Jeff VanderMeer, author of Hummingbird Salamander and the Southern Reach series, will be one of the headlining international guests of the 2025 Malta Book Festival.
The announcement was made in a statement on Tuesday by the National Book Council.
An internationally acclaimed fiction writer and anthologist, best associated with the New Weird literary genre, VanderMeer broke into the mainstream with the landmark Southern Reach novel series- Annihilation, Authority, Acceptance and Absolution – with Annihilation being adapted into a film by Alex Garland (Ex Machina and Civil War) starring Natalie Portman in 2018.
The fourth volume, Absolution, was published last year.
Detailing the misadventure and fallout of an expedition into ‘Area X’ – a habitat contaminated by mysterious presences and outgrowths – the series is distinguished by its uncanny yet immersive atmosphere, with VanderMeer effortlessly shifting the gears of genre to deliver a kaleidoscopic experience, all underpinned by a creative response to the realities of the climate crisis.
Cover of Absolution- the latest volume in the Southern Reach novel series.However, the Southern Reach novels are merely among the more recent notable works in VanderMeer’s oeuvre, whose metamorphic nature makes for a perfect fit with the theme of this year’s edition of the Malta Book Festival, as embodied by its slogan – writing anew.
VanderMeer is also known for his other novels, Shriek: An Afterword and Borne.
“Ensconced as we are in favourite genres and writers, we sometimes forget the limitless possibilities of literature,” National Book Council Executive Chairperson Mark Camilleri said.
“From his early experiments with the horror- and fantasy-adjacent Ambergris Series, down to the Southern Reach books, the Borne series and others, Jeff VanderMeer is an author who motivates and inspires through his mere presence, by reminding us that books contain multitudes and that seeking new horizons is every writer’s prerogative,” Camilleri added.
“We would be remiss not to also mention VanderMeer’s work on the landmark anthologies he has put together in collaboration with his wife Ann,” Camilleri continued, referencing works such as The Weird, The Big Book of Science Fiction, The Big Book of Classic Fantasy, The Big Book of Modern Fantasy and others.
During the festival, which will take place from November 5-9 at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), VanderMeer will hold the Masterclass ‘Writing Imaginative Fiction’ on November 6 at 7pm.
This unique opportunity is being offered free of charge, though registration (https://ktieb.submittable.com/submit) is required.
VanderMeer will also be interviewed on stage by Teodor Reljić on Saturday, November 8 at 8pm. Once again, entrance to the event is free, against registration (https://ktieb.submittable.com/submit).
The National Book Council looks forward to welcoming Jeff VanderMeer to the Malta Book Festival, where he will join the ranks of equally impressive former guests, which include the likes of Salman Rushdie, Irvine Welsh, John Boyne, Anthony Horowitz, Paul Lynch, Naomi Klein and many others.
More guests will be announced in the coming weeks – follow the National Book Council and the Malta Book Festival on Facebook and the National Book Council on Instagram to stay updated. Be sure to also check into https://ktieb.org.mt/maltabookfestival/the-2025-malta-book-festival/.
Attendance to both events featuring Jeff VanderMeer at the Malta Book Festival ‘25 is free of charge, against registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested may register here: https://ktieb.submittable.com/submit