Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer follows an unnamed biologist tasked to explore the mysterious “Area X,” which has been cut off from civilization, with a group of three other unnamed characters with different career backgrounds tasked with the job of studying and observing the tainted land. Area X is a region marked off from society for its dangerous and mysterious nature. Eleven expeditions have set out to explore the area, and all eleven have either returned back to civilization mentally changed or have not come back at all. This book follows the journey of the twelfth expedition.
Right off the bat, you are thrown into a dystopian world so similar to our own, with the exception of the mysterious “Area X.” Through the narrator, the unnamed biologist, you discover the wonders and dangers of this tainted land with her, while also bearing what little haunted knowledge she knows before even entering. Although the novel takes place during the expedition, there are numerous necessary flashbacks into the biologist’s life prior to being chosen for the expedition. The introduction of characters and the building of suspense preceding the start of the expedition creates further discomfort when connected to the present point of view. The author is adept at creating intricate relationships between characters that have very little trust, and creating intense scenes by placing them in situations where trust is needed the most.
The book is heavily science fiction with horror and mystery elements. The writing style is very detached, as you soon learn that it is written in the form of a scientific log by the biologist. VanderMeer is successful in causing the reader to be as confused and weary as the narrator is while she is exploring this new terrain. The prose, although a little dense at times, is a positive to the novel. The farther you reach in the novel, the more unsettled you become. VanderMeer is able to create an ominous atmosphere in the novel that encompasses the reader in a feeling of discomfort in this world that seems so familiar but ultimately is not. The biologist’s narration instills a sense of unease into the reader from the first page. The themes of contamination, survival, and discovery are well utilized and grips the reader into finding out what is happening in Area X, just like the biologist.
I think this is a good novel if you are interested in reading more science fiction. It is not a heavy sci-fi book which makes it more accessible and more appealing to a casual reader, as well as avid science fiction enthusiasts. The use of the biologist as the narrator was an excellent decision as it gives the reader more insight into the mysterious area being explored and documented. I liked the detached prose as it created a more authentic feel to the observation and helped me to connect more with the brevity of the situation that the characters find themselves in. I also liked the fact that none of the main characters are named, as it creates further tension between the characters. I will say, this novel can be quite dense when the narrator begins to describe different biological phenomena and studies relevant to the story. Although they ultimately pay off and are useful to the story, it may be a little off-putting when reading the tangents about different biological subjects into the journal if you are not overall interested or familiar with the topic. However, if this is not a negative for you, I highly recommend the book.
