to Authority and Acceptance.
Thanks for including me, mathgirl40. I'll get this off to Aus-charlotte shortly.
Thanks for including me, mathgirl40. I'll get this off to Aus-charlotte shortly.
Journal Entry 30 by 
catsalive
at Next reader, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, March 11, 2016
catsalive at Next reader, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, March 11, 2016
Released 8 yrs ago (3/11/2016 UTC) at Next reader, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent on to Aus-charlotte.
Journal Entry 31 by Aus-charlotte at Banora Point, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, April 9, 2016
Received the book, found it interesting and mysterious.
Posting to Billbooks
Posting to Billbooks
This sounds fascinating I thought I had it on my wishlist it wasn't or I couldn't find it but looking forward to reading this one
Got it in the mail yesterday! Thank you very much!
Edit:
This was a really mysterious read. It didn't make much sense at times but that just added to the feel of the book. At times this felt more like a bad dream than a cohesive story.
I didn't like the narrator very much, but then I think she isn't supposed to be a very likeable person.
Edit:
This was a really mysterious read. It didn't make much sense at times but that just added to the feel of the book. At times this felt more like a bad dream than a cohesive story.
I didn't like the narrator very much, but then I think she isn't supposed to be a very likeable person.
On its way to the next reader.
Journal Entry 37 by Clairby11xxx at Farnborough, Hampshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 2, 2016
The book has arrived safely with me :)
Journal Entry 38 by Clairby11xxx at Farnborough, Hampshire United Kingdom on Sunday, February 12, 2017
There was something about this book that I found really compelling, I just had to keep reading to find out what was going on. From that perspective it's a great read, the mystery is all consuming and the feeling throughout is ominous, you can just feel the "not rightness" of Area X coming straight off the page. The Biologist, whose journal narrates the story, is another mystery within Area X, she has no name and you only get the details she decides to give you, this really adds to the uncertainty of the facts you are presented with, I ended up questioning everything, it's a very clever way to add to the atmosphere of the story.
What I am frustrated about now I've finished is the lack of resolution, I still have no clue what Area X is and what happened there, is there a creature? Is The Biologist just mad? Is this all some big government conspiracy? Who are the Southern Reach? I've been left with more questions than answers and I hate when a book does that to me! I guess I'll just have to read the next one to find out ...
What I am frustrated about now I've finished is the lack of resolution, I still have no clue what Area X is and what happened there, is there a creature? Is The Biologist just mad? Is this all some big government conspiracy? Who are the Southern Reach? I've been left with more questions than answers and I hate when a book does that to me! I guess I'll just have to read the next one to find out ...
Journal Entry 39 by Clairby11xxx at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Released 7 yrs ago (2/14/2017 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On it's way to another bookcrosser who has it on their wishlist, safe travels!
Journal Entry 40 by Blue_berry at Croydon, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, February 16, 2017
Received with thanks!
Journal Entry 41 by Blue_berry at Croydon, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 1, 2017
This was a haunting and perplexing story, I can't wait for the second part of the trilogy!
Journal Entry 42 by Blue_berry at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Released 7 yrs ago (3/29/2017 UTC) at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending to alexiapapa who won this in One-book-a-month draw in March 2017. Enjoy!
The book arrived safely! Thank you!
This book is now travelling to a fellow bookcrosser as part of the One book a month rabck.Good readings!
Journal Entry 45 by 
sakirmo
at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Thursday, November 2, 2017
sakirmo at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Thursday, November 2, 2017
The book arrived today, thank you!!
Journal Entry 46 by sakirmo at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Monday, October 22, 2018
sakirmo at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Monday, October 22, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (10/22/2018 UTC) at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This one was too scifi for my taste - found myself wondering more than once what the point in reading this is, but struggled to the end thinking that there must be some really fascinating surprise or conclusion in it. Well, there wasn't. No need to look for the second part, just not my kind of a story.
Travelling to Nakipa next, via wishlist tag game
Travelling to Nakipa next, via wishlist tag game
Here it is! Thank you for sharing this one with me, I'm looking forward to reading it!
