Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

                They were the twelfth expedition to make their way to Area X: the psychologist, the surveyor, the anthropologist and the biologist. There was a linguist but she had second thoughts before going through the barrier. When the four crossed through, with the help of some hypnosis by the psychologist, they all had their packs on their backs. It took them four days to reach the camp. Some remains from the previous expedition were left behind. Everything was as it seemed except for the tunnel, or the tower as our narrator the biologist called it. The tower had never been mentioned and it wasn’t on any of their maps and yet there it was descending into the depths, visible only slightly above the ground. In their canvassing of the area they knew they would eventually have to enter the tower but no one would understand the implications of the writing on the wall.

                Well, this is the kind of science fiction that I really love to read. The type that obviously has some supernatural existence but is shrouded in mystery and the moaning you hear in the night isn’t human, or is it. Told in first person by the Biologist the very palpable fear of the four women taking place in this expedition is constantly referenced. This book is a venture into the depths of the unknown and the world building of the mysterious Area X is extremely well done. Vandermeer’s attention to detail and his atmosphere of fear and of something gone terribly awry, almost becomes its own entitity in this novel.

                I don’t want to go into to many details because that would give too much away. This the kind of science fiction novel that is better savored. I didn’t want to put this down. I found the biologist’s observations to be extremely disturbing and I couldn’t turn away. This book is the first in the trilogy and it sets itself up perfectly for the sequel. I am very interested and intrigued by this story. I give this 4 out of 5 stars.