Wool

Hugh Howey

Mar 2023 · Silo Series Book 1 · Blackstone Publishing · Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini

About this audiobook

Watch Silo, the new Apple TV+ sci-fi series starring Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Robbins!

The first book in the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling trilogy, Wool is the story of mankind clawing for survival.

The world outside has grown toxic, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. The remnants of humanity live underground in a single silo. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they want: they are allowed to go outside.

After the previous sheriff leaves the silo in a terrifying ritual, Juliette, a mechanic from the down deep, is suddenly and inexplicably promoted to the head of law enforcement. With newfound power and with little regard for the customs she is supposed to abide, Juliette uncovers hints of a sinister conspiracy. Tugging this thread may uncover the truth—or it could kill every last human alive.

Ratings and reviews

Read all 3 books. Overall the story is very original and intriguing. But I found the pacing to be way too slow, so many minutes taken to describe the scenery and objects around the characters... Although I suspect this kind of stuff helps with TV adaptations of the books... Gives them more context for the visual adaptation. But as a reader I often found myself speeding up the audiobook to 2x speed... To skip through the horribly boring parts... Should you buy this book? Well I'd say yes, if you use 2x audiobook speed to skip boring parts and if you set your expectations for the following: The series as a whole deserves a solid 7.5/10... Maybe an 8/10 if you feel generous. I'm pretty sure the tv adaptation will be much better than the books themselves (of done correctly) season 1 of silo was pretty decent.

Everything about this book was fantastic. I felt real horror in my empathy for those sent to "cleaning." Such a bleak and hopeless world was brought into a bitter reality in my mind with Hugh Howey's vivid detail in his writing. Somehow, he managed to touch that place in my consciousness where only nightmares have been able to grip me while I sleep. I felt connected to the characters. When people died in this book, they left behind a certain gravity. None of it was frivolous. I even enjoyed the narrator, and I'm pretty picky with audiobook readers. It was simply epic to immerse in this grim, unforgiving world, and I want more of it. I can't wait to get into the next book. I work alone Mon-Fri, and to while away the hours, I listen to audiobooks. Countless audiobooks. I've been thinking of writing a book of my own for a long time, and while I absolutely love Stephen King, Niel Gaiman, and legends like Frank Herbert, this has really inspired me.

Really good book. I saw the show on Apple TV first. I can see why the show took a bit different direction with the characters but you retain the same central story. The narrator did a great job with being able to project each character and you feel connected to them. Definitely keeps you listening, wanting to know how the story develops next.

About the author

Hugh Howey is the New York Times bestselling author of many novels and short stories, including Wool, Shift, Dust, Beacon 23, Sand, Hugh Howey, and Half Way Home. His works have been translated into more than forty languages and have sold more than three million copies worldwide. Howey divides his time between New York City and Wayfinder, his sailing catamaran.

Edoardo Ballerini is a two-time winner of the Audio Publisher Association’s Best Male Narrator Award, a two-time winner of Society of Voice Arts Awards, and was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine in 2019.