BlackOxford's Reviews > Annihilation
Annihilation (Southern Reach, #1)
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Mission Impossible
(Beowulf Rides Again)
An uncharted tower lies buried in the accumulated sediment of history. Living words lead downward to dangerous beasts. Something, an Event, happened here but no one remembers it. Interesting distractions are everywhere but nothing can be trusted. Everything has meaning but nothing makes sense, doesn’t fit together into a whole that’s clear. Shady innuendo abounds. Someone is lying. No one who has been here before has come back unscathed. All the clues are here but… . Is it reality? A dream? A drug-induced illusion? A set-up by some unfriendly authority? Or, perhaps, just an author’s adventurous adolescent fantasy? And, most important, what is at the bottom of that buried tower?
Other readers have identified similarities or references to other modern writers in Annihilation. I think many of these are apt and very likely. However, I think the book’s inspiration may be much more culturally embedded. This involves the poetic epic of Beowulf, written in Old English sometime around the first millennium but referring to even more ancient events in 6th century Scandinavia. Beowulf’s ‘Crawler,’ the beast in Annihilation’s Tower, is Grendel, whom Beowulf defeats by tearing off his arm. But this is not the end of the saga. Grendel’s mother is a much more serious foe than her son. Beowulf must fight her in her lair deep under a lake. The outcome is a draw.
Vandermeer’s story uses many similar tropes to those of the author of Beowulf - the ghoulish monster threatening the (relatively) civilised world, the hero’s plunging into the depths to confront the ultimate challenge alone, Beowulf’s abandonment by his colleagues in his last (deadly) battle, and even the reference to the injured arm (the psychologist’s in Annihilation). The generally mysterious background and location is similar in both emphasising their saga-like character.
And just as Beowulf contains subtle biblical references, so too does Annihilation with its mention of sacrifice, personal transformation, resurrection, and spiritual continuity. What interests me most is the author’s concluding reference to a thorn inserted into humanity’s gene pool from elsewhere. I suggest that this thorn is in fact language itself, an Event beyond recall and a possible biblical reference (Babel’s Tower) that indicates the power of language and its inherent destructiveness. It is also Beowulf’s final foe, the indestructible dragon, against which he cannot prevail. The very word ‘annihilation,’ representing all language, is a hypnotic command (or magical spell) provoking suicidal efforts.
Hence my outrageous subtitle above.
(Beowulf Rides Again)
An uncharted tower lies buried in the accumulated sediment of history. Living words lead downward to dangerous beasts. Something, an Event, happened here but no one remembers it. Interesting distractions are everywhere but nothing can be trusted. Everything has meaning but nothing makes sense, doesn’t fit together into a whole that’s clear. Shady innuendo abounds. Someone is lying. No one who has been here before has come back unscathed. All the clues are here but… . Is it reality? A dream? A drug-induced illusion? A set-up by some unfriendly authority? Or, perhaps, just an author’s adventurous adolescent fantasy? And, most important, what is at the bottom of that buried tower?
Other readers have identified similarities or references to other modern writers in Annihilation. I think many of these are apt and very likely. However, I think the book’s inspiration may be much more culturally embedded. This involves the poetic epic of Beowulf, written in Old English sometime around the first millennium but referring to even more ancient events in 6th century Scandinavia. Beowulf’s ‘Crawler,’ the beast in Annihilation’s Tower, is Grendel, whom Beowulf defeats by tearing off his arm. But this is not the end of the saga. Grendel’s mother is a much more serious foe than her son. Beowulf must fight her in her lair deep under a lake. The outcome is a draw.
Vandermeer’s story uses many similar tropes to those of the author of Beowulf - the ghoulish monster threatening the (relatively) civilised world, the hero’s plunging into the depths to confront the ultimate challenge alone, Beowulf’s abandonment by his colleagues in his last (deadly) battle, and even the reference to the injured arm (the psychologist’s in Annihilation). The generally mysterious background and location is similar in both emphasising their saga-like character.
And just as Beowulf contains subtle biblical references, so too does Annihilation with its mention of sacrifice, personal transformation, resurrection, and spiritual continuity. What interests me most is the author’s concluding reference to a thorn inserted into humanity’s gene pool from elsewhere. I suggest that this thorn is in fact language itself, an Event beyond recall and a possible biblical reference (Babel’s Tower) that indicates the power of language and its inherent destructiveness. It is also Beowulf’s final foe, the indestructible dragon, against which he cannot prevail. The very word ‘annihilation,’ representing all language, is a hypnotic command (or magical spell) provoking suicidal efforts.
Hence my outrageous subtitle above.
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P.E.
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rated it 4 stars
Sep 16, 2021 07:45PM
Magnificent. I didn't see that coming, that reference to Beowulf... Now I can't unsee it.
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P.E. wrote: "Magnificent. I didn't see that coming, that reference to Beowulf... Now I can't unsee it."
Well you were the provocation for that of course. You alerted me to possible influencers after all.
Well you were the provocation for that of course. You alerted me to possible influencers after all.
carol. wrote: "You are amazing. :)"
Wait, wait, Carol, I’m just calling my wife over… I need you as witness.
Wait, wait, Carol, I’m just calling my wife over… I need you as witness.
This is going on my list. It's going to be awhile. Post-stroke, much of my concentration is still somewhat "iffy," but I'll give it a full year. Perhaps by then, I'll be able to follow this.
Rebecca wrote: "This is going on my list. It's going to be awhile. Post-stroke, much of my concentration is still somewhat "iffy," but I'll give it a full year. Perhaps by then, I'll be able to follow this."
Actually this could be therapeutic. You don’t really have to follow the story (which is incomprehensible as written); you can go with the flow of impressions and feelings. If I’m right about the Beowulf analogy, the point of the book is poetic not fictional. So could be just the thing for recuperation after your ordeal.
Actually this could be therapeutic. You don’t really have to follow the story (which is incomprehensible as written); you can go with the flow of impressions and feelings. If I’m right about the Beowulf analogy, the point of the book is poetic not fictional. So could be just the thing for recuperation after your ordeal.
This is very true. I shall move it up the list, and begin adjusting the budget for an extra book! It's a tiny budget...books must be (and routinely are) planned for.
Rebecca wrote: "This is very true. I shall move it up the list, and begin adjusting the budget for an extra book! It's a tiny budget...books must be (and routinely are) planned for."
🤘
🤘
it's frequently on the kindle daily deal (can't figure out their methods) and I've never bought it, but maybe I will. Thanks for review.
jrendocrine wrote: "it's frequently on the kindle daily deal (can't figure out their methods) and I've never bought it, but maybe I will. Thanks for review."
A friend gave it to me. And P.E (above). convinced me to read it. Clearly it appeals to a certain type. Good luck with it.
A friend gave it to me. And P.E (above). convinced me to read it. Clearly it appeals to a certain type. Good luck with it.
BlackOxford wrote: "jrendocrine wrote: "it's frequently on the kindle daily deal (can't figure out their methods) and I've never bought it, but maybe I will. Thanks for review."
A friend gave it to me. And P.E (above..."
bought it today for cheap on kindle, will await a sleepless night!
A friend gave it to me. And P.E (above..."
bought it today for cheap on kindle, will await a sleepless night!
jrendocrine wrote: "BlackOxford wrote: "jrendocrine wrote: "it's frequently on the kindle daily deal (can't figure out their methods) and I've never bought it, but maybe I will. Thanks for review."
A friend gave it t..."
👍
A friend gave it t..."
👍
jrendocrine wrote: "it's frequently on the kindle daily deal (can't figure out their methods) and I've never bought it, but maybe I will. Thanks for review."
OH GOOD! I'll look for it on Kindle. My Kindle reader is a bit harder for me to hold than a print book, but I do use it regularly!
OH GOOD! I'll look for it on Kindle. My Kindle reader is a bit harder for me to hold than a print book, but I do use it regularly!