waheinz14's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
dcsmith952's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
fernreadsometimes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
guylc's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe.... Read annihilation and imagine that it just leaves a lot of questions, and make your own answers. I don't feel like the 15-20 hours it took to read the last two books were worth it.
fuchsia_groan's review against another edition
2.0
Cuando hace unos años empecé a leer Veniss Soterrada estaba casi convencida de que Jeff VanderMeer se convertiría en uno de mis autores imprescindibles. Pero terminé la novela con sensaciones encontradas: las descripciones y el mundo creado eran fantásticos, mientras que la historia y los personajes distaban bastante de ser redondos. Con todo, me quedó claro que estaba ante un autor diferente y al que merecía la pena seguir de cerca.
Esta trilogía, Southern Reach, es la que le ha catapultado a la fama, y pese al entusiasmo de la crítica, yo la finalizo con unas sensaciones parecidas a mi impresión inicial, confirmando que la prosa de VanderMeer es fabulosa, y que cuando caiga en mis manos otro de sus libros, volveré a él (y seguramente sentiré de nuevo lo mismo).
La primera novela, Aniquilación, la disfruté mucho y creo que es la mejor de las tres. La agencia gubernamental Southern Reach investiga desde hace años una especie de catástrofe medioambiental de la que se desconocen las causas, enviando expediciones científicas que son incapaces de dar una respuesta al motivo de la formación del Área X, una zona dominada por una naturaleza salvaje, inquietante y desconocida. Todas las expediciones han fracasado, los expertos vuelven siendo meras sombras de lo que eran y la mayoría, por diversas causas, fallecen. En esa novela se cuenta la historia de la duodécima expedición.
Ahora que han pasado meses desde que la terminé, la valoro todavía más. Tiene todo lo que me atrae en VanderMeer: descripciones delirantes, terroríficas y hermosas a la vez, sensoriales (la “bajada” a la “torre” es una maravilla), psicológicas y envolventes. Una novela fundamentalmente descriptiva que se lee como si de un thriller se tratase, llena de ideas originales y difíciles de concebir. Un misterio que te hace pensar, mirar con lupa cada detalle, que implica al lector, que inquieta, aunque desde el principio tengas claro que, con los datos que se dan, no podrás llegar a una conclusión satisfactoria.
...lo sabíamos todo... sin saber nada.
Dicho esto, dudaba mucho de la necesidad de seguir con la historia: ¿daría el autor respuestas?, ¿es posible una explicación?, ¿es, de hecho, necesaria una solución al enigma que es el Área X?
En Autoridad y Aceptación conoceremos a nuevos personajes, accederemos al interior de la Southern Reach y seguiremos ahondando en la historia del Área X y de la mentira oficial. Pero en mi opinión, poco aportan ya a la primera de las novelas, que funciona perfectamente como novela autoconclusiva aunque no concluya nada. La ambientación, de sobras capturada en Aniquilación, lleva todo el peso de la historia y en mi opinión lo demás sobra.
Esta trilogía, Southern Reach, es la que le ha catapultado a la fama, y pese al entusiasmo de la crítica, yo la finalizo con unas sensaciones parecidas a mi impresión inicial, confirmando que la prosa de VanderMeer es fabulosa, y que cuando caiga en mis manos otro de sus libros, volveré a él (y seguramente sentiré de nuevo lo mismo).
La primera novela, Aniquilación, la disfruté mucho y creo que es la mejor de las tres. La agencia gubernamental Southern Reach investiga desde hace años una especie de catástrofe medioambiental de la que se desconocen las causas, enviando expediciones científicas que son incapaces de dar una respuesta al motivo de la formación del Área X, una zona dominada por una naturaleza salvaje, inquietante y desconocida. Todas las expediciones han fracasado, los expertos vuelven siendo meras sombras de lo que eran y la mayoría, por diversas causas, fallecen. En esa novela se cuenta la historia de la duodécima expedición.
Ahora que han pasado meses desde que la terminé, la valoro todavía más. Tiene todo lo que me atrae en VanderMeer: descripciones delirantes, terroríficas y hermosas a la vez, sensoriales (la “bajada” a la “torre” es una maravilla), psicológicas y envolventes. Una novela fundamentalmente descriptiva que se lee como si de un thriller se tratase, llena de ideas originales y difíciles de concebir. Un misterio que te hace pensar, mirar con lupa cada detalle, que implica al lector, que inquieta, aunque desde el principio tengas claro que, con los datos que se dan, no podrás llegar a una conclusión satisfactoria.
...lo sabíamos todo... sin saber nada.
Dicho esto, dudaba mucho de la necesidad de seguir con la historia: ¿daría el autor respuestas?, ¿es posible una explicación?, ¿es, de hecho, necesaria una solución al enigma que es el Área X?
En Autoridad y Aceptación conoceremos a nuevos personajes, accederemos al interior de la Southern Reach y seguiremos ahondando en la historia del Área X y de la mentira oficial. Pero en mi opinión, poco aportan ya a la primera de las novelas, que funciona perfectamente como novela autoconclusiva aunque no concluya nada. La ambientación, de sobras capturada en Aniquilación, lleva todo el peso de la historia y en mi opinión lo demás sobra.
jiaojiao's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
So... I read the Southern Reach trilogy all in the span of a few days; I was just that invested in the mystery of Area X. Unfortunately for me, that didn’t seem to be what VanderMeer had in mind for the Southern Reach trilogy. Area X, as the primary setting of Acceptance, does feature prominently in Acceptance, since John, along with a few other characters, do wind up in Area X. However, the focus is still very much on its effects, rather than its origins. By the end of Acceptance, we only get speculations of what Area X is, very few of which are actually confirmed.
Acceptance picks up almost immediately where Authority leaves off. Unlike in Annihilation and Authority, no new characters are introduced; instead, VanderMeer expands on the story of characters we already know who seem to be prominently connected to Area X. We see the lighthouse keeper’s final moments, for example. Like Annihilation and Authority, Acceptance switches between present events and select events from each character’s past. In terms of pacing, I think this worked a bit better in here than it did in Authority, as the past events that come to light have more direct connections to either Area X or present events.
While I did like that a lot more loose ends were dealt with in Acceptance, I still felt like something was missing. I think it might just be that I was expecting from the trilogy. I’m used to novels that have more linear storylines, with clear resolutions. This trilogy, however, is very character-driven, introspective as a result, and focused more on the psychological horror of confronting an existential threat that, in the end, was impossible to control. There isn’t really a resolution. Just acceptance—and whatever peace that might bring. I’m left feeling kind of empty-handed.
I’m glad I finished the trilogy, but I’m not sure whether I’d pick up any other books by VanderMeer.
Acceptance picks up almost immediately where Authority leaves off. Unlike in Annihilation and Authority, no new characters are introduced; instead, VanderMeer expands on the story of characters we already know who seem to be prominently connected to Area X. We see the lighthouse keeper’s final moments, for example. Like Annihilation and Authority, Acceptance switches between present events and select events from each character’s past. In terms of pacing, I think this worked a bit better in here than it did in Authority, as the past events that come to light have more direct connections to either Area X or present events.
While I did like that a lot more loose ends were dealt with in Acceptance, I still felt like something was missing. I think it might just be that I was expecting from the trilogy. I’m used to novels that have more linear storylines, with clear resolutions. This trilogy, however, is very character-driven, introspective as a result, and focused more on the psychological horror of confronting an existential threat that, in the end, was impossible to control. There isn’t really a resolution. Just acceptance—and whatever peace that might bring. I’m left feeling kind of empty-handed.
I’m glad I finished the trilogy, but I’m not sure whether I’d pick up any other books by VanderMeer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/injury detail, and Gore
pharmdad2007's review against another edition
3.0
It's compelling writing and interesting characters that make this trilogy as good as it is. It's big on hearing about people's thoughts and small on action. But that's okay because by this point the characters are all so familiar that you want to know what they are thinking, and it's interesting to get inside their heads.
jakewjerrard's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
samwisest's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book does a good job of answering questions & fleshing out the world of the previous books without necessarily pulling the rug out from underneath the mystery of it all. I didn’t find it quite as engaging as the previous two instalments, but the shifting perspectives & the choice to focus in more on the characters’ personal lives made it emotional in a way I really enjoyed. Bonus points for Whitby and his mouse.
jayrude's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25