Wool Collector's Edition: Book One of the Silo Series: 1

I can't recommend this highly enough. I downloaded the first story in the Wool series for free. I had it read in ten minutes and immediately bought the complete collection. The first of the five stories? (Chapters? How about installments?) is also far and away the shortest. It introduces us to the world of the Silo and a glimpse of the life inside. It also ends with a nice twist, built on in the second and subsequent sections. Each story expands on its predecessor to extend our knowledge of the world a little more. The stories don't all focus on the same character, but each individual is very well written, with different lives, motivations and feelings creating highly believable people in each case. Characters expand, as do the length of the chapters, as the series develops. I can see how these had people clamouring for the next installment when these were originally published. You'll also learn why its such a great title. While selling a book in installments is an idea that's been around for hundreds of years, it's a system that could work well in the modern world. At the end of the collection the author hints of future stories. I'll certainly buy more, and I intend looking at his non-Wool books too. (He also says he reads every review, so Hi Hugh!) Get the first book for nothing. If you don't like it, you haven't lost anything. If you do, then buy the collection. It's worth it. And frankly, a bargain at just over £2.

This is an omnibus edition of what was originally a series of five linked short stories. It shows, with four clear, evenly-spaced cliff-hangers, all obviously intended to squeeze another few quid out of the reader. It is a story of how hope and the human desire to explore can never be completely suppressed, and has strong similarities to Arthur C. Clarke's "The City And The Stars": both are set in worlds where the urge to explore and to push the boundaries has been almost eliminated; both have a population that is kept under control by limited information and fear; both populations consist of people whose roles in society are largely pre-determined. In Wool that fate emerges from a quite literally stratified society where moving up the social ladder is not only socially difficult (those from lower down are seen as very much the lumpen proletariat) but is also physically difficult. The people of Wool live in a gigantic underground silo, sealed off from the rest of the world which has become inhospitable to life. It's a huge silo, split over 140 levels, but I get the impression that each level in turn consists of several floors, giving a total of around two miles from top to bottom. And, because the place was designed with limited social mobility in mind, there's no lifts. And while there is electronic communication, it is deliberately made phenomenally expensive so people have to rely on porters tramping up and down those miles to deliver hand-written letters - written on rare, expensive paper. Science appears to not be practiced at all, with advanced technology not really understood by its users. It's really quite a nice little authoritarian setup. Howey does a great job putting you in other peoples' skin. He does it in "I, Zombie", and does it here again with great characterisation. He communicates bone-weariness, terror, pain, longing, and everything else that separates us from the machines that some characters wish people were. It's not perfect, of course. I question whether a small population would be capable of maintaining its technological level with only very limited access to raw materials - what they can filter out of the poisoned air outside and what they can mine beneath their silo. Only a handful of minerals will be available, and I don't care how good your recycling facilities are, you will not be able to re-use things for ever. There is a glaring error, in that the temperature is described as going down the deeper you go, and so they use artificial heating for the deep levels. In reality, two miles down and the temperature is something like 75°C higher than at the surface and they'd need some monster air-conditioning. Both of these are a bit irksome, but don't detract from the story and the fine writing. But the biggest flaw is in the last few pages, where The Conspiracy that created this world in the first place is revealed. It's a conspiracy that doesn't make an iota of sense and manifestly doesn't even attempt to achieve what the conspirators wanted. And so I deduct one star, for the dodgy ending. I can see ways in which Howey could have set up exactly the same world with a different conspiracy that actually made sense. But despite that it's a fine book, well worth reading.

The Wool trilogy spans the perspectives of several protagonists living in an underground silo with strict rules to ensure survival. The outside world is barren and toxic, they are told. The capital punishment for breaking the rules is being sent out in a suit to clean the lenses showing residents the outside world. Lenses which become encased in toxic grime over time. We start with Holston's journey, the sheriff of the silo. He is bereaved and seeking answers. He unearths the lies on which life in the silo is predicated upon. From Holston we move on to the Major, a woman called Jahns, and her tender relationship with Holston's deputy, Marnes, as they embark on a long journey to recruit Holston's successor. The intrigue builds from then as we are confronted with the dark forces who truly wield power in the silo. A reluctant hero will be needed to oppose them and this comes in the form of Juliette (Jules), a resourceful lower-levels Mechanic. It is Jules' journey that was the most emotionally engaging and compelling for me. Jules goes through physically gruelling tests to get to the truth and to try to save those she cares for. I found myself craving her point of view chapters to light up my kindle and tried not to skip through the other points of views to get there. The writing throughout the book excellent, its just that it is superb when it comes to the action scenes involving Jules. I found that the romantic-subplot was sweet but did not sweep me off my feet. It seemed more like a kinship between two kindred souls than a real star crossed lovers type scenario. It also served the plot well. Overall, this is the best book I have read in a long time. It is well written, visual, viscerally gripping and innovative. I wish there were more Wools out there.

Just an incredible book. Strongly recommend to anyone who likes fast-paced novels and intrigue.

I love it, it is exactly like the picture, just the letters are a little bit small

Un gran bel libro! E' difficile trovare questo livello di qualità in un genere come la fantascienza post-apocalittica, ma Howey si dimostra un autore di grande levatura. La narrazione non stanca mai - non ho saltato una riga, cosa che invece faccio spesso con testi di questo genere - i personaggi diventano subito indimenticabili e mi è spiaciuto quando l'ho finito.

Wow it’s great when a story grabs you and takes you along on a journey of discovery. I felt a part of the silo community, the daily grind, the emotions, the turmoil, the tension! Full of twists and turns you don’t see coming.

I love collectors editions, otherwise I could have bought the paperback much cheaper. It is therefore a little disappointing that shipping seems to have been very rough and the delivery is bent and with nagged edges and corners.