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  • Hummingbird Salamander

  • Written by: Jeff VanderMeer
  • Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan
  • Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (25 ratings)

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Hummingbird Salamander

Written by: Jeff VanderMeer
Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan
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Publisher's Summary

From the author of Annihilation, a brilliant speculative thriller of dark conspiracy, endangered species, and the possible end of all things

Security consultant “Jane Smith” receives an envelope with a key to a storage unit that holds a taxidermied hummingbird and clues leading her to a taxidermied salamander. Silvina, the dead woman who left the note, is a reputed ecoterrorist and the daughter of an Argentine industrialist. By taking the hummingbird from the storage unit, Jane sets in motion a series of events that quickly spin beyond her control.

Soon, Jane and her family are in danger, with few allies to help her make sense of the true scope of the peril. Is the only way to safety to follow in Silvina’s footsteps? Is it too late to stop? As she desperately seeks answers about why Silvina contacted her, time is running out - for her and possibly for the world.

Hummingbird Salamander is Jeff VanderMeer at his brilliant, cinematic best, wrapping profound questions about climate change, identity, and the world we live in into a tightly plotted thriller full of unexpected twists and elaborate conspiracy.

©2021 VanderMeer Creative, Inc. (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

What listeners say about Hummingbird Salamander

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Engaged from start to end

Bitter, beautiful, ecological concern as on the nose as you can get it and you won't hear me complain. Every player realized perfectly and the threading of plot felt detailed but not overwhelming.

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Will The Anthropocene End Humanity?

January 2022 | 4/5
"Assume I'm dead by the time you read this" says Jane, our narrator in this eco-thriller by Jeff VanderMeer.

Jane's not her real name, and as we come learn, not a very reliable narrator. Jane works as a security consultant, who receives a key with a envelope and scribbled address. Jane arrives at the storage facility and finds a taxidermy hummingbird in a box with another note, this time with two words, Salamander / Silvina.

And from that moment, Jane becomes obsessed the hummingbird, what it all means, but most importantly, why her?

VanderMeer masterfully twists the tale, revealing little pieces of Jane, Silvina, and the ecological disasters unfolding before us.

At times it felt like Jane was spiraling out of control, and her selfish actions do wear on the reader, but as Jane mentions in the closing of the book, "I'm here to show you how the world ends".

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Somewhat Depressing but Thought Provoking

The lack of a true setting keeps you in the dark for a little too long. The main characters pathetic life would have you quit the book early were it not for a few action packed encounters. Ultimately, the book ends with a tiny glimour of hope but the hopelessness seems to prevail.

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Wow

Attracted by the title, got hooked by the complex and dark story lines. A terrifyingly good read.

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Don’t waste your time

This is one of the worst books I’ve ever read. I finished it just because I hate not finishing a book, but I truly wish I hadn’t wasted my time! Synopsis: an unhappy woman gets a taxidermy hummingbird from someone who she has never heard of and she destroys her life and abandons her family to find out why. The world ends….. just quit while you are ahead

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