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Publisher's Summary

The bone-chilling, hair-raising second installment of the Southern Reach Trilogy.
For 30 years, a secret agency called the Southern Reach has monitored expeditions into Area X - a remote and lush terrain mysteriously sequestered from civilization. After the 12th expedition, 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 more than two hundred 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.
©2014 Jeff VanderMeer (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful
5 out of 5 stars
By Katherine on 05-09-14

Bogged Down By Dystopian Bureaucracy

Any additional comments?

This is almost a complete departure from the mystery and wonder of the first book Annihilation. It was, I hate to say boring. It was basically the story of a man who is something of a spy, but really a lame bureaucrat and his feelings. It is probably an ok book if you like that sort of thing, but I wanted something weirder... I wanted area X.

I gave it three stars which may be a bit generous because A. I like the way the author describes the feeling of what it is like to exist in an environment (whether natural or unnatural), and B: The ending was unexpected and opened up volume three to become awesome again.

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6 of 6 people found this review helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Daniel Grant on 08-22-14

Out of Control - Spoiler Free

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this book and it's predecessor, Annihilation. The second installment of the Southern Reach trilogy follows the character, Control, as he attempts to unravel the mysteries of the Southern Reach organization as its new Director. Deep and suspenseful, I found this audiobook keeping me in the car long after I got home from my commute. While Annihilation focused on the inexplicable Area X, Authority adds a cloak and dagger layer to the agency charged with understanding and containing Area X.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Control was a sympathetic character.

Which scene was your favorite?

Whitby. I won't spoil it.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Find out about our exciting career opportunities at the Southern Reach!

Any additional comments?

I'd categorize this book as a Lovecraftian horror, spy thriller, mystery. It takes an incredibly mundane setting and injects it with so much weird, that you can't help struggling to puzzle out what it all means. But you can't puzzle it out. It resists explanation at every turn. This is actually my fear with the final installment, that the mystery will never be fully revealed or explained, and the reader will be left with so many unanswered questions they will feel disappointed. Make no mistake, this book answers some big questions from the first book. But others just deepen the mystery.

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5 of 5 people found this review helpful

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