Annihilation - A Book Review From an Undergraduate in Creative Writing.

Even after finishing Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer, I am still thinking about the book DAYS later.

Annihilation is a atmospheric science fiction novel following four women scientists into a government run, and uninhabited location called "Area X." Through the story we follow the perspective of the biologist on this expedition.

We encounter interpersonal themes of trust, betrayal, and grief, while trying to decipher the environmental thematic of ecological metamorphosis, danger of the unknown, and dissolution of identity.

The pressures that are found in Area X have an effect on the characters before they even realize it. The psychologist doing her best to keep everyone as calm-minded as possible before the ecosystem starts to transform more than just the environment around them.

---

Moving slightly past the brief synopsis, let's get into my own thoughts and perspectives of the book...

I have always been a major fan of science fiction, especially in terms of prolific settings and distress. I love Andy Weir and his books due to the amount of science he pours into them (currently reading Project Hail Mary), but I also am a major sucker for a dystopian, biologically-wrecked setting like we find in Area X.

So you can guess that the beginning I was gripped by the concept of Area X and what we might find beyond the borders into the transformative ecosystem and craziness of the unknown. Following the biologist was very appealing to me especially since the story highlights the fact that everything within this area is constantly adapting and changing. Dolphins are now being found in fresh water canals, many species of other animals are being found outside of their regular ecosystems.

My biggest gripe about this book is that I am still filled with so many questions. I want to know more about the discovery with the inhabitants (animals?) within Area X. I feel like we have hit the top of the iceberg and there is still so much to learn from Area X. We got a slight what to what is going on within the environment, but no why it is happening. Or even WHY the government is sending these expeditions... I NEED MORE.

I would have to give the book about a 3.5 star rating.

★★★⯨

(the next section may contain spoilers... read at own risk)

I genuinely think that there are too many unanswered questions for me to be able to give the book a higher star rating. The book was good, yes. The setting was interesting. The characters seemed to interact well amongst themselves and with the landscape.

If I could be nit-picky, I would have enjoyed a bit more science from the scientists. I feel as though it was most just following random women throughout the plot line that had a vague idea of the concepts their titles assigned. The psychologist did her job with the hypnosis and all that, but couldn't tell she was hallucinating? That was odd to me. With all the background we learned about the biologist with the pool and the parking lot, I feel like she would have been much more excited with physical samples of all of the unknowns within the environments. I just feel like a lot of the things that were happening to and around these women were skated over.

That might also just be the English major in me

the one that finds pleasure in picking apart the books

that were meant to be read for my leisure...

Annihilation is the first book in VanderMeer's Southern Reach series. Will I be picking up the next book in the series? Possibly. I am really intrigued to see how he will continue the series and if the next book follows another expedition. However, I want answers to my questions, not just more questions.

If you have read the Southern Reach trilogy, let me know if you think that it is worth it for me to pick up the next books... asking for a friend.

Also I have read that the movie adaptation is nothing like the book... is it worth the watch?

Thanks for tuning in for the first Book Review from an Undergraduate in Creative Writing... hopefully you'll come back for the next one!

xx,

Kylie Rose