Annex

by Rich Larson

Overview

"An exciting twist on a hostile-alien-takeover drama. . .exhilarating." — Washington Post

"An energetic, nonstop adventure." — Chicago Tribune

Independence Day meets Lord of the Flies in this "thrilling and imaginative" debut about two young outsiders forced to fight off alien invaders in a post-apocalyptic city. (Fonda Lee)

When the aliens invade, all seems lost. The world as they know it is destroyed. Their friends are kidnapped. Their families are changed.

But with no adults left to run things, young trans-girl Violet and her new friend Bo realize that they are free. Free to do whatever they want. Free to be whoever they want to be.

Except the invaders won't leave them alone for long. . .

This "warm, thrilling adventure about what happens after the end of the world" is for fans of Paolo Bacigalupi and Ann Leckie. (Cherie Priest)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316416542
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	07/24/2018
Series:	Violet Wars Series , #1
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	410,153
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Rich Larson was born in Galmi, Niger, has studied in Rhode Island and worked in the south of Spain, and now lives in Ottawa, Canada. His work appears in numerous Year's Best anthologies, as well as his debut collection Tomorrow Factory, and has been translated into Chinese, Vietnamese, Polish, French, Czech and Italian. Besides writing, he enjoys travelling, learning languages, playing soccer, watching basketball, shooting pool, and dancing kizomba.

Editorial Reviews

06/25/2018
Debut author Larson attempts to create a diverse cast of kids fighting back against an alien menace, but the story’s flaws overshadow an otherwise promising premise. Aliens invade a vaguely described present-day American town and begin kidnapping and drugging children, using them as hosts for parasites. Violet, a 15-year-old transgender girl, is part of a group called the Lost Boys and is in love with their leader, Wyatt. Bo, an immigrant from Niger, escapes the aliens and is found by Violet. The adults are all wandering around in an alien-induced daze, so the kids decide to take on the invaders. Larson casually tosses around Violet’s birth name in ways that transgender readers may find painful, and Bo is confused about her gender, which never gets resolved in the narrative. Meanwhile, Wyatt, who’s white, insists that Bo is naturally violent. Though marketed as an adult novel with young adult crossover appeal, it’s hard to imagine readers of any age finding this poorly characterized story satisfying. Agent: John Silbersack, Trident Media Group. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"An exciting twist on a hostile-alien-takeover drama...exhilarating."—Washington Post

"Rich Larson has an amazing knack for capturing the lonesomeness of growing up, and how much random cruelty and steadfast companionship there is in childhood. Not to mention, just how alien and scary families can be."—Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky

"Annex's combination of a likable and diverse cast of characters with breakneck, engaging action-all against the background of an evocative and sinister world-make it an accomplished and impressive debut."—Booklist

"An energetic, nonstop adventure."—Chicago Tribune

"Annex is a ferocious sci-fi fairy tale—a warm, thrilling adventure about what happens after the end of the world. Both epic and intimate in equal measure, this one's a joy and a blast, from beginning to end."—Cherie Priest, author of Boneshaker and I Am Princess X

"Wunderkind Rich Larson's Annex gives us nonstop action set pieces as breathtakingly clever as they are relentless and a vivid, compelling cast. Sequels now, please!"—Mike Allen, author of Unseaming

"Rich Larson presents a uniquely compelling apocalypse—equal parts frightening and touching."—Alex White, author of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe

"A thrilling and imaginative entry into the alien invasion genre with two fierce and desperate young protagonists you won't be able to stop rooting for."—Fonda Lee, Nebula-nominated author of Jade City

"Larson's breakneck pace end up making [Annex] exhilarating, and well worth waiting for the next volume."—Locus

"Deftly plotted and packing a few interesting twists, Annex delivers."—Kirkus

"Insightful and piercing."—B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

From the Publisher

09/01/2018
Nonstop action, including prison breaks and alien fight scenes, mixed with backstabbing and spine-tingling suspense, infuses this wild sci-fi adventure. Violet and Bo fight alongside the self-named Lost Boys to survive the alien invasion and keep clear of the Othermothers hunting them. Each has their own personal demons to overcome in order to save themselves, their friends, and possibly the world. Violet, 14, is transgender and is terrified that this chaos spells doom for her transition and acceptance. Though Bo is only 11, he's determined to rescue his beloved sister, whom he lost in an escape attempt. The novel alternates between Violet's and Bo's points of view, and readers learn how this dystopia came to be and about the protagonists' allies, while Violet and Bo desperately try to stay just one step ahead of their relentless pursuers. The plot is complex, the world-building fully fleshed out, and the characters deep and relatable. This fast-paced, highly engaging narrative avoids sci-fi tropes—all with an ominous Peter Pan vibe. There is occasional strong language, but the protagonists' ages and situations make this title suitable for any teen. VERDICT A satisfying first installment in what will be a sought-after series.—Kristen Rademacher, Marist High School, Chicago

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