When the Southern Reach trilogy was first published a decade ago, it was an instant sensation. Each volume climbed the bestseller list; awards were won; the books made the rare transition from paperback original to hardcover; the movie adaptation became a cult classic. And yet, for Jeff VanderMeer, there was never full closure to the story of Area X. There were a few mysteries that had gone unsolved, some key points of view never aired. There were stories left to tell. Structured in three parts, each recounting a new expedition, ABSOLUTION is a brilliant, beautiful and ever-terrifying plunge into unique and fertile literary territory. There are some long-awaited answers here, to be sure, but also more questions and profound new surprises.