• Authority

  • Southern Reach Trilogy, Book 2
  • By: Jeff VanderMeer
  • Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
  • Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (1,405 ratings)

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Authority  By  cover art

Authority

By: Jeff VanderMeer
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
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Publisher's summary

The bone-chilling, hair-raising second installment of the Southern Reach Trilogy.

For 30 years, a secret agency called the Southern Reach has monitored expeditions into Area X - a remote and lush terrain mysteriously sequestered from civilization. After the 12th expedition, the Southern Reach is in disarray, and John Rodriguez (a.k.a. "Control") is the team's newly appointed head. From a series of interrogations, a cache of hidden notes, and more than two hundred hours of profoundly troubling video footage, the secrets of Area X begin to reveal themselves - and what they expose pushes Control to confront disturbing truths about both himself and the agency he's promised to serve.

©2014 Jeff VanderMeer (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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What listeners say about Authority

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Meh

an unnecessary part of the trilogy, as far as I can tell, not a lot of things are resolved

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

mind bending and excellent

you'll ask yourself what the heck is going on almost as much as the main characters. the gradual unveiling of just a few answers is spectacularly thrilling, and the realization that it just leaves more questions keeps me coming back over and over again. my favorite of the southern reach trilogy.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Slow burn with perfect finish

Different from Annihilation, but just as shimmering with the author's brilliance. Starts off more like a workplace thriller and then gets gradually into the strangeness around Area X.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not impressive

Would you listen to another book narrated by Bronson Pinchot?

Perhaps. His narration wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible either.

Do you think Authority needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

This book is the second in a trilogy. I enjoyed the first - Annihilation - much more. But with as weak as I felt this book to be I am not sure I will go on to read the final book. This book solves some mysteries, and brings up a lot more, but really didn't leave a strong urge in me to continue reading and figure it all out.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

a ton of details for your brain to process

I still have so many questions. i hope the last book of the triology completes the circle and those questions find answers

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Stop saying every H please.

Love the Southern Reach Trilogy. Do not know why this narrator feels like he must pronounce every H he sees. "hhhwhiskey" sir stop.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

overwhelming

there's a lot to process in this book. you get a few more pieces of the puzzle, but they end up leaving you with more questions than answers. this book kept me guessing all the way through. I can't wait to see how the author wraps up this trilogy.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

It’s worth toughing out

VanderMeers writing is that similar slow burn satisfaction you get similar to David Lynch’s twin peaks. I really felt like I had to slog through the first two thirds of the book but when things came together it was a beautiful masterpiece

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The storyline was very confusing

I love the first book in the southern reach trilogy annihilation. This book has a different feeling though and it doesn’t really make sense until over halfway through the book and then I kind of felt cheated and once again there’s no resolution. I’m really hoping book 3 is much better and answer some questions.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I'm glad I read this, despite other's reviews

I liked this book, altho I got quite confused near the end with several mysteries and interesting characters that needed resolution getting swept away in the last chapter without explaination and closure...
Feels like I missed something...?
--book 3 will hopefully clear that up?

But I loved that narration of Bronson P! Such an improvement over book 1's narrator! He is awesome and drew me into the story like I was watching a movie!

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