SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Annihilation
Group Reads Discussions 2014
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"Annihilation" Final Thoughts *Spoilers*
I liked it, but I didn't love it. I just wanted to know more, I feel too much went unanswered, though I know there are 2 sequels. I went into it with the mindset of a standalone though.
Normally not my type of book at all--I tend to be very character-driven, and the main character here was Area X. Still, puzzling it out through the interpretations of the biologist was very interesting. I'm not really a 'horror' genre fan, but this had a wonderful atmosphere of creepy/foreign/dischord, as opposed to outright destructive.
It was my first time with Vandermeer, and I discovered I really enjoy his writing. Great imagery/language/metaphor.
The effect of this cannot be understood without being there. The beauty of it cannot be understood, either, and when you see beauty in desolation it changes something inside you. Desolation tries to colonize you.
Loved it. The audio version was great.
I loved Annihilation and will be reading the sequels. The writing was spare but conveyed all we needed to know. I think it was meant to be creepy and it was. As for characters without names, what more did we really need to know about them? The mysteries surrounding their motivations to join the mission, for the psychologist to act as she did, etc. added to the creepiness and tension. (By the way, I recently read a book that gave me the same sort of feeling and was written in what I thought was similar style- if you are interested- In the Country of Last Things
I really quite enjoyed it, and I wasn't expecting to.
I liked it a lot. It was definitely spooky during the walk to the lighthouse and back! I was surprised by the fate of the other scientists. I'm going to try to read the following two books as soon as I can... Must know what is on the island!
Omigod, the thing that was molting its human skin and chasing her through the reeds? It was one of those moments that I was trying to read it from the corner of my eye, like that would make it less scary.I loved the book and thought it was ingenious and incredibly well done. The act of making the wilderness the main character was unique and intriguing. It was very enjoyable but I will never go walking through wet reeds in case there's a molting altered human that has just shed it's skin. I'm taking practical precautions. ;)
Let me start by saying I really enjoyed it. I recently finished At the Mountains of Madness and saw a lot of parallels with this book. I loved that the story was more about the journey and the quest for discovery than about a firm answer as to what is happening. There is just that building sense of foreboding and the eventual horror as we join the Biologist in her gruesome discoveries. Along the way, she makes some discoveries about herself.
I thought the removal of names really allowed the reader to get absorbed into the world and the quest, rather than getting hung up on who is who. There really were only three characters that mattered: the Biologist, the husband, and Area X.
I loved that the Biologist realized that her withdrawn and observant nature fit Area X better than the "real" world and that she decided to stay. I also love that author gave us just enough for closure, yet I am sitting here today speculating about what might/could have been.
I plan to read the other two books. I was thrilled that my library had this one, but it does not yet have the other two. I may have to put in acquisition requests for them.
I mentioned this in a different thread. The book reminded me of Stanislaus Lem's Eden. The eerie and strange environment, the characters known by their occupation rather than their name. Lem was a master at creepy, paranoid, uncomfortable storytelling. This was very similar but better written. Lem's writing may have suffered from translation. Overall, I thought it was a great ride and I still don't know what was real and what was imagined up to and including her existence before area X. Needless to say, I will be reading the sequels (though the "Authority" reviews scare me. Possible dip in quality).
I just want to say that I loved the biologist. She doesn't have a name, but that didn't make me find her any less interesting. At the beginning things are deliberately very confusing but after she starts to remember her old life, especially her passion while observing life in the pools, I felt we really got to know her. It is rare to find a character so introverted in a novel, since they don't always make for the best stories, but I found I could really relate to her.
Paolo wrote: "I just want to say that I loved the biologist. She doesn't have a name, but that didn't make me find her any less interesting. At the beginning things are deliberately very confusing but after she ..."I totally agree, Paolo.
I enjoyed this, and probably will keep thinking about it for some time. No doubt will read the sequels also! I found the revelations of the biologist and the consequences that they had for her interesting. Such deliberate writing.
For example, the pile of journals found under the trapdoor, including of course her husband's journal. In which she discovers his dedication to and affection for her - completely changing her opinion of him and his actions.
Quite melancholic, actually.
Well, I thought the story was ok. It was interesting, yes, but that's it. It was an great idea but it was kinda of ill-practised? I know, it's a trilogy, but I want answers dammit. You're supposed to give answers slowly, not 10 pages left. And the characters? Which characters? The biologist is basically the only character and sometimes she sounded like a robot (Although she had her moments, for example, the pool) . I'm a very character-driven person, ok?
My biggest problem with plays is long monologues and no description. But I also hate no conversation and detailed descriptions. I feel like Alice but I want action and dialogue, goddamit. I love sci-fi but it wasn't entertaining and it took me a long time to finish it. That's why I gave only two stars, "It's okay" according to Goodreads. I dunno, I just feel like it could be a lot better.
My biggest problem with plays is long monologues and no description. But I also hate no conversation and detailed descriptions. I feel like Alice but I want action and dialogue, goddamit. I love sci-fi but it wasn't entertaining and it took me a long time to finish it. That's why I gave only two stars, "It's okay" according to Goodreads. I dunno, I just feel like it could be a lot better.
Something I quite liked was that it was sort of difficult to nail down a time - it could really be set at any point in the last 30 years, or the next 30 years.
Liam wrote: "Something I quite liked was that it was sort of difficult to nail down a time - it could really be set at any point in the last 30 years, or the next 30 years."Good point. I liked that as well--made it feel like classic sci-fi.
I really liked it — the story was unusual, intriguing and atmospheric. The decision not to name any of the characters actually made me pay more attention to their individual traits, as I wanted to find out who they were beyond the labels. The lack of answers at the end was unsatisfying, but I would definitely like to read to the end of the trilogy.
I toyed around with not reading this pick for this month, but in the end I am glad I did.I found this book to be insidiously creepy right from the start, and the mystery and uncertainty and the slowly enfolding story line had me captivated from early on. There was indeed a Lovecraftian feel to this story, with an atmosphere of foreboding and never a clear sense of who or what the underlying evil was. The ending left me perplexed, unsettled, and unsatisfied, but still fascinated and very much interested in the second and third books in this trilogy.
WHen I first read it, I thought I didn't like it very much. But it was so perplexing to me that the Second I saw Authority at the store I purchased it without a second thought. The books are all different, and together make a great story...
I agree that it was creepy, mysterious and uncertain. I was able to read "Authority" right after, but had to wait while "Acceptance" made its way to me from the library--it was probably 6 weeks at least. I would strongly recommend that anyone who reads on try to read them close together. It does make me wonder if it should be released as one book, but they were all rather different, stylistically.
Did anybody else wonder about the door she saw at the bottom of the tower? She did it looked like the border they came out of and we know they had to be hypnotized to get out. Was this where they came in? Could it have been another door? Thanks for the tip on reading them close together. I'll have to snag them from the library.
Carol. [All cynic, all the time] wrote: "I would strongly recommend that anyone who reads on try to read them close together."Sarah wrote: "Thanks for the tip on reading them close together. I'll have to snag them from the library. "
Yes, my thanks as well. I am now the proud down-loader of both Authority and Acceptance. This is a fine example of what can happen to a Kindle owner with an impulse control problem.
No kidding! I have so many books I haven't read! It's too much fun to buy them.
Loved this book. In all honesty, I had no idea what was going on...but that's what made it so scary!! Just flowing down the same path as the Biologist...discovering things as she does.I really think all three books need to be read, it's a great story!
The audio version is fantastic.
Maggie wrote: "WHen I first read it, I thought I didn't like it very much. But it was so perplexing to me that the Second I saw Authority at the store I purchased it without a second thought. The..."
That's very similar to how I felt. I had a somewhat negative feeling at the end of the book, but I was also curious enough about what was going on to read the second book shortly after. I already have the third and plan to read it also.
I like the feeling and mood that the author is able to generate and sustain throughout the book, but I also like a story to be more plot driven. Nothing much really happens here. There are some very weird and affecting scenes in this book, but it sure takes its time getting around to them.
That's very similar to how I felt. I had a somewhat negative feeling at the end of the book, but I was also curious enough about what was going on to read the second book shortly after. I already have the third and plan to read it also.
I like the feeling and mood that the author is able to generate and sustain throughout the book, but I also like a story to be more plot driven. Nothing much really happens here. There are some very weird and affecting scenes in this book, but it sure takes its time getting around to them.
Maybe we should start a new thread (or two) for those who read on? I'd definitely be interested in discussing them.
That's a great idea.
For me it's all about the characters, so the cold objective tone nearly made me stop before I really got started. I kept thinking how it's not my kind of story and I should stop reading it... but I couldn't put it down. I was late-returning-from-lunch hooked. When I was done, I bought the sequel. Great read.
Once again, I’m a little bit ahead of schedule for the group’s scheduled July 15 re-read, but I just finished and wanted to post my thoughts while they’re fresh -- and before they get contaminated by the sequel that I plan to start reading in a little bit. :)I enjoyed this a lot. It was a short and fast read, although maybe a little too short. I thought the biologist was an interesting character, different from other main characters one normally reads about. I identified with her in some ways, particularly with her need for solitude and her somewhat anti-social behavior, although I identified less with some of the choices she made and the way she reacted to things. Sometimes she didn’t seem to exhibit the more scientific, logical characteristics I would have expected from a biologist, although part of this was likely the influence of Area X.
This book has a lot of questions and very few answers, exacerbated by the fact that the biologist is most likely an unreliable narrator. For one thing, she’s been manipulated from the beginning between the careful doling out of information and the hypnotism. We don’t know how much of the back story prior to her arrival at Area X is true, and we don’t know how much of her current observations might still be influenced. And then of course there’s the fact that she’s been infected by the spores and is starting to change, which could be affecting her perceptions of reality. Plus there’s her personality herself – she’s reluctant to reveal more information than she feels necessary so we don’t know what she isn’t telling us because she didn’t think it was necessary. At one point she does confess that she left out some information which she then adds later, so who knows what else she left out without adding later.
I’m hoping the second book might offer some more definite answers. I’m not too sure what to expect from it as far as whether we’ll continue on with the biologist’s story, or follow a new team that arrives at Area X, or what. But I’m definitely interested in learning more.
I also read this early, and I'm nearly finished with the whole trilogy. Unless I'm blown away by the ending, I anticipate this will be 3-stars across the board. This one was a quick read, and truly creepy at times, although the lack of answers was really frustrating. Still a good mystery is enough to get me hooked, and this certainly provided a unique and confounding mystery.
I found the hypnosis stuff really implausible. I studied hypnosis in college and as part of the research I was put into a state of hypnosis. I was determined to by highly suggestible and even then, the hypnotic suggestion at the end of the session to not recall the session was imperfect. I found my memories were hazy at first but the more I worked at it, the more recall I had. So a hypnotic suggestion to not recall anything over a period of 4 days, and the hypnotic suggestion of 'Annihilation' to make someone kill themselves is almost laughable, hypnosis is not strong enough to make anyone do anything against their will. It is called a hypnotic suggestion for a reason.
A spoiler for the 2nd & 3rd books: (view spoiler)
Jen wrote: "I found the hypnosis stuff really implausible. I studied hypnosis in college and as part of the research I was put into a state of hypnosis."That’s very interesting info about hypnosis, thanks! I did feel a little skeptical about the way hypnosis was being used, but I know so little about it that it has been easy for me to suspend my disbelief and just go with it. You’re much braver than I am, as I don’t think I would let anybody hypnotize me for any cause, no matter how controlled the setting.
I’ll come back and read your spoiler when I’ve finished the series. I just finished the second book a little bit ago.
YouKneeK wrote: "I’ll come back and read your spoiler when I’ve finished the series. I just finished the second book a little bit ago. "Cool! Probably ok to read the spoiler after the 2nd book but if you want to be extra safe wait until you're done. I'm not sure now exactly what was said in book 2 and book 3.
I finished the third book and I'm glad I read them all. I finished Acceptance right before bed and had really wacky dreams about Area X all night. What an interesting series, very different. A really engaging mystery.
Mod
Cool! Probably ok to read the spoiler after the 2nd book bu..."
Jen we were discussing the movie in another thread weren't we? Can I ask if all three books together ended up like the movie or were they different?
Sarah wrote: "Jen we were discussing the movie in another thread weren't we? Can I ask if all three books together ended up like the movie or were they different? "Yes we were! Movie was totally different. I think someone said in the movie discussion thread that it was like the screenwriter read 20 pages of the book and then did their own thing, and I would agree with that assessment.
Mod
Yes we were! Movie was totally ..."
cool- thanks! I need to get on the second and third books. It's not even like they take much time to read I just have so much else scheduled. I've really enjoyed VanderMeer's writing so far. He's kind of like a new weird take on Crichton. Or maybe like a literary Crichton? I don't know.
Yea I read them all pretty quickly. They really suck you in, just like Crichton.
Just finished Annihilation and I'm not a huge fan. I don't think it was necessarily the fault of the book, it's just not my cup of tea. I feel like a lot of the details that were thrown in were weird just for the sake of being weird. I don't know how much real purpose there was behind a lot of the details other than "what will be really creepy and strange?" I've never been a fan of scenes where things are so strange they can't be properly described. Things where the narrator says that they don't have enough senses, or their senses can't keep up with what they are observing. I understand it as a device to convey disorientation, but it kind of just ends up giving me a headache. The scene where the biologist finally comes upon the Crawler was so painful for me. (Again, that's just a personal preference. I see the value in it. I just don't like it.)
I definitely preferred Borne by this author more than this particular book. It was just as weird, but it had a lot more character development, which made it more enjoyable for me. You never get a good sense of the characters in Annihilation. Which fits with the dehumanization that the Southern Reach encourages, but it made it harder for me to engage with the story.
I won't be reading the rest of the series, but I'm not mad about reading this one. I enjoy broadening my horizons. :)
I began re-reading Annihilation yesterday, and this time around I was thinking about the themes of infection and contamination (that you mention @YouKneeK) from the beginning. An overriding memory from my last read, was enjoying the ambiguous and uncertain descriptions of the landscape and life forms. When you say that the scene with the Crawler is painful, how so? @Kristin B. ?
@Sarah @Jen a literary Crichton - that's really interesting! In what sense?
In case you don't know, I'm also a researcher interested in reading group discussions, and following a few threads on SFFBC with your permission - Allison introduced me here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... - this link also contains more info on the project & a consent form.
Thanks, looking forward to discussing more!
Miranda wrote: "When you say that the scene with the Crawler is painful, how so? @Kristin B. ? ..."Hey Miranda. I've just never been a fan of trying to read about really abstract and disorienting experiences. The biologist is describing what she experiences when she comes across the Crawler, but she is explaining things that she doesn't really understand and can't keep up with the stimuli. She talks about the feeling of drowning even though there is no water. There's a lot of abstract description of shapes, colors and other things to give us this impression that what she is experiencing is something that the human mind and it's five senses can't really comprehend. It's just never been a narrative tool that I have enjoyed. Instead of making me feel the disorientation of the character I tend to just get frustrated.
This is really a personal preference. I can see the value of it. I'm just not a fan.
Mod
In terms of being more literary, I just think his writing is more poetic than Crichton. Crichton is pretty straightforward, while VanderMeer can ventures into more descriptive terms. I don’t know if I explained myself very well here- let me know if you’d like clarification on anything!
@Kristin B. @Sarah Thanks, it’s really interesting hearing about your personal responses - that is what the project is about! :)I'm going to carry on making my way through the book (hoping it’s less scary this time), and take a back seat in the discussion for now …
I read Annihilation last night (literally started after midnight) and I couldn't put it down, I had to finish. I have a cold and am slightly feverish, and possibly these two things together are the reason I had the weirdest, most wonderful dream last night! I can't describe it, but immediately upon waking my first thought was "that was Area X".I had meant to read this as a standalone, but after reading everyone's comments, maybe I'll continue the series after all.
For those who've read both this and Planetfall by Emma Newman, did you notice some fascinating similarities? I don't want to spoil all of Planetfall here, but I started thinking about a certain aspect of that mystery very early into Annihilation.
The real question is have you read Rosewater yet?
Yes I have! And funnily enough, I didn't think of the similarities before now, but you're absolutely right!
Way more similarities there versus Planetfall to me
To be fair I've read Planetfall three times and Rosewater once (although less than a month ago), so it's only natural that I'd remember Planetfall better and think of it first. And it's not the whole book that's similar (like Rosewater), but that one aspect that reminded me of Planetfall, and made me immediately curious.I'm already a few chapters into Authority, I'm glad I decided to continue. Also I think a fever spell is the exact right time to be reading this series!
Yes it’s quite like a fever dream 😆
Reading this for a second time. I really like the idea of invasion and humanity. From the start, we're all expecting an alien invasion, but as the readers, we are the real invaders. We're digging through this character's journal entries in search of more.I haven't read a lot of sci-fi, so this may be more common than I'm aware of, just thought it was neat.
I read this a couple of months ago and I feel like it went over my head? Probably one that would benefit from a re-read for me. I found the ideas really cool but it left too many questions for me to be satisfied. I should probably just read the rest of the trilogy!
I read this a while back and really enjoyed it. I like the comparison someone made to Lovecraft. It is a little like that. It also kinda reminded me of the creature in The Expanse and the creature in the film Leviathan. Very much my cup of tea. Though sometimes I really wanted to know where Area X was and what the history was. But as a former X-Files fan, I can deal with not all questions being answered.
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Remember, this is only a discussion of Annihilation. While we'd love to hear whether or not people enjoyed the rest of the series, please do not spoiler it.