Authority is definitely the most wildly underrated of the books; the scene with Whitby on the shelf and then Area X "arriving" at the Southern Reach are S O F U C K I N G C R E E P Y
I think what haunts me the most about these books is the ways in which it shows us how close we all are to madness, without the occult rituals we all act out to stay connected. I think they're largely about the horror of being known and seen by others, too. And about the utter unreliability of surveillance as a means of understanding ourselves.
So happy to find someone else who shares my unpopular opinion of loving all the books in this series. @sunbeamsjess is also one of the few who loves them and it was her videos that put me onto this series. The climatic scene in Authority was more terrifying/epic than anything in Annihilation for me!
Yes! Authority seems to disappoint people but I loved it!! The tension was incredible and the people were all the so bizarre. The secrets kept on pilling up!
I actually liked Authority more than Annihilation. Seeing the Southern Reach itself from the perspective of a higher ranking agent was really cool, and it still had its creepy and tense scenes.
Agree, watched the Netflix film first, read some really mixed reviews about the books but decided to give it a try anyway. It's just something about his writing style and world building that blows my mind.
Appreciating Authority and what it’s doing is leagues easier once you can place it in the middle for the series and can contextualize it with Acceptance, like viewing the three as one continuous novel
*Spoilers* Just finished this trilogy today- Acceptance was my favorite, but I loved them all. The characters were well developed and their relationships with each other were lovely. Saul and Ghost Bird were so sweet with Charlie and Control. Grace and the director had a powerful friendship and made a good team. Authority gave me strong Magnus Archive/Lovecraft feelings. Personally, my feelings about Area X are complicated- in part because I feel that Ghost Bird is a more empathic character than the biologist dispite not being entirely human and "created" by Area X.
ive only read book 1. but a friend and I were doing a Fitbit challenge, so we were literally jogging around the kitchen island while listening to this book all in one night trying to SLAUGHTER everyone else in the challenge, lol. we kept freaking out that we MUST immediately sign up for biology classes and go find stagnant bio-ponds in abandoned pools. lol!!! it was SO gripping! I need to get to the rest of it this year for sure! I feel like the film did an amazing job of bringing the visuals to life, but lost all the character work from the book. another visually stunning adaptation: life of pi. however, it does an amazing job all around, I recommend it equally to the book!
i’ve read annihilation last year and absolutely loved it, i thought it was super unhinged and genius and was so eager to read the other two!! but i was kinda disappointed with authority because i thought it was a little tiring to get through and then i was stalling to read acceptance, but after watching your video i can’t wait to get to it!!! thanks for the encouragement :)
Unhinged is a perfect way to describe annihilation- I was just trying to get my bearings the whole time. Authority is slower and less outwardly strange than annihilation but I still really enjoyed it. Acceptance has all the wonderful weirdness of annihilation plus a lot more. I think you’ll really enjoy it!
Great video! I’ve always been vaguely interested in Annihilation, but Authority sounds right up my alley so you’ve convinced me to pick them up sooner rather than later
Authority was my favorite. I loved the government facilty setting. Described wonderfully. Also I found Control to be the most relatable character in the entire series. I will stay true to the video and not reveal any major plot elements - but the climax of Authority - you know it if you read it - was the best written and most exciting part of the entire trilogy. Honestly, Acceptance lost me a bit so i will give it another try. Switching to a second-person perspective for the final volume was a bit gimicky and turned me off right from the start. Annihilation was a good movie - I think Authority would also be an excellent movie. I see someone like Theo James in the lead role.
I'm going to start with Annihilation. I'm practicing to make it in the book cover industry so I think I'm going to make alternate covers for the series (provided that I will enjoy it).
Just finished the trilogy a few days ago. Rarely do I feel a lingering sorrow after finishing a series, but this is one of those times. I don't want to leave the world of these books yet. So here I am, going through community content afterwards, so I can continue to chew the fat a while longer. Thank you for your thoughtful video!
You need to read China Mieville especially the scar ,also their are some other strange and beautiful sci-fi rare and hidden gems out there both in graphic novels and prose
Okay, I just bought these books, so I intend to read them very soon and I don't want to spoil them for myself in any way, so I've only watched 3 minutes into this video. But I will DEFINITELY be back here when I'm done to see why you love these books. For now, I trust you that they are awesome and can't wait to dive in! :D
have you seen the russian movie the theme of this is derived from? Not Annihilation but its called Stalker....i think youd love it if you like this book..one of the best movvies ever...no names in it as well.. just their professions
@@pagesofcarolyn when you watch it I'd love to see the video you make on the similarities. Either way im glad i could introduce you to the movie. There's not a person ive met who hasnt rrally enjoyed the film. It really is a unique experience, unlike any movie ive ever seen.
Loved this vid! Have only read annihilation and loved it so will get to the others ASAP - authority specifically really appeals to me from your descriptions ✨
I really liiked Annihilation. I think I like Authority more because of the government plot, I was really into it. I could not finish Acceptance. I'll try again sometime later.
Told you I was already convinced about VanderMeer, but now you went and said in your video you will do a reread so I demand you do it with me! Also you could only pull a gorgeous first stand alone review choosing the hardest books to talk about! Keep the review vids coming ♥️
Wow you did such a good job at explaining this series 👏 I read Annihilation two years ago and it has still stuck with me. I am currently waiting for Authority from my library. I can't wait to continue on with it! 😊
I like how nature isn't just a helpless fragile flower-victim to human destruction. Nature kicks butt. Also, VanderMeer gives his characters the best arcs any characters have had in any novel. They get alienated, mirrored back, deprived of their memories, transformed into animal-human hybrids somehow according to their innate forms of mind, and clash against each other for a few decades of disjunct time-travel. There's no pity and its awesome.
Just finished Acceptance, and it might be my favorite out of the trilogy. Authority is definitely the weakest imo but essential to the overall story. I loved the movie as well. Although it’s really different compared to the book; I think it’s one of the best sci-fi movies in the last decade.
I've been really trying for this series but have been stuck on Authority for.... months?? The sort of "court politics" vibe in combination with the unreliable narrator is a meh for me. Still, i liked Annihilation enough that I'm trying to get through to Acceptance. This video was motivating 😅
I liked the unease and confusion of authority but annihilation and acceptance definitely stand out. Try to push through authority because I think acceptance will make it worth your effort 😊
![The Southern Reach plot + timeline explained [SPOILER ALERT]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/L7X9j4krRQ4/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Southern Reach plot + timeline explained [SPOILER ALERT]](/img/tr.png)
Authority is definitely the most wildly underrated of the books; the scene with Whitby on the shelf and then Area X "arriving" at the Southern Reach are S O F U C K I N G C R E E P Y
THAT shelf/attic scene. I was shocked. I loved Authority
Yeah it's my favourite of the three. That moment in the book was what made it so for me.
I KNOWW
_And the ending???_ What more is there to say
I think what haunts me the most about these books is the ways in which it shows us how close we all are to madness, without the occult rituals we all act out to stay connected. I think they're largely about the horror of being known and seen by others, too. And about the utter unreliability of surveillance as a means of understanding ourselves.
I've read the series like 4 times now and every time I read it, Authority seems to find new ways to solidify itself as my favorite of the trilogy.
So happy to find someone else who shares my unpopular opinion of loving all the books in this series. @sunbeamsjess is also one of the few who loves them and it was her videos that put me onto this series. The climatic scene in Authority was more terrifying/epic than anything in Annihilation for me!
Yes! Authority seems to disappoint people but I loved it!! The tension was incredible and the people were all the so bizarre. The secrets kept on pilling up!
I actually liked Authority more than Annihilation. Seeing the Southern Reach itself from the perspective of a higher ranking agent was really cool, and it still had its creepy and tense scenes.
@@ashleysciame6006 yes. Such creepy, odd scenes in authority.
Agree, watched the Netflix film first, read some really mixed reviews about the books but decided to give it a try anyway. It's just something about his writing style and world building that blows my mind.
Ok I wanted to read the trilogy already but now I have to see what that scene is
Appreciating Authority and what it’s doing is leagues easier once you can place it in the middle for the series and can contextualize it with Acceptance, like viewing the three as one continuous novel
Absolutely!
*Spoilers* Just finished this trilogy today- Acceptance was my favorite, but I loved them all. The characters were well developed and their relationships with each other were lovely. Saul and Ghost Bird were so sweet with Charlie and Control. Grace and the director had a powerful friendship and made a good team. Authority gave me strong Magnus Archive/Lovecraft feelings. Personally, my feelings about Area X are complicated- in part because I feel that Ghost Bird is a more empathic character than the biologist dispite not being entirely human and "created" by Area X.
ive only read book 1. but a friend and I were doing a Fitbit challenge, so we were literally jogging around the kitchen island while listening to this book all in one night trying to SLAUGHTER everyone else in the challenge, lol. we kept freaking out that we MUST immediately sign up for biology classes and go find stagnant bio-ponds in abandoned pools. lol!!! it was SO gripping! I need to get to the rest of it this year for sure! I feel like the film did an amazing job of bringing the visuals to life, but lost all the character work from the book.
another visually stunning adaptation: life of pi.
however, it does an amazing job all around, I recommend it equally to the book!
Amazing trilogy. Can't wait to see what Vandermeer does with the 4th book.
i’ve read annihilation last year and absolutely loved it, i thought it was super unhinged and genius and was so eager to read the other two!! but i was kinda disappointed with authority because i thought it was a little tiring to get through and then i was stalling to read acceptance, but after watching your video i can’t wait to get to it!!! thanks for the encouragement :)
Unhinged is a perfect way to describe annihilation- I was just trying to get my bearings the whole time. Authority is slower and less outwardly strange than annihilation but I still really enjoyed it. Acceptance has all the wonderful weirdness of annihilation plus a lot more. I think you’ll really enjoy it!
@@pagesofcarolyn that’s really great to hear, can’t wait to get to it!!!
@@andrelopes1210 let me know your thoughts once you read it!
Great video! I’ve always been vaguely interested in Annihilation, but Authority sounds right up my alley so you’ve convinced me to pick them up sooner rather than later
I’m so glad! If you read them please let me know what you think!
Authority was by far my favourite book. I loved how the moments of horror creep up on you.
An amazing trilogy without a doubt.
Authority was my favorite. I loved the government facilty setting. Described wonderfully. Also I found Control to be the most relatable character in the entire series. I will stay true to the video and not reveal any major plot elements - but the climax of Authority - you know it if you read it - was the best written and most exciting part of the entire trilogy. Honestly, Acceptance lost me a bit so i will give it another try. Switching to a second-person perspective for the final volume was a bit gimicky and turned me off right from the start. Annihilation was a good movie - I think Authority would also be an excellent movie. I see someone like Theo James in the lead role.
Authority definitely ramped up the "weird" in an incredible way. THAT moment... agree it would make an excellent movie
I'm going to start with Annihilation. I'm practicing to make it in the book cover industry so I think I'm going to make alternate covers for the series (provided that I will enjoy it).
I read Annihilation this month and I Loved it! I will be reading Authority and Acceptance soon. 😃 Nice review. 🙌
I would loooove dedicated reviews to particular books/series. Fab video, as always.
Thank you! More dedicated reviews to come:)
Just finished the trilogy a few days ago. Rarely do I feel a lingering sorrow after finishing a series, but this is one of those times. I don't want to leave the world of these books yet. So here I am, going through community content afterwards, so I can continue to chew the fat a while longer. Thank you for your thoughtful video!
I also experienced that linger sorrow when I finished the series. I think I am in need of a re-read soon. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks so much for your reviews! I just finished the trilogy and I loved them too. I'm working on processing them. Probably will break my brain. 😅
You need to read China Mieville especially the scar ,also their are some other strange and beautiful sci-fi rare and hidden gems out there both in graphic novels and prose
China Mieville is on my list! I will check out The Scar. thank you!
Okay, I just bought these books, so I intend to read them very soon and I don't want to spoil them for myself in any way, so I've only watched 3 minutes into this video. But I will DEFINITELY be back here when I'm done to see why you love these books. For now, I trust you that they are awesome and can't wait to dive in! :D
Hahahah okay. Come back when you’ve read them and we can chat:))
3 years later? You didn’t come back?
have you seen the russian movie the theme of this is derived from? Not Annihilation but its called Stalker....i think youd love it if you like this book..one of the best movvies ever...no names in it as well.. just their professions
I’ve never heard of it. That’s sounds awesome- I’ll check it out. Thank you!!
@@pagesofcarolyn when you watch it I'd love to see the video you make on the similarities. Either way im glad i could introduce you to the movie. There's not a person ive met who hasnt rrally enjoyed the film. It really is a unique experience, unlike any movie ive ever seen.
Stalker is adapted from a Russian novel called Roadside Picnic that I would also highly recommend!
Loved this vid! Have only read annihilation and loved it so will get to the others ASAP - authority specifically really appeals to me from your descriptions ✨
Yess. Tell me your thoughts once you’ve finished the series:))
I really liiked Annihilation. I think I like Authority more because of the government plot, I was really into it. I could not finish Acceptance. I'll try again sometime later.
I enjoyed the government agency setting too- very intense and unsettling!
Told you I was already convinced about VanderMeer, but now you went and said in your video you will do a reread so I demand you do it with me! Also you could only pull a gorgeous first stand alone review choosing the hardest books to talk about! Keep the review vids coming ♥️
Ily. I will absolutely reread these books with you. 💘
Wow you did such a good job at explaining this series 👏 I read Annihilation two years ago and it has still stuck with me. I am currently waiting for Authority from my library. I can't wait to continue on with it! 😊
Thank you!! 😊 I hope you love the rest of the series! I always think about those books.
I like how nature isn't just a helpless fragile flower-victim to human destruction. Nature kicks butt. Also, VanderMeer gives his characters the best arcs any characters have had in any novel. They get alienated, mirrored back, deprived of their memories, transformed into animal-human hybrids somehow according to their innate forms of mind, and clash against each other for a few decades of disjunct time-travel. There's no pity and its awesome.
ohh i loved annihilation in particular
So did I! There’s just something magical about being introduced to area x and being so confused, in awe, and scared at the same time
@@pagesofcarolyn yes I thought it was very original and different from anything I had read before
@@LarryHasOpinions yes, brilliantly unique!
I don't want to watch the whole vid til I can read these. But I want to ask- have u seen the movie based on the first one? I think it's stunning.
I tried to avoid spoilers! And yes, I talk about the movie alittle at the end of the video- it was visually stunning!
Just finished Acceptance, and it might be my favorite out of the trilogy. Authority is definitely the weakest imo but essential to the overall story. I loved the movie as well. Although it’s really different compared to the book; I think it’s one of the best sci-fi movies in the last decade.
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I've been really trying for this series but have been stuck on Authority for.... months?? The sort of "court politics" vibe in combination with the unreliable narrator is a meh for me.
Still, i liked Annihilation enough that I'm trying to get through to Acceptance. This video was motivating 😅
I liked the unease and confusion of authority but annihilation and acceptance definitely stand out. Try to push through authority because I think acceptance will make it worth your effort 😊
I got baited by this series because I wanted more of the Zone from S. T. A. L. K. E. R.
I love this series as well, can't wait to hear your thoughts
Can’t wait to chat about them!