Authority cover art

Authority

Southern Reach, Book 2

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Authority

By: Jeff VanderMeer
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
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About this listen

In the second volume of the Southern Reach Trilogy, questions are answered, stakes are raised, and mysteries are deepened …

Following the disastrous twelfth expedition chronicled in ‘Annihilation’, the second book of the Southern Reach trilogy introduces John Rodriguez, the new head of the government agency responsible for the safeguarding of Area X. His first day is spent grappling with the fall-out from the last expedition. Area X itself remains a mystery. But, as instructed by a higher authority known only as The Voice, the self-styled Control must battle to ‘put his house in order’.

From a series of interrogations, a cache of hidden notes and hours of profoundly troubling video footage, the mysteries 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.

Undermined and under pressure to make sense of everything, Rodriguez retreats into his past in a labyrinthine search for answers. Yet the more he uncovers, the more he risks, for the secrets of the Southern Reach are more sinister than anyone could have known.

©2014 Jeff VanderMeer Creative, Inc. (P)2014 2014 by Blackstone Audio, Inc. Adventure Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Suspense Technothrillers Thriller Thriller & Suspense Technology Scary Government

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All stars
Most relevant  
I am listening to the third episode now but this the second one was just boring should have made the second and third book into one but the story after the first has slowed right down and just seems not worthwhile after the first but I was told as a trilogy it worked
So far it does not

If you‘ve done annihilation disappointing

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book was tight. narration was great. heard some reviews that it felt like a slog, to me felt like a surreal slow-burn mystery. gotta Google how to spell Terroir. narrated brilliantly. super good

I just love Jeff Vandermeer, man

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The voice acting brings to life an incredible and harrowing story. Absolutely incredible beyond measure.

Brilliant voice acting, brilliant book

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Suspenseful, mysterious and sometimes horrifying. Great sequel to “Annihilation” that delves into the inner workings of the southern reach and leaves you eager to start the third book in the trilogy for more answers. Brilliantly narrated by Bronson Pinchot.

Great narration, brilliant story

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Enjoyed the ending but found it a bit of a slog. I'll still read the final book though- really hoping it answers a lot of questions.

Struggled to stay engaged

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Appreciated very much the immersive nature of the writing. There is a dark futility to the main characters quest and you get drawn into it very early on. More a book about the experience perhaps than story but still very enjoyable.

Dark and absorbing listen

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and I don't need to tell you how awesome it is. love this trilogy so much

I guess you've read part 1 if you're here

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A tremendous continuation of the Southern Reach trilogy, surprising and suspenseful, full of psychological intrigue and creeping dread.

Staggering in the wake of Annihilation

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Sure, I enjoyed it. Not sure I'd recommend it to anyone because it's hella weird and meandering but I wanted more Annihilation and it was satisfying based on that criteria

Hypnotic

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These books are unconventional and challenging. This volume builds on the actual ceiling horror of the first and is no less profoundly disturbing.

This isn't a conventional thriller, there's no pounding adrenalin or just-in-time suspense, just psychological disconnection and a sense of disconcerting otherness watching a man unravel in the face of the incomprehensible.

Superb

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