Authority cover art

Authority

The Southern Reach Trilogy, Book 2

Preview

Try for $0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Authority

Written by: Jeff VanderMeer
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.09

Buy Now for $21.09

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

The bone-chilling, hair-raising second installment of the Southern Reach Trilogy.

For 30 years, a secret agency called the Southern Reach has monitored expeditions into Area X - a remote place with lush terrain that is mysteriously sequestered from civilization. After the twelfth expedition, the Southern Reach is in disarray, and John Rodriguez (a.k.a. "Control") is the team's newly appointed head. From a series of interrogations, a cache of hidden notes, and more than 200 hours of profoundly troubling video footage, the secrets of Area X begin to reveal themselves - and what they expose pushes Control to confront disturbing truths about both himself and the agency he's promised to serve.

©2014 Jeff VanderMeer (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Horror Literary Fiction Psychological Science Fiction Thriller & Suspense Scary Fiction
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Authority

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    88
  • 4 Stars
    53
  • 3 Stars
    23
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    102
  • 4 Stars
    30
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    74
  • 4 Stars
    43
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonder Book. Amazing Performance.

I thoroughly enjoy all Vandermeer and this experience amplified it so much by the incredible performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A very different story than Annihilation

A novel of the Southern Reach bureaucracy, unraveling and deepening the mysteries of Area X via exploration of the organization set up to study and safeguard. I can see how some people would balk at it or consider it more... boring? Consider it a part of the ride. It is worth the journey.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful weird

it is not for most people but I really loved it! It only starts to make real sence the second time through the series. will likely be even better when I come back for round 3.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Very different from the first book

I absolutely loved the first book in the series so I was a little disappointed when the sequel was a lot slower paced, and focused on a character that I was a lot less invested in. I'm still completely enthralled by the concept and horrific aspects of these books, but this one was a bit more of a grind for sure. Still clever and creepy, but very little actually happens outside of the protagonists head. I still recommend it and can't wait to listen to the 3rd one though. the last few chapters are crazy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Sloooooowwwwwwww

A really slow slow moving story. Last 10% of book was exciting. I don't think I could get through the third book with this kind of pacing. Shame.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very good for a re-listening

After discovering this series by accident in highschool this was perfect for recapturing nostalgia! 10/10.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

I’ll have to give this another read

This is the first time I’m reading (listening) to authority and from what I can recall from others is that you have to read this again to fully understand what is going on. My mind throughout the novel felt all over the place because of how slow paced it felt when control is interviewing the so called “biologist” from the first book. They say there’s a lot of deeper things in this when you give it a second go so I’m going to wait a while before I do that. As a first experience, it’s slow for sure and like the first of the series it picks up near the end when you discover more of the border.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great!

I loved the first book in the series and I loved this one as well. The narrator was a great choice for this novel.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting sequel

Story wise, this second book of the trilogy is quite different from the first but just enough similar too keep you in. I personally was less into the "spy" and "secret service" storyline and there are parts where my interest wane. But the scify/surnatural mystery was weaved in just enough that I kept going.

As a lot middle of three-book series, it feels more a a bridge between the other and end abruptly. so it's tough to judge on its own.

The reading performance is great and set the mood. There are certain parts where it get monotone but it's mainly because the story hit a long passage.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A very disturbing yet familiar setting

Working for the government in the lowest levels the bureaucratic layers are so perfectly fitting yet with the disturbing foresight of knowing what’s going to happen, it just added layers. I really liked it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!