The first volume of the extraordinary Southern Reach trilogy. 'Creepy and fascinating' Stephen King. Welcome to Area X. An Edenic wilderness, an environmental disaster zone, a mystery for thirty years. For thirty years, Area X, monitored by the secret agency known as the Southern Reach, has remained mysterious and remote behind its intangible border an environmental disaster zone, though to all appearances an abundant wilderness. Eleven expeditions have been sent in to investigate; even for those that have made it out alive, there have been terrible consequences. 'Annihilation' is the story of the twelfth expedition and is told by its nameless biologist. Introverted but highly intelligent, the biologist brings her own secrets with her. She is accompanied by a psychologist, an anthropologist and a surveyor, their stated mission: to chart the land, take samples and expand the Southern Reach's understanding of Area X. But they soon find out that they are being manipulated by forces both strange and all too familiar. An unmapped tunnel is not as it first appears. An inexplicable moaning calls in the distance at dusk. And while each member of the expedition has surrendered to the authority of the Southern Reach, the power of Area X is far more difficult to resist. 'Annihilation' is the first volume in Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy, which will be published throughout 2014: volume two ('Authority') in May, and volume three ('Acceptance') in September 2014.

The Steampunk User's Manual features beautiful images and entertaining text about the incredibly popular Science Fiction subgenre that imagines future technology and fashion via a 19th century perspective and toolbox. The Steampunk User's Manual provides a conceptual how-to guide across all aspects of Steampunk that motivates and awes both the armchair enthusiast and the committed creator. The idea here is to give readers points of reference that are both refreshingly down-to-earth and completely over-the-top — that utterly doable jewellery project juxtaposed with that stunningly crazy and jaw-dropping art installation. The book features sections on fashion, art, crafts, music, large-scale installations, fiction, filmmaking, etc. By combining the functional and the delightfully out-there, The Steampunk User's Manual not only satisfies readers — it also entertains and inspires them at a very high level and provides an updated look at the world of Steampunk, which has already changed since the publication of The Steampunk Bible.