A defining characteristic of being human, in the modern age in particular, is the sense of dominance over the natural world, but VanderMeer eliminates that factor of superiority with Area X. Despite being well armed with assault rifles and handguns, the people fed to the environment face almost certain doom. Area X consumes people, no one has really been able to come back, at least “not really” (VanderMeer 135). The environment of Area X triumphs over humans, contrary to the “world beyond which we have changed so much” (VanderMeer 197). Civilization has tarnished and brutalized the natural world, however, even though its very existence, Area X defies the human imperative to control and destroy. In this particular way, the author is able to
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Although the author accomplishes this in an intriguing and extraordinary way, this goal of estrangement is not an uncommon objective or theme in the genre of science fiction, in fact, it is really the point. What was extremely interesting about VanderMeer’s use of the alien Area X, however, was how he used the environment to really force a particular revision of what factors and truths qualify something as human or not. As the leading character, the biologist, becomes infested with Area X and continues to evolve into something that resembles the typical human form less and less, the concept of humanity is forced to evolve with her. Humanity, therefore, is expanded so that the notion incorporates the natural world. The Crawler also accomplishes the same thing, making the reader integrate what they believe is human with more consideration for the environment. Through this, VanderMeer pushes a valuable message, that humanity is tied to the environment and they must exist together. The two are deeply interconnected, and to destroy one is to destroy the other. VanderMeer’s message has considerable implications on the future of the Earth’s environment, which throughout Annihilation is noted as damaged and dirtied by humans. Perhaps by understanding humanity as a conception more bound to the environment, the potential for a sustainable Earth would be more
Although the author accomplishes this in an intriguing and extraordinary way, this goal of estrangement is not an uncommon objective or theme in the genre of science fiction, in fact, it is really the point. What was extremely interesting about VanderMeer’s use of the alien Area X, however, was how he used the environment to really force a particular revision of what factors and truths qualify something as human or not. As the leading character, the biologist, becomes infested with Area X and continues to evolve into something that resembles the typical human form less and less, the concept of humanity is forced to evolve with her. Humanity, therefore, is expanded so that the notion incorporates the natural world. The Crawler also accomplishes the same thing, making the reader integrate what they believe is human with more consideration for the environment. Through this, VanderMeer pushes a valuable message, that humanity is tied to the environment and they must exist together. The two are deeply interconnected, and to destroy one is to destroy the other. VanderMeer’s message has considerable implications on the future of the Earth’s environment, which throughout Annihilation is noted as damaged and dirtied by humans. Perhaps by understanding humanity as a conception more bound to the environment, the potential for a sustainable Earth would be more