Area X

The Southern Reach Trilogy - Annihilation, Authority, Acceptance

By: Jeff VanderMeer

Narrated by: Carolyn McCormick, Bronson Pinchot, Xe Sands

If J. J. Abrams, Margaret Atwood, and Alan Weisman collaborated on a series, it might be this awesome.

This collection includes all three novels in the epic Southern Reach trilogy: Annihilation, Authority, and Acceptance. Praised for its evocative prose, chilling psychological twists, and intriguing story arc, this series has amassed high critical and popular acclaim, with book one landing on the New York Times best sellers list.

Dive into the mysteries of Area X, a remote and lush terrain that has inexplicably sequestered itself from civilization. Twelve expeditions have gone in, and not a single member of any of them has remained unchanged by the experience - for better or worse.

©2014 VanderMeer Creative, Inc. Annihilation, Authority, and Acceptance © 2014 by VanderMeer Creative, Inc. (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

excellent trilogy, excellent readings

I really enjoyed this trilogy. the writing is excellent, its language poetic and vivid. the reading performances are brilliant.

weird story but ok

The narrators were excellent but the story was too weird for me. I liked the parts from the director's point of view and Saul's but the parts about Ghost Bird and Control felt weird and aimless. The writing is good, the plot just wasn't concrete enough for me.

Good yet unsatisfying story

I enjoyed the story but VanderMeer’s writing felt lackluster. Overly wordy at times and despite shifts in perspective, all characters had a very similar “voice”.

I do not enjoy how he writes “twists”. It’s never an actual twist, just context the reader has been expecting for chapters. That style deepens the story as it goes, but rarely delivers anything that feels like it influences the direction.

There might be only one mystery the characters actually solve throughout the entire series. And that one, only halfway. Every other discovery is knowledge kept secret by other characters. I get that the book is about secrets, but it is incredibly frustrating to get so little answered with so many questions asked.

Gets a bit slow

This book seems to be a little slower than I expected it to be . At 1st I was excited to read it as it's about to be a movie. I am not sure if I appreciate the first person story telling by the narrator or if the book is just too slow to get into. I don't recommend this book. (AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY)

good SciFi well read

this was a pretty decent series of books. I liked the story for the most part, even if it didn't fully answer all the questions it posed. what I liked most about it was Bronson Pinchot's narration. it's easy to forget that he's a gifted actor, when you haven't seen him in much of anything lately. he brings the characters to life in a way that a lot of narrators fail to do. I will be looking in the future for more books narrated by him.

Just stick to Annihilation

Annihilation is mesmerizing and draws one in with vivid imagery and the haunting characterization of the nameless Biologist. Authority was difficult to enjoy in part due to the feeble characterization of the character it follows, John "Control" Rodriguez. The last book, Acceptance, is at least livened with perspectives outside of Control, but still seems to struggle to artfully wrap up the many mysteries sown by Vandermeer in the first novel.

Thought-provoking and enticing

All three narrators give an excellent performance and accurately convey their characters. The story kept me very on edge and wanting for answers, and really drew me in with all of the questions surrounding Area X. In the end, not all answers are given and the reader must draw some of their own conclusions, but not without plenty of details. The nature of the story is thrilling and spooky but with little action. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have listened to it twice.

What was this about?

First book was great. I enjoyed it. 2nd and 3rd were boring AF. It didn’t explain anything other than just talk talk talk. Only read the 1st book

couldn't get through the whole thing

The concept is intriguing but it is just so boring. Maybe the ending would have paid off but I'll never know. The characters continuously look back into the past narrating how they got to this point but it just drags the plot and not much happens in present tense.

Great book but be warned

Really enjoyed this trilogy. I’m really just writing this review because Carolyn McCormick and Bronson do a great job of reading but in book 3 we get introduced to Xe Sands. Xe Sands reads while utilizing a vocal fry on just about every sentence and this can be very off putting. You’ve been warned.