Absolution: A Southern Reach Novel

By Jeff VanderMeer

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Locus Awards Finalist

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF THE YEAR:
The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York magazine, Time, Kirkus, Literary Hub, Goodreads

Absolution opens decades before Area X forms, with a science expedition whose mysterious end suggests terrifying consequences for the future--and marks the Forgotten Coast as a high priority for Central, the shadowy federal agency that monitors extraordinary threats.

Many years later, the Forgotten Coast files wind up in the hands of a washed-up Central operative, Old Jim. He starts pulling a thread that reveals a long, troubling record of government agents meddling with forces they clearly cannot comprehend.

Old Jim's investigation culminates in the first Central expedition into what has now been labeled Area X. A border has come down, and a full team has been assembled to find Area X's "off switch" somewhere in the volatile, dangerous terrain that has defied all attempts to be explored, mapped, or controlled.

Absolution converges the past, present, and future in unnerving, ecstatic, and mind-bending ways. It is the final word on one of the most provocative and popular speculative fiction series of our time.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250397804
• ISBN13: 9781250397805
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Picador USA
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.0" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Perfect continuation of the Area X series

This book was so good. The f*ck chapter, Lowry, everything. Answered some questions from the first 3 books and posed so many more. I’ve heard there will be a 5th addition in the series (of a sort according to JV) in Cass’ POV. I can’t wait to own everything and reread and reread and….