Justin's Notes
Aug. 21, 2025
Annihilation follows a scientific team made up of four women going into Area X, a section of the continent that is sectioned off from the rest of humanity. What is in there is unknown, with the expeditions before not yielding the knowledge and results that are needed. Following the point of view of the biologist on the team, you are taken on an exploration of a different world full of mysteries as the team attempts to understand what Area X has to offer.
I thought this book was quite interesting and pretty different from most, if not all, other books I have read. The writing is incredible. It is atmospheric; it's full of an eeriness and suspense without being overt or aggressive with it. It felt almost dreamlike in how it was written. I don't totally know how to describe it, but even in tense moments of action or suspense, the writing felt like it was floating. I know that sounds weird, but that's the best way I can describe how it felt for me. The scenes were described so well, the smallest details making it so incredibly easy to build the world visually in my head.
The character development in this story also felt a bit unique to me in a pretty fun way. I felt like I simultaneously deeply knew and understood the characters, while they also felt quite unknown. Even the biologist, who we receive flashbacks of, felt closed off and secretive in a way that made it really engaging to see the growth of her throughout the story. The side characters also, from scene to scene, would change drastically in ways that were only explainable because of our knowledge of how Area X affects those that enter. It made for a unique way to see characters change and interact with each other.
If you like science fiction and at the very least don't mind some suspenseful, thriller-esque writing and content, then you should absolutely read this book. It left me feeling a little uneasy, but I am pretty excited to continue reading the series. This ending leaves the door wide open for the story to grow and continue, which is always fun too, and I think it is technically finished... it's a trilogy that later got a prequel added. So who knows if more will come?
Side note: I also realized after finishing this that there is a movie adaptation of the first book. I am planning to watch it this weekend (Syd is the best and let me buy it), and honestly, I may write about the movie after watching it and comparing my experience between the two, so stay tuned for that.
