Authority: Book Two of the Southern Reach Trilogy - Softcover

Vandermeer, Jeff

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1443428418 ISBN 13: 9781443428415

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2014

Synopsis

The much anticipated second instalment in VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy

In Annihilation, Jeff VanderMeer introduced the mysteries of Area X-a remote and lush terrain mysteriously sequestered from civilization. It was the first volume of a projected trilogy; well in advance of publication, translation rights had sold all around the world, and a major movie deal had been struck. Just months later, the second volume is here.

For thirty years, the only human engagement with Area X has taken the form of a series of expeditions monitored by a secret agency called the Southern Reach. After the disastrous twelfth expedition chronicled in Annihilation, 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 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. And the consequences will reach much farther than that.

The Southern Reach trilogy will conclude in fall 2014 with Acceptance.

About this title

About the Author

JEFF VANDERMEER is an award-winning novelist and editor, most recently the author of the critically acclaimed Borne and the New York Times–bestselling Southern Reach trilogy. VanderMeer is also the co-editor, with his wife, Ann VanderMeer, of The Big Book of Science Fiction. He grew up in the Fiji Islands and now lives in Tallahassee, Florida.

Web: JeffVanderMeer.com

Twitter: @JeffVanderMeer

 

Review

“Authority isn't a book that just picks up where the last one left off. Instead, it's packed full of new pleasures, not only new characters and settings but whole new kinds of writing. If Annihilation is an expedition novel painted with a thick coat of weird, then Authority is a spy novel given the same dark lacquer . . . Which makes me desperate to know what the third book is going to be like--whether it will be some mixture of the two, Jurassic Park meets James Bond, or some third thing entirely.” ―Robin Sloan, author of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

“The great thing about Annihilation is the strange, elusive, and paranoid world that it creates. The great thing about Authority is the way it takes the premises that we think we know about that world and turns them inside out, destabilizing everything in a way that makes it even more strange and elusive, and makes us the ones who feel paranoid. A stunning book, followed by a second stunning book that makes you rethink the first.” ―Brian Evenson, author of Last Days with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“A clear triumph for VanderMeer, who after numerous works of genre fiction has suddenly transcended genre with a compelling, elegant and existential story of far broader appeal.” ―Lydia Millet, Los Angeles Times with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“Unsettling and un-put-downable--like an old-fashioned adventure story, only weirder, beautifully written, and not at all old-fashioned.” ―Karen Joy Fowler, BookPage with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“Chilling.” ―Julie Bosman, The New York Times with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“Ingenious.” ―Laura Miller, Salon with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“Enthralling.” ―Tara Wanda Merrigan, GQ with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“Fans of the Lost TV series . . . this one is for you.” ―Molly Driscoll, The Christian Science Monitor

“[Annihilation] will make you believe in the power of science mysteries again.” ―Annalee Newitz, io9 with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“Successfully creepy.” ―Sara Sklaroff, The Washington Post with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“Fascinating.” ―John Domini, Miami Herald with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“[Annihilation] teases and terrifies and fascinates.” ―Kevin Nguyen, Grantland with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“Dazzling.” ―Peter Straub, author of Lost Boy, Lost Girl with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“Haunted and haunting.” ―Kelly Link, author of Magic for Beginners with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

“Original and beautiful, maddening and magnificent.” ―Warren Ellis with praise for THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1443428418
• ISBN 13: 9781443428415
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 352