Veniss Underground

Jeff VanderMeer

Age 16 +
08 May 2014
9781447265306
400 pages

Synopsis

From the author of Annihilation, now a major motion picture on Netflix

Dreams and nightmares entwine as three fellow travellers strive to achieve their deepest desires.

Nicholas seeks to escape his demons in the city of Veniss’ shadowy underground. But in so doing, he makes a deal with the devil himself. His twin sister, Nicola, embarks on a feverish search for him. And while discovering the city’s hidden secrets, she’ll spin her own hypnotic tale.

Nicola’s lover Shadrach is haunted by her mysterious disappearance. In the grip of despair, he decides to embark on a mythic journey. Shadrach must steel himself to visit the nightmarish levels deep beneath the surface of the city to bring his love back to the light. For these depths hold perils that are both complex and chilling. There, he will find wonders beyond imagining . . . and horrors greater than the heart can bear.

Literary alchemist Jeff VanderMeer has produced a triumph of the imagination, revealing the mysterious city of Veniss through three intertwined voices. Veniss Underground is an unforgettable journey exploring the limits of love, memory and obsession. This edition includes the novella Balzac's War.

A Dantesque journey . . . a nightmare vision that shows off VanderMeer's many virtues
An outstanding first novel brimming with startling ideas

Masterful . . . Not for the faint of heart, the story packs a strong emotional wallop