Picked this up today in Gibraltar for something to read and had to fight a macaque for it because he thought it was food.

I just finished reading Absolution today and have lots of questions. Would love to discuss!

Misc:

- Why was Henry alive again at the end of The False Daughter? Did the Rogue and Tyrant send Old Jim back in time?
- Was Old Decomp (the site of the Dead Town biologists' burial) the future location of the Tower? Is the circled X a representation of its stairwell? If not, what is that symbol?
- What was the 'flying' from Lowry's camera in Authority? Did that segment just not happen in Absolution, or was it offscreen?
- Was 'pulse and impulse' just a fun phrase to echo (between Old Jim and Lowry) or does it have some thematic meaning?
- What does the later disappearance of Team Leaders 1 and 2 from their island signify?

The Tyrant:

- Was the alligator really just an alligator?
- What's the thematic significance of its name, the Tyrant?
- Why did eating the rabbit cameras influence it to assist the Rogue?
- Was the Tyrant also the 'boat' that Lowry escapes?
- Where did the Whitby-body in its mouth come from?

The Rogue:

- Did anyone actually guess that the Rogue was Whitby before it was revealed?
- Or have other theories on who it was when first reading Absolution?

Personally, I was convinced from the Rogue's first appearance that it was Control, post-Acceptance, on a mission to fix the past and prevent or improve the timeline. Supported by its knowledge of Central tactics and in particular its familiarity with command phrases, which Control experienced, overcame, and weaponized in Authority. Pretty disappointed by the actual identity since it seems so out of character for timid-frazzled-scaredy-cat Whitby. Why would an Authority go Rogue? To seek Absolution, of course! Why would a Whitby go Rogue? ... all of my question marks. He seemed fully subverted or suborned by the end of Authority; the idea that he would be attempting to rework the terroir that had so enthralled him just doesn't seem right.

Finally, do you think long-term survival (of individuals or communities) is possible in Area X? The biologist, the assistant director, and the false daughter all adjusted fairly well, but would that be tenable for groups, or over greater spans of time?

Do you think you could survive?

1) Why is Saul such an awesome character? I reread Acceptance at least once or twice a year and mostly for Saul's story. Something about his character just feels great. This absolutely normal guy who becomes patient Zero for one of the most intense and mind bending situations possible.

2) Do you ever find yourself having to remember that Ghost Bird is of Area X? Like... You have a voice for a part of the "other" in the story. I was thinking about it today of how she sort of fills the role of turncoat but also not really. She's not against anyone and is really only just trying to figure all of this stuff out. But she's still a product of and therefore an extension of Area X.

Just two random fun thoughts I've been having randomly that I needed you all to know about.

Trying to find some quotes of the best romantic quotes or quotes on beauty from Vandermeer books, specifically Southern reach and Borne if you beautiful people have any suggestions. I wish I’d read the books with a pencil to underline all the lines I love, although that probably end up being most the books.