Annihilation

Annihilation by Michel Houellebecq Pre-Order October 7th 2025

From internationally acclaimed novelist Michel Houellebecq comes Annihilation, a gripping, ambitious, and unexpectedly tender chronicle of contemporary life in France. Praised as a master of incisive social commentary, Houellebecq combines dark irony with human compassion in this powerful exploration of family, society, and moral decay.

It is 2027, and France is in turmoil. Economic decline, a heated presidential race, and a series of disturbing cyberattacks—including deepfakes and graphic decapitation videos—plague the nation. Amid this chaos, Paul Raison, adviser to the finance minister, navigates his own personal crises: a strained marriage, overwork, and a fractured relationship with his father, Édouard, a retired security official. When Édouard suffers a stroke, Paul returns to his provincial hometown, confronting family tensions and the failures of a society on the brink.

Annihilation is a masterful blend of political intrigue, intimate family drama, and philosophical reflection, revealing Houellebecq’s sharpest insights into the challenges of modern existence and the possibility of human connection amid societal collapse.