In April, author Jeff VanderMeer announced a new addition to the Southern Reach series, much to the surprise of many. The highly anticipated book, titled Absolution, was released this week. It serves as the fourth installment in what was previously a trilogy, focusing on the origins of Area X and the initial, ill-fated expeditions to explore it.
The series centers on an enigmatic coastal region in the United States, isolated by an invisible border and reverted to a wild state. A secretive government agency has been responsible for studying the area, but those who embark on missions either fail to return or come back fundamentally changed. The series includes the novels Annihilation—which inspired a 2018 film featuring Natalie Portman—Authority, and Acceptance.
A decade after the original series was published, a prequel offers an opportunity to revisit the unresolved mysteries of Area X and the Southern Reach. While the trilogy provided answers to some questions, it left many others open-ended. Although Absolution might not resolve every mystery, it provides additional insights into the early days of the anomaly and the viewpoints of pivotal characters such as Lowry. The book is substantial, comprising nearly 500 pages divided into three novella-like sections, offering more exploration of the enigmatic Area X.
