Jeff Vandermeer's Annhilation

In the science fiction novel, “Annhilation,” written by Jeff Vandermeer, a group of explorers investigate “Area X”, a mysterious uninhabited region. The investigators, all female and never recognized by name, consist of a biologist, surveyor, anthropologist, and psychologist. The story is told through the biologist’s field journal. They are part of the 12th expedition into this region, the previous ventures producing mysterious results, like the biologist’s husband, part of the 11th expedition, who returned unexpectedly into his house, having no memory of how he ended up in the location, and later dying of cancer in the passing months. The rest of the 11th expedition suffered a similar fate.
After the first night passes, the 12th expedition encounter a set of spiral stairs going into the ground, which the biologist frequently mentions as a “tower.” Contained within this peculiar structure is cursive writing that begins with, “Where lies the strangling fruit,” the writing appearing to be composed of plant material. The group returns from the tower, and learn that the psychologist, the supposed leader of the expedition, has organized them with certain triggers from hypnosis. The group all say “Consolidation of

In the night, the biologist observes a light from a nearby lighthouse. The following day, the biologist leaves for the lighthouse, while the surveyor decides to stay behind. The biologist finds several photographs and journals from previous expeditions, like her husband’s journal and a photo she believes is the lighthouse keeper prior to Area X being abandoned. Exiting the lighthouse, she finds the psychologist severely injured. The psychologist leaped from the top of the lighthouse to escape something, telling the biologist that the border is gradually widening northwards and that the biologist’s body is glowing, producing a yellow