Helpful Score: 9
This is a very readable set of stories told in a unique post-apocalyptic setting. A colony of survivors of an unknown disaster live in the silo, a mostly underground, self-contained community. The world and character building are strong and unique. Recommended for fans of the post-apocalyptic genre.
Helpful Score: 4
I heard about this after an interview on NPR. They're correct in that it is a very interesting premise, a unique apocalypse dystopia.
I knew it was originally a short story, and it was self-published, but I didn't realize it was serialized, because, man, there is a LOT of repetition and reiteration of what just happened. It's about 200 pages too long (it's 508 pages - so I'm not exaggerating). If they had bothered to mention this serialization on the back cover or at the intro, I probably wouldn't have been so bored half the time and would have started skimming sections - which I eventually did start doing around page 300. I know it's a first book , but damn, find someone who can edit your work.
That said, it's an interesting psychological study of humanity in confinement, and the lies necessary to keep society functioning. I still have some trouble suspending disbelief at the idea of no elevators in the construction of a 130 story underground silo, and people accepting that computers can't transfer messages via email, despite everyday use, and phones and radio technology could be 'lost'. I guess you have to accept that Big Brother can enforce ignorance and curiosity can be weeded out of the gene pool in two or three generations.
There are neat ideas here, but most of it reads like a cautionary dystopia YA novel - I thought about "The Giver" a lot while reading this. Frankly, the scenario in "The Hunger Games" is better. It was better than "Divergent" but only because of the technical details about engineering (and man, there are a lot of them!)
I knew it was originally a short story, and it was self-published, but I didn't realize it was serialized, because, man, there is a LOT of repetition and reiteration of what just happened. It's about 200 pages too long (it's 508 pages - so I'm not exaggerating). If they had bothered to mention this serialization on the back cover or at the intro, I probably wouldn't have been so bored half the time and would have started skimming sections - which I eventually did start doing around page 300. I know it's a first book , but damn, find someone who can edit your work.
That said, it's an interesting psychological study of humanity in confinement, and the lies necessary to keep society functioning. I still have some trouble suspending disbelief at the idea of no elevators in the construction of a 130 story underground silo, and people accepting that computers can't transfer messages via email, despite everyday use, and phones and radio technology could be 'lost'. I guess you have to accept that Big Brother can enforce ignorance and curiosity can be weeded out of the gene pool in two or three generations.
There are neat ideas here, but most of it reads like a cautionary dystopia YA novel - I thought about "The Giver" a lot while reading this. Frankly, the scenario in "The Hunger Games" is better. It was better than "Divergent" but only because of the technical details about engineering (and man, there are a lot of them!)
Helpful Score: 3
This was pretty good. That first story completely messed me up and will haunt me for quite a while. There is some excellent world building here and instantly vivid characters. Good stuff!
Helpful Score: 2
Wow! What a collection of stories. As you go through them the plot becomes more unraveled, and yet you still have questions at the end. Maybe that is why Hugh Howey has now written a prequel. I will have to look at that. In the age of "preppers" and "end of the world" scenarios, this is a timely selection. I just loved it.
Helpful Score: 2
Having read many comments about this book, I was anxious to read the novel. The comments were so intriguing.
The first character one meets is Sheriff Holston, whose "good guy" image lingers long after his death. He is grieving for his wife, Allison. His grief is so deep that he, too chooses death after researching her papers to discover why she chose death.
The environment is an uninhabitable earth covered with sand, scoured by wind and enclosed in toxic air that kills upon contact. There is no life. Only in the silos can humans survive and survive they do under a rigid set of rules. Those who question the rules or break them die. Most often they are sent to "cleaning," sent outside with suits designed to fail shortly after they leave the silos.
Meet Mayor Jahns who broods over Holston's death and dies of poison meant for Deputy Marnes. She and Marnes descend the levels to locate Juliette, a woman who chose to live in mechanical, deep within the bowels of the silo. She is to be their next sheriff. The bond between Marnes and Mayor Jahns is strong. They have long been in love. And, there is Lukas, a tech who comes up to view and document the paths of the stars. Evil is personified by the mad tech manager, Bernard.
The story unfolds at a rapid pace that carries the reader quickly forward. It's hard to put this book aside. The characters are so realistic. Some say Wool will become a classic like Dune. I hope so for I want others to enjoy this read as much as I did.
The first character one meets is Sheriff Holston, whose "good guy" image lingers long after his death. He is grieving for his wife, Allison. His grief is so deep that he, too chooses death after researching her papers to discover why she chose death.
The environment is an uninhabitable earth covered with sand, scoured by wind and enclosed in toxic air that kills upon contact. There is no life. Only in the silos can humans survive and survive they do under a rigid set of rules. Those who question the rules or break them die. Most often they are sent to "cleaning," sent outside with suits designed to fail shortly after they leave the silos.
Meet Mayor Jahns who broods over Holston's death and dies of poison meant for Deputy Marnes. She and Marnes descend the levels to locate Juliette, a woman who chose to live in mechanical, deep within the bowels of the silo. She is to be their next sheriff. The bond between Marnes and Mayor Jahns is strong. They have long been in love. And, there is Lukas, a tech who comes up to view and document the paths of the stars. Evil is personified by the mad tech manager, Bernard.
The story unfolds at a rapid pace that carries the reader quickly forward. It's hard to put this book aside. The characters are so realistic. Some say Wool will become a classic like Dune. I hope so for I want others to enjoy this read as much as I did.
Helpful Score: 2
At the suggestion of an author I recently reviewed, I finally got around to reading Wool by Hugh Howey and was greatly pleased with the recommendation. It seems I benefited from being a little late to the game as the first five stories had been bundled together while I procrastinated. This story is extremely well done from start to finish. I not only enjoyed it, but life pretty much came to a halt as I read it over the Memorial Day holiday. Another good indication of the storys quality is that I immediately purchased First Shift Legacy (Part 6 of the Silo Series) within hours of finishing because Id run out of book and wasnt ready for the story to end. Wool was so well done. I was truly intrigued by the characters and found myself fully involved especially once Juliettes struggles began in this controlled and broken world of the silo. She was a great character independent, intelligent, feisty, compassionate, loyal and willing to overcome any odds to survive against seemingly impossible odds. One of those characters who brings to mind the phrase indomitable will and I truly enjoyed this story from start to finish. Everything about this story was well done from social dynamics to the uncovering of the hidden truths. I can only suggest that you read it and hope that you enjoy the experience as much as I did. Id give it more than a 5, but thats as high as the rating scale goes.
Helpful Score: 2
I really, really enjoyed this book, though I can see where it wont be to everyones taste. The plot develops gradually through various characters in the beginning, and some readers might find it too slow getting started. The writing is also fairly straightforward, with many simple sentences and not much in the way of lyricism or complexity, but I felt this style fit the setting; it didnt feel plodding or monotonous. Once the action takes off, it really takes off. The story becomes incredibly suspenseful, a real page-turner, and I found myself reading it at every possible moment. I thought I would be annoyed by the 'Romeo and Juliet' allusion, but I ultimately appreciated how the author used it. I will look for additional works by this writer.
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of my favorite books ever. I really enjoyed reading about the people living underground in the future,and slowly finding out what happened to them. The author writes in a way that allows you to really connect with the characters. I tell everyone I know to read this book!
Helpful Score: 1
I really, really enjoyed this book, though I can see where it wont be to everyones taste. The plot develops gradually through various characters in the beginning, and some readers might find it too slow getting started. The writing is also fairly straightforward, with many simple sentences and not much in the way of lyricism or complexity, but I felt this style fit the setting; it didnt feel plodding or monotonous. Once the action takes off, it really takes off. The story becomes incredibly suspenseful, a real page-turner, and I found myself reading it at every possible moment. I thought I would be annoyed by the 'Romeo and Juliet' allusion, but I ultimately appreciated how the author used it. I will look for additional works by this writer.
My only complaint with this book was that it took awhile to pick up... but then it REALLY picked up! SO many hidden secrets to discover in this interesting world that Howey has created. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
I disliked this book.
There was a lot of repetitive and somewhat bland action. It makes sense in the world it's set in, but I felt like it went beyond establishing and was venturing into numbing. Arguably that's a good thing since it gives more of a sense of the world, but it made me feel like I was sitting in the waiting room at an office.
The characters were bad, they were just written in such a way that I wondered if some of the tertiary characters wouldn't be equally interesting. The point was that one of the main characters was an every-woman, and it's not because of that, but I found it virtually impossible to care what happened to her.
*SPOILER*
I found the first 3 chapters very irritating. There is a lot of meeting someone only to have them killed off. It wouldn't bother me so much, but sometimes it kept feeling like I was reading a cozy murder mystery, just waiting to see who dropped next.
I suppose it did give an idea of the turn-over in the Silo and how things from earlier generations could easily be lost and established that no character was safe, but it was excruciating to read and combined with who ended up being the main character went a long way toward me not *caring* that nobody was safe.
There was a lot of repetitive and somewhat bland action. It makes sense in the world it's set in, but I felt like it went beyond establishing and was venturing into numbing. Arguably that's a good thing since it gives more of a sense of the world, but it made me feel like I was sitting in the waiting room at an office.
The characters were bad, they were just written in such a way that I wondered if some of the tertiary characters wouldn't be equally interesting. The point was that one of the main characters was an every-woman, and it's not because of that, but I found it virtually impossible to care what happened to her.
*SPOILER*
I found the first 3 chapters very irritating. There is a lot of meeting someone only to have them killed off. It wouldn't bother me so much, but sometimes it kept feeling like I was reading a cozy murder mystery, just waiting to see who dropped next.
I suppose it did give an idea of the turn-over in the Silo and how things from earlier generations could easily be lost and established that no character was safe, but it was excruciating to read and combined with who ended up being the main character went a long way toward me not *caring* that nobody was safe.
Fascinating story about the "possible" survival of the human race. I wasn't sure about reading a 510 page novel, with small print, about this subject. However, I am now a fan of Hugh Howey and his imagination. I became fascinated with the people and happenings of Silo 18. It certainly makes a person appreciate life as we know it.
