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 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.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is the strangest eco-thriller that I've ever read! Okay, the only one.
If you liked The Ruins, you'll love Annihilation.
You should know that everyone in this book remains nameless. Weird, right? Don't worry, it only gets weirder.
There are living words, rogue spores, invisible borders and otherworldly doors.
There are many unidentified creatures, too.
Some crawl, some molt and others just run through the reeds shrieking.
Is it a tower or a tunnel? Only you can decide.
This was a very disturbing read for me but a quick one. If not for the superb writing, the story itself probably wouldn't have kept me so engaged. I am still unclear about pretty much everything about this book (but in a good way). The narrator is unreliable and verbally reminds the reader of this frequently.
Overall, I honestly liked this book. I will at least try to read the next in series. My curiosity always gets the better of me. Will I make it to book three? Only time will tell. My secret self hopes there is some dramatic twist that completely blows my mind.
*I purchased this copy myself, and opinions are mine alone.
