Thoughts on Annihilation

Just finished Annihilation tonight. Here’s some of my raw thoughts on it. I’d love to hear your views as well!

I loved the cosmic horror element. Almost lovecraftian in nature. The explanation of The Crawler being completely incomprehensible was very well done. I ended up imagining it as constantly shifting and moving in a geometric way whilst emanating light. The creature in the reeds was also really fun to imagine despite appearing briefly. The exoskeleton like face appearing in the water was terrifying.

The realization that “annihilation!” Was a hypnotism command to induce suicide was really crazy and such a cool way to reveal what the title of the book was about.

In my head I almost imagined that the light at the bottom of the “tower/tunnels” stairs was the entrance into the light house. An “as above so below” kind of thing. But the line about it feeling like eyes were watching her as she walked away made me wonder. (Please don’t tell me if I’m right I’m gonna read the 2nd one very soon.)

I really enjoyed hearing about her relationship with her husband and how they always seemed to feel distant from each other. By the very end I felt that despite being no where near eachother and him not even being alive they were closer than ever having experienced Area X. His writings in his journal to her were heart warming in a way.

The “brightness” was such a crazy way to explain the transformation (whatever transformation that is) was so interesting and different. I loved moments like her killing the surveyor with a supernatural ability to sense and feel the environment and impending danger.

Finally I loved the ending. Her acceptance that she was destined to become a part of the environment in the end was fascinating and her attempts to seek out her husband whether he’s alive or dead was a bit harrowing as well. She just wants to experience what he experienced after being transformed both mentally and physically the same as her.