Free (Kindle/Kobo UK) Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer [SF Doomed Expedition Mystery]

[ATDrake]

Annihilation by World Fantasy Award-winning author Jeff VanderMeer (ISFDB, Wikipedia) is the 1st in his suspenseful science fiction Southern Reach Trilogy, focusing on mysterious events affecting the 12th scientific expedition into poorly-charted territory which apparently did weird and unpleasant things to the previous 11 expeditions, free courtesy of publisher HarperCollins' Fourth Estate imprint.

This has apparently had its film rights optioned by Paramount, according to the Wikipedia entry.

I'm kind of hoping that one day, Ann & Jeff VanderMeer's The Kosher Guide to Imaginary Animals, which I quite enjoyed*, will also get some kind of adaptation of sorts and they get someone fun to play the Evil Monkey.

Currently free @ Amazon UK & Kobo (probably only available to the UK). There's also a chance that this may drop @ B&N UK (linked for your price-drop-check convenience) after a day or two, as the other recent HarperCollins UK freebies eventually did, and may or may not also show up @ iTunes UK, which I can't easily check or provide a link for, sorry.

ETA: Also free this time around @ Sainsbury. Price-drop-check linkage for iTunes UK & Google Play UK, where it might also show up eventually.

Unlikely to go free in other countries, as this edition is different from the North American one.

And this has been the selected 3rd (non-repeat) free ebook thread of the day.

Enjoy!

Description
If J.J. Abrams and Margaret Atwood collaborated on a novel, it might look something like ‘Annihilation’, the first in an extraordinary trilogy.

For thirty years, Area X, monitored by the secret agency known as the Southern Reach, has remained mysterious and remote behind its intangible border– an environmental disaster zone, though to all appearances an abundant wilderness. Eleven expeditions have been sent in to investigate; even for those that have made it out alive, there have been terrible consequences.

‘Annihilation’ is the story of the twelfth expedition and is told by its nameless biologist. Introverted but highly intelligent, the biologist brings her own secrets with her. She is accompanied by a psychologist, an anthropologist and a surveyor, their stated mission: to chart the land, take samples and expand the Southern Reach’s understanding of Area X.

But they soon find out that they are being manipulated by forces both strange and all too familiar. An unmapped tunnel is not as it first appears. An inexplicable moaning calls in the distance at dusk. And while each member of the expedition has surrendered to the authority of the Southern Reach, the power of Area X is far more difficult to resist.

* Fun fact: dragons are not kosher, according to the guide. No reptiles or amphibians, and according to Ann, Jews don't take suggestions from non-kosher† food even if the dragon asks politely to be eaten.

† We never do find out if suggestions from kosher food are allowed.

[peachiekene]

Looks good!

It's being listed at $2.99 in US Stores.

[scottken]

It's great. I've read it and the second book (Authority). The conclusion (Acceptance) just released this week.

I can't believe it's being offered for free. It is on sale this week only in US (Amazon, B&N) for $2.99.

[Purple Lady]

Since I just bought it for $2.99, I expect to see it free in the US soon.

[ATDrake]

Now a repeat freebie @ Amazon & Kobo UK. Newly free @ Sainsbury. Linkage added to OP.

[Dr. Drib]

Got it.

Thank you!

[ATDrake]

This has now dropped to free @ iTunes & Google Play UK when I checked. Linkage in OP.