SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
This topic is about
Annihilation
Group Reads Discussions 2014
>
"Annihilation" First Impressions *Lots of mild spoilers*
p.4 - too much explication; the narrator is too objective--but wait, that's how she's supposed to be (ha ha, I skipped ahead to p.9).
I loved the book. I liked the way we had to jump into the situation and get some of the explanations (although never all of them) later through conversations or memories. I thought the narrator was very brave, although very cold especially in her relationship to her husband. I thought the psychologist was pretty cold blooded. I just read a book with a completely different scenario that reminded me of Annihilation- Paul Auster's In the country of last things- great book. So if you like Annihilation you might want to check it out.
I'm 18% in and wondering if our narrator might be slightly crazy from the get-go. Not sure if I believe everything she's saying...
Stephanie wrote: "I'm 18% in and wondering if our narrator might be slightly crazy from the get-go. Not sure if I believe everything she's saying..."ah, the unreliable narrator.
I loved the book as well. Definitely a very unreliable narrator... I have already read the second book and am reading the third one right now so I'll hold off on elaborating too much, but this was one of my favorite reads this year.
I found the book very gripping — I read it in just a couple of hours. The narrator is cold and clinical, but she grew on me as I learned more about her. Is she unreliable? That’s hard to say. She is certainly anxious about not being believed, but in Area X it seems like no-one can really trust anyone...
I read this earlier in the year, and I enjoyed the horror/unknown aspect of it. I haven't read the rest of the series; I'm not sure if I'm going to or not, as for once I've enjoyed simply not knowing what's going on with it all.
I am about half way through Authority which is a much different book than the first in this trilogy. I really loved Annihilation, though I totally get why someone wouldn't. It felt like a mix of At the Mountains of Madness and Other Tales of Terror if it were written by Franz Kafka. It was horrifying in a David Lynch or Stanley Kubrick kind of way. Very atmospheric with characters that are so vague and mysterious yet interesting.
I'm maybe a third of the way in, and find that the intentional ambiguity makes the narrative a little sluggish. The tower/tunnel interpretation of what seems more like a bunker is interesting, but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to see this through the Freudian filter. Also, if it's a novella in a trilogy, why not just publish the three books together?
I'm 90% of the way completed and found myself intrigued by the juxtaposition of how familiar Area X is with how alien some aspects of it are. I'm a little unnerved by the characters, though. Without names it seems difficult for me to care about them.
this one is chambered and ready to go after my current 'dead-tree' read
loved it - a great combination of a natural environment, fantastical weird elements and SF/horror.
I finished this last month. The book is frequently compared to Lovecraft and Kafka. I actually thought it was very similar to a book called Eden by Stanislaus Lem, though this book was much better written IMO (though my issues w/ Lem could be the translations).
I'm about 20% in. I've found it action packed and gripping so far. I like that there is so much unknown. I feel that I will thoroughly enjoy reading the rest of this book.
I started listening to this yesterday and wasn't sure whether or not I would enjoy it. So far it seems to be getting more exciting as it goes along.
Mod
A. go down the path
B. Go to the lighthouse
C. Go into the tunnel/tower
I sort of enjoy that aspect of it although I also keep thinking we are in some sort of virtual reality aka Total Recall. The book has captured me so far.
I'm about a quarter of the way in and I'm really enjoying this so far. I think the writing is superb and the creepy what's real and what isn't question is making for an interesting atmosphere. I'm excited to find out what happens next. On a side note this is one of the many awesome books up for Best Science Fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards this year. First round of voting is happening for those who haven't noticed.
I voted for this book in the Science Fiction GR Award.
Hank wrote: "The exploration of Area X continually reminds me of playing a text version of an adventure game. ---You are at a crossroads---do you want to A. go down the path
B. Go to the lighthouse
C. Go int..."
Yes! I agree completely. This story would make a fantastic interactive fiction game. It could even be worked into the continuity as one of the previous expeditions...I think we should actually suggest it to Jeff in the Q&A thread :D
Hank wrote: "The exploration of Area X continually reminds me of playing a text version of an adventure game. ---You are at a crossroads---do you want to A. go down the path
B. Go to the lighthouse
C. Go int..."
And the copy protection could be finding a certain word in a complete transcript of the writing under the Tower. :)
I just got my copy last night and read through the first chapter. At this point it seems like the world itself is the main character as it shows the only signs of having a personality. The mystery of it is what keeps me reading, and not any sense of connection with the "biologist" who narrates the tale.
Lee wrote: "I just got my copy last night and read through the first chapter. At this point it seems like the world itself is the main character as it shows the only signs of having a personality. The mystery ..."I agree. I've finished chapter four and have not found much in the way of personality in any of the characters. It's as if the author, in limiting their identities to their professions, has excised the humanity out of them.
Tom wrote: "Lee wrote: "I just got my copy last night and read through the first chapter. At this point it seems like the world itself is the main character as it shows the only signs of having a personality. ..."Exactly. And you'll notice that no mention of their ages, sizes, build, race, hair, etc. is given. They're just mannequins moving about the colorful, mysterious world.
Lee wrote: "Exactly. And you'll notice that no mention of their ages, sizes, build, race, hair, etc. is given. They're just mannequins moving about the colorful, mysterious world."Which is the only thing that's keeping me going. It sure seems like there's some intelligence behind the whole process. The question is, will we arrive at an "Aha!" moment or a "WTF!" moment.
I honestly did not expect this book to scare the hell out of me! I got to the point where I was reading just to get the suspense/horror over with.It was a fascinating story but more importantly, I think it was very well executed. It sucks you in from the start and really keeps the suspense going. I loved the way that you only knew each person by their job title. It showed that the person was not important. It quickly pulls you into the mystery and keeps you hooked, although there was a lull there about 1/4 of the way in, for me.
I did like the biologist, she was a character I could really relate to.
I should have read it in the daytime though.
Somebody said they were reading the rest of the series. Is it good? I wasn't really intending to read past this one.
Tom wrote: "I agree. I've finished chapter four and have not found much in the way of personality in any of the characters. It's as if the author, in limiting their identities to their professions, has excised the humanity out of them. "I agree to some extent, but through the flashbacks we get a pretty moving picture of the biologist's emotional detachment and how it's shaped her life. It makes me sad to read so many Amazon reviews that interpret emotional detachment as being a non-person. (Or maybe those reviewers hadn't gotten to the flashbacks yet.)
Sarah wrote: "I honestly did not expect this book to scare the hell out of me! I got to the point where I was reading just to get the suspense/horror over with."The horror elements are similar to those you would expect in something by H. P. Lovecraft; unnatural, writhing, invasive. More than once Area X reminded me of a cancer. This type of story makes me very uncomfortable, but maybe it's supposed to.
Carson wrote: "It makes me sad to read so many Amazon reviews that interpret emotional detachment as being a non-person,..."There was an equal amount of emotional detachment with all of the characters, though. There was nothing to grab on to, which made them seem like non-persons. I connected some with the biologist but not as much as I would have with a more typical character.
Tom wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I honestly did not expect this book to scare the hell out of me! I got to the point where I was reading just to get the suspense/horror over with."The horror elements are similar t..."
This book actually reminded me of 77 Shadow Street. A lot.
Carson wrote: "It makes me sad to read so many Amazon reviews that interpret emotional detachment as being a non-person."Good point
I agree with Ashleigh that she was more observer than detached. That's the way she felt to me.
Sarah wrote: "Carson wrote: "It makes me sad to read so many Amazon reviews that interpret emotional detachment as being a non-person,..."There was an equal amount of emotional detachment with all of the chara..."
That was my issue as well. It wasn't a matter of one character disengaging from those around her, but all of them behave as if they have little to no understanding of how to interact with other humans. Heck, the psychologist resorts to controlling everyone around her with hypnotic commands. And those who sent them to the area instructed them to avoid contaminating one another with personal stories, or even names. That in itself interests me, makes me wonder what is going on.
So, even though I'm not connecting with the story in a traditional manner, I have to admit it's pulling me along due to the many unanswered questions. And considering the author is the same person who wrote "Finch", I guess I shouldn't be too surprised that fungus-like life forms seem to be involved in this story.
Please remember this is a spoiler free thread. Threads allowing spoilers will be up next week.
Hank wrote: "The exploration of Area X continually reminds me of playing a text version of an adventure game. ---You are at a crossroads---do you want to A. go down the path
B. Go to the lighthouse
C. Go int..."
Great! Now when I read psychologist, surveyor, biologist, I think cleric, ranger, magic user..
Mod
I am picking this up from the library tonight!
Tom wrote: "I agree. I've finished chapter four and have not found much in the way of personality in any of the characters. It's as if the author, in limiting their identities to their professions, has excised the humanity out of them."
I read this book months ago, but I recall that being my first impression also. As much as I liked the eerie and mysterious vibe that the author was beginning to establish, I have a hard time getting invested in a story when I can't get invested in the characters.
I read this book months ago, but I recall that being my first impression also. As much as I liked the eerie and mysterious vibe that the author was beginning to establish, I have a hard time getting invested in a story when I can't get invested in the characters.
I'm at page 68 and it's gotten me hooked pretty good. With all the comparisons I was seeing before I read it, I was afraid it was going to be a little too off the wall for me but I'm not finding that all yet. It pulls off the mystery and suspense vibe really well. Can't say that the lack of characterization was something that bothered me. I took them all as strangers that are a little confused and untrusting of one another. You get a reclusive and "every man for himself" vibe from them which I thought was intentional given the history of the previous expeditions.
Despite my comments about the strange approach to characterization, I'm quite involved in the book. It's deviation from the norm says I should dislike it, yet just the opposite has occurred.
I'm 83% of the way through the book. There have been a couple of jarring surprises, which is good. I appreciate being surprised. I did predict something that looks like it may come true, but I still want to finish the book to see how it plays out.
Nearly finished, really enjoying it. It has a very Lovecrafty/House of Leaves-y vibe to it, much love.
I finished this morning. I'm still trying to decide what I think about it. I thought it was decently written, and the mystery dragged me along quite well. I'm frustrated by the lack of answers, feel like I was part of an experiment - which might be the whole point.
David wrote: " Also, if it's a novella in a trilogy, why not just publish the three books together? "Area X: The Southern Reach Trilogy: Annihilation; Authority; Acceptance :P
I agree, though, I was gonna buy these up after I finish Annihilation (holy coverart, Batman!!), but I'll probably wait for the omnibus now.
People who have read/are reading Authority and Acceptance, are they good? Do they keep the tension/unsettling tone of the first one?
I would like to know that as well.
That might be a better question for the spoiler thread... in general, I liked Annihilation much better than Authority, which takes a very different tack style and plot-wise. Acceptance just came from the library and I hope to get to it soon.
My first thoughts were:1. I feel like something may be a little off with the narrator/Biologist. Not sure that I trust her viewpoint.
2. Interesting the way the author has stripped the characters down to rolels, removing their names and trying to keep them from bonding.
3. Why in the heck would a group like this need a Psychologist of all things?
4. Aren't they over reacting a little to the fungus words? Is this really such a strange thing?
So, I am now about halfway through the book.
I came to the thread about 1/4 of the way in to post my "initial impressions" and see if others had the same thoughts. However, I almost immediately did an about face and stopped reading the comments.
I want to say this as nicely as possible, because I love this group and the interaction, but I was more than a little dismayed when some folks who had finished the book posted comments that confirmed speculation or other information from a finished reader's perspective.
Were there huge spoilers posted? No at all. However, some comments did change my perspective toward the narrator.
Now, back to the book...it has gone wonderfully creepy. I can't wait to finish it.
Liam wrote: "David wrote: " Also, if it's a novella in a trilogy, why not just publish the three books together? "Area X: The Southern Reach Trilogy: Annihilation; Authority; Acceptance :P
I ..."
Authority is very different from Annihilation. Different setting, different narrator, different tone, although it does continue the storyline. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the first book, but from some reviews I can see that some people liked it better.
I'm currently reading Acceptance and once again I am very much into this story.
My apologies all. This thread did turn into one with lots of spoilers. I think this book lends itself to discussion with spoilers and I apologise to any and all who read things here that gave away later parts of the book. It is a mysterious story and I can understand why so many spoilery comments slipped in. We'll police this better in future.
Mod
That was a very polite slap on the hand from both Valerie and Penny, lets not force them to use wetboys or kangaroos with guns on us :)
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Under the Dome (other topics)Authority (other topics)
Area X: The Southern Reach Trilogy (other topics)
Acceptance (other topics)
Authority (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Michael Crichton (other topics)H.P. Lovecraft (other topics)
Franz Kafka (other topics)
What are your first impressions? Did it suck you in from the first page? Do you like the main protagonists? Is the scenario well set up? Give us your thoughts!