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 Thriller Thriller & Suspense Technology Scary Government

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All stars
Most relevant
Much worse than first book. the narrator spoilt it for me. I was disappointed by the length of the book as nothing much happens.

disappointing

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Without giving anything away, the story works on multiple levels -- if you've read the first book in the trilogy, seemingly matter-of-fact details contribute to a sense of rising panic and dread. Balki off of Perfect Strangers (and yeah! I loved that show as a kid!) was a genuinely excellent narrator, able to express some terrifying concepts with exactly the right level of panicked calm. Near perfect.

great book, great performance

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I am enjoying this trilogy, but it is weird, so be warned! There have been a few few points where I almost gave up because I think I have completed lost the thread of what is happening, but as you come towards the end of each book, the excitement builds and pulls you in, motivating you stick with it into the next part.

Really enjoyed this second part, in a completely different setting and perspective to the first, but tied together nicely - well worth a listen, but you need to focus on the story, not half listen as background.

So strange, but good!

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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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Found this a bit uninteresting and not so well written. Still intrigued to read the last of the trilogy as a lot of questions unanswered.

Not as good as the first

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