51 pages • 1 hour read
Authority: A Novel
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Book Brief
341
Novel • Fiction
Southern Reach Facility • Contemporary
2014
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Authority, the second book in Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy, John "Control" Rodriguez becomes the new director of the Southern Reach, a government facility studying the mysterious and dangerous Area X in Florida. Control struggles to understand the anomaly through files, interviews, and confrontations with an uncooperative colleague and the enigmatic survivor "Ghost Bird," while grappling with his own deteriorating mental state as Area X's influence spreads.
Mysterious
Dark
Unnerving
Suspenseful
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
99,612 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Jeff VanderMeer’s Authority captivates with its intricate atmosphere and deep psychological tension, continuing the mysteries of the Southern Reach trilogy. Praise highlights its eerie, immersive quality and complex, introspective characters. Critiques focus on its slower pacing and occasionally convoluted narrative, which some find less engaging than its predecessor, Annihilation.
Who Should Read Authority?
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer appeals to readers who enjoy immersive, mind-bending tales that blend science fiction and psychological thriller elements. Similar to fans of House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski and Annihilation by VanderMeer himself, these readers crave complex narratives with eerie, atmospheric settings.
99,612 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
341
Novel • Fiction
Southern Reach Facility • Contemporary
2014
Adult
18+ years
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