Reviews

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

literarymaven's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

sam_roberts's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

emsemce123's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I recently rewatched the film adaptation for the first time since seeing it in the theaters. I've read this book before that and remember not getting what was going on, then after seeing the film thinking it was just OK. After this recent rewatch I liked it more and was curious to reread the book as well. And I enjoyed the book more this time around as well. First off, the book and the film are 2 different things. Don't expect to see too much crossover between the 2. In Annihilation we follow an expedition into a mysterious place known as area X, an Expanse of coastal land and swamp which is covered by a shimmer with only a few entry and exot points. The area has been closed off to the outside world and put under the protection and surveillance of a mysterious government organization known as the Southern Reach, who operates under the guise of an environmental disaster team. The expeditions are sent in with journals to record what they experience inside, though none have returned, journals or expeditions. The team that goes in consists of an all female group of a surveyor, a biologist, a linguist, an anthropologist, and a psychologist. We follow the biologist as she experiences Area X and unknowingly the practices of Southern Reach. This is a book that leaves you with a lot of questions and almost no answers. The closest we get to an answer is the biologist best guesses on what's happening. It's vague and hard to explain but I never felt bored and was always intrigued enough to keep going. 

catofbones's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced

4.0

viridializard's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

idun_aurora's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I read Annihilation years ago, but now I've read it again because there is a fourth book coming out in October 2024. I love this book. It's atmospheric, it's eerie, somehow both so colorful and so grim and dark and mysterious. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

inescore's review against another edition

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4.0

This is not a spoiler because these two things are not really connected (I think) but this book (is amazing and I adored it) feels like a prequel to Solaris. If you read both tell me if this is not what led to the events on Solaris (both the book by Stanislaw Lem and the Tarkovsky movie).
Sorry, this is just a sci-fi nerd making weird connections. This is a great book!

kaitlinnancy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

dizzypigeon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mivones's review against another edition

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4.0

Book was super interesting but I got lost sometimes in the scenery. And found myself confused but then would be like no I got it (wrong) loved it though, want to read 2&3