The Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMerr

[sholloman81]

Hi CD,

Been awhile since we've seen movement on this one. Any updates/ideas as to when we may see this title move forward in the production process? I believe the last update was the cover-art reveal/to let us know the special features were being developed. I know you are backlogged due to your various printer issues; so, any info is appreciated.

[bsaenz24]

You need to photoshop a CD t-shirt on that guy!!

[RonClinton]

I am a long way from reaching the well-balanced mental state that Ron has attained. Like Jeff, I have never read anything by Vandermeer but bought the Southern Reach trilogy. I passed on Borne (seemed more fantasy than what I normally like) but if I love Southern Reach, I'll probably regret it!

Well, it took me nearly 30 years to get to this point of heightened awareness...



Hopefully your personal meditative voyage to bookbuying discretion will be a shorter and less expensive one than mine.

[HumphreyBear]

I am a long way from reaching the well-balanced mental state that Ron has attained. Like Jeff, I have never read anything by Vandermeer but bought the Southern Reach trilogy. I passed on Borne (seemed more fantasy than what I normally like) but if I love Southern Reach, I'll probably regret it!

[Dan Hocker]

I also haven't read Vandermeer, but if the movie Annihilation is anything to go off of, I probably should.

[RonClinton]

I passed on both. Although I haven’t read a great deal of his work, Vandemeer is just not my cup of tea. Thankfully, after 30 something years of collecting in the genre, I’ve finally come to a place in the last year or two where I don’t feel the need to pick up everything that sounds cool or that I think I might possibly enjoy reading. Now I just generally stick to the tried-and-true, and find myself having fewer reading disappointments and a happier wallet.

[jeffingoff]

I never read anything by Vandermeer and I can't gauge how I might react to his books based on the Amazon/Goodread reviews I've read. But I got The Complete Borne. And if I love the book, I'll be super pissed at myself for passing on the Southern Reach Trilogy.

[Martin]

I grabbed the numbered even though I haven’t read anything from him, but Borne was also on my to read list. Fingers crossed that I actually enjoy these otherwise Martin may get a deal.

Then I hope you enjoy it, I think.

[TacomaDiver]

I grabbed the numbered even though I haven’t read anything from him, but Borne was also on my to read list. Fingers crossed that I actually enjoy these otherwise Martin may get a deal.

[Martin]

In related news, did anybody jump on Vandermeer’s The Complete Borne from Subterranean? I’m not familiar with the book, but picked up the limited. Seriously considered a lettered but I couldn’t swing it after Centipede’s announcement of the new Ramsey Campbell books.

I am currently passing, that may change if it does not sell out quickly.

[Sock Monkey]

In related news, did anybody jump on Vandermeer’s The Complete Borne from Subterranean? I’m not familiar with the book, but picked up the limited. Seriously considered a lettered but I couldn’t swing it after Centipede’s announcement of the new Ramsey Campbell books.

[TacomaDiver]

Oh gosh. Yes. Dune. I’m hoping I have the cash for this one. Paid for my Sounders tickets and now I’m basically eating ramen until payday.

I passed. I have a ton of preorders with Camelot and Centipede's Dune is just around the corner.

[Sock Monkey]

I passed. I have a ton of preorders with Camelot and Centipede's Dune is just around the corner.

I am very much looking forward to Dune.

[Sock Monkey]

I was one of the persons who hesitated when this one was offered. I have not read any of the stories. My hesitation comes from the fact that I have been reading about these stories for 3 years and the opinions have varied widely, from boring and unreadable to best book of the year. The concept intrigues me, and I like the fact the book will have exclusive content. So I did order the limited and we will see how I like the story.

The reader reactions have varied wildly, as have my own. I don't think that I could ever call the book "unreadable" as Vandermeer has a solid handle of the craft and, I believe, accomplishes what he sets out to. It isn't a quick read, more deliberately paced than I had originally expected, the literary equivalency to sipping chocolate; rich and flavorful that can be exquisite in small doses but in large, indiscriminate gulps, its complexities can be lost. If the idea of a science fiction/weird tale mixed with Ramsey Campbell's technique of allowing the horror to creep in on the fringes only to be glimpsed at from the corner of your eye intrigues you, then this would be your cup of tea (...or sipping chocolate, I guess).

Frankly, I'm surprised that the book(s) have gotten such mainstream attention as it has. If I read it without any outside knowledge, I'd be one to think that--at least the first book--would live, and thrive, in the small press but would most be overlooked, dismissed, or misunderstood by general audiences. Of course, this still all based off my experience with Annihilation so maybe the next two books will change me opinion on that.

[mhatchett]

I passed. I have a ton of preorders with Camelot and Centipede's Dune is just around the corner.