Book Groups
The Center for Ethics and Public Engagement facilitates conversations beyond the classroom to examine assumptions, exchange ideas, and encourage responsible action in our world. Sign-up below to read and discuss the following books (books are provided and are yours to keep).
Current Books
Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation
Meeting Time(s): March 11th @ 9:40 AM
Location: The CEPE, Olin 214
Number of Participants: 16
The CEPE offers this book group on Jeff VanderMeer’s work so folks can prepare for his campus visit in April of 2025.
Annihilation is Jeff VanderMeer’s award-winning 2014 novel that delves into the eerie, surreal, and ecological mysteries of Area X, a quarantined zone full of strange phenomena and shifting landscapes. Blending speculative fiction with environmental allegory, the novel follows a biologist and her expedition team as they grapple with the unknown and their own identities. VanderMeer crafts a haunting exploration of transformation, humanity’s impact on the environment, and the limits of understanding in a world that defies explanation.
Jeff VanderMeer is a celebrated author, editor, and environmental advocate known for his speculative fiction that weaves together ecological themes and surreal storytelling. Often referred to as “the Weird Thoreau,” VanderMeer challenges conventional narratives while inviting readers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world.