Jul 19, 2018richmole rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
NO SPOILERS, I PROMISE!
Some surprises in this second of three books about the Southern Reach government project and its focus: the mysterious Area X.
1. A brand new central character. In fact, a whole HOST of new characters, mostly Southern Reach staff people, as seemingly enigmatic as the previous novel's expedition members.
2. A change of focus, too. It's not Area X that's the focus, as it was in the first book: it's the Southern Reach organization itself.
3. The last 50 pages. Forewarned: Not at all what you expect. You'll RACE through these pages.
There IS, by now, some more of what we've come to expect given the first novel: more internal angst and anguish. Not, this time, so much about Area X and doomed expedition characters, but about the central character, whose title--Ironically--Is "Control." Of course, there IS no control.
It's a somewhat easier book for modern (20th and 21st century) readers to enjoy than the first book. Still, for some it'll be agonizingly slow.
Good enough--compelling enough at the finale--to reach for volume three...
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