Karen Joy Fowler’s intro for Annihilation celebrates a modern classic
In a remarkable turn of events, Jeff VanderMeer’s 2014 novel “Annihilation” revolutionized storytelling swiftly. It was the initial installment in the Southern Reach trilogy and introduced readers to Area X, an enigmatic, indescribable location that baffles every scientific effort to understand it. The narrative unfolds around the 12th expedition to investigate Area X, led by four anonymous women, which concludes disastrously.