Acceptance

So if you're the type of person who likes neat endings with all your questions answered and characters achieving the goals for which they set out, this is not the trilogy for you.

If, however, you like books that leave the final analysis in your hands, that make you question and wonder and debate possible explanations, that are messy and open to interpretation, I can't recommend this series enough.

VanderMeer wraps up his Southern Reach Trilogy with this installment, and as the title implies, it involves a settling of a sort between Area X and the characters we've ment. Unlike the previous two books, this one is told through multiple perspectives, Ghost Bird and Control as well as the Director and the Lighthouse Keeper. It also slips through time more noticeably than the first two, back to pre-area X life and swirling in and out (as does time itself within Area X). Curve balls await around every corner and things the reader was never led to question turn out totally baseless. We can't understand because we are dealing with an intelligence utterly outside humanity's ability to interpret. The fact that this foreign element is represented by Mother Nature taking back what is hers makes me question exactly how much we understand the planet on which we all live. I love that VanderMeer pulls off this mysterious entity which catalyzes Area X in such a foreign way and that we, along with the characters, struggle to do the impossible: comprehend it.

The pacing swerves around in this one, but it still has plenty of that edge of your seat suspense from Annhiliation and the language is unique and definitely takes some thinking through. Once again, VanderMeer brings in a diverse cast without a cis, white male amongst the main players. This doesn't have any bearing on the plot (Charlie could just as easily be Charlene, but the inclusion of a gay character without his sexuality being a focus is a really nice change and makes the cast incredibly relatable.

Is it perfect? No. Is it confusing? Yes. Do I feel like I understand every aspect of it? Absolutely not. Do I still recommend it? Unquestioningly.