A short review for a short book.

Annihilation is a surreal, biological fever dream full of psychological tension and eerie wonder. It’s intentionally vague and weird, but I liked that. That said, I can definitely see why this book isn’t for everyone.

All the prior expeditions into Area X ended in disaster; explorers committed mass suicide, killed each other, or developed fatal cancers. The twelfth expedition consists of four women: a surveyor, an anthropologist, a psychologist, and a biologist.

The biologist narrates the story. She is an intriguing figure: emotionally distant, and most at ease analysing microorganisms far from human contact. She’s remarkably pragmatic when faced with the unknown and comes off as a little alien herself.

The book keeps you constantly on edge with its eerie, unsettling atmosphere, and the writing style complements that perfectly.

There are few answers, and the ambiguous ending may frustrate readers hoping for clear explanations. But to me, this kind of ending felt necessary for the story.