A review by chlorentine
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It explicitly defies interpretation and yet provides so much to interpret. I have a swirling list of themes in my head that the book discusses-- environmentalism, man's insistence on standing apart from animals, the inner beast in us all, mind-control as a conduit to discuss the manipulation of powerful entities, inverted garden of eden as a grotesque genesis, suicide, sexual violence, and so much more-- but these topics are all approached obliquely through the setting and story rather than anything spoken. A masterclass in letting the work speak for itself.
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