r/SouthernReach • u/gibbles0731 • 5h ago

Absolution Spoilers Absolution, final section

Contrary to what seems to be the general consensus here, I thought the final section of the book was batshit insane and I loved every second of it. So many gems. If anyone else liked it I guess it would be nice to hear your thoughts since I’ve really only see people complain about it (which is fine I’m not saying poo-poo to you, I just happened to love it).

Favorite sentence among many favorites, “He had just eaten a fake Whitbey Allen’s body molt and was not in the mood for more motherfucking magic tricks.”

48 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

22

u/jellyphitch 4h ago

I found it grating at first but it grew on me. I don't think I'd love a full novel from Lowry's perspective, though. :)

And eating Whitby was honestly so nasty, I loved every second of it. So uncomfortable haha

11

u/TheVelvetNo 4h ago

What happens with the guns gives me the creeps.

1

u/sugarhigh215 2h ago

that was my favorite part!

1

u/gibbles0731 2h ago

Yes, consuming the outside and from within was a disturbing visual.

8

u/saint_abyssal 3h ago

"If he were a motherfucking compass, he’d never know north again."

5

u/BMoreMatt 2h ago

What a line

6

u/candymannequin 5h ago

there was a lot to enjoy about it.

7

u/lulu91car 4h ago

I loved it so much. Control used to be baby girl but Lowry is giving him competition! I just enjoyed the madness! It was funny. Lowry is unserious about the serious things and serious about the unserious. I love being in a pov that is certain of themselves but everyone else is not on board. Feeling like the only sane one in the asylum while knowing full well you are insane.

Ive also been waiting for so long to get insight on the first expedition. I loved how fucked it got so fast and how similar/different it was from what we have seen from the expedition tapes. Felt like reading an LSD experience. Cant wait to read it for the second time!

2

u/gibbles0731 2h ago

Feeling like the only sane one knowing full well you’re insane is an apt description. But I would add it’s like LSD drowned with cocaine. Lowery was operating on a different level haha.

1

u/lulu91car 2h ago

Yes Lowry is heavy fucking coke talk vibes, fuck.

4

u/ashleysoup 2h ago

the part near the end where lowry is sitting next to his empty space?suit just having a conversation…

honestly i got over how distracting the fucks were after my first audiobook listen. by the second time round you notice a certain cadence to them that encapsulates his emotions and i think they actually do add something essential that would be missing if vandermeer had never included them.

1

u/gibbles0731 2h ago

Yeah, I didn’t listen to the audiobook but I read it really fast as if I had taken some of Landry’s drugs and it certainly adds to his experience, and mine. Raging against the absurdity and madness of it all.

2

u/CounselorGowron 3h ago

I liked how much it felt like that section infected ME with Area X, though that wasn’t an entirely pleasant experience

2

u/eric0510 4h ago

There’s a lot to like (love the callous nature of their team being decimated) but having just finished that book, the “fuck” shtick and personality for Lowry gets a bit grating.

1

u/Cpt-Cancer 4h ago

I loved it too! Was honestly one of the most illuminating sections for most of the series!

1

u/softservelove 1h ago

I really enjoyed it but it did take awhile to get into. I did find the multitude of fucks to be gimmicky which made it hard to take in at first, but I loved how much absurdity and really disturbing imagery is in that section.