Wool: Book One of the Silo Series

Hugh Howey

May 2020 · Silo Book 1 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

NOW A SERIES ON APPLE TV+ THAT STEPHEN KING CALLS “MYSTERIOUS AND TERRIFICALLY SUSPENSEFUL.... EXCELLENT SCIENCE FICTION WITH THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERS."

*INCLUDES ORIGINAL ESSAY "A HISTORY OF THE DARKEST YARNS" FROM HUGH HOWEY*

“One of dystopian fiction’s masterpieces alongside the likes of 1984 and Brave New World." — Daily Express

The first book in the acclaimed, New York Times best-selling 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.

“Claustrophobic and, at times, genuinely terrifying.” — Washington Post

Ratings and reviews

The story captivated me from the beginning, and I stayed up all night reading it. The concept is intriguing, and I was satisfied with the exploration of its various implications. The book is brimming with suspense, and I enjoyed the short chapters, alternating between different characters' perspectives. I did feel that some of the plot points were rushed, and I'd have appreciated some additional character building. I had to engage some suspension of disbelief in certain areas, where I felt it may be more realistic to see additional failures or faults in the actions of the characters. Some of the new characters throughout the story felt shoehorned in, almost an afterthought, though I can appreciate the foreshadowing for an extended story. Some of my complaints can be attributed to the fact that the story was originally released in standalone parts. Reading them together makes it a bit more choppy. Overall, I really liked this book and I'm excited to delve into the rest of the series.

Great book. PLUS the author's notes on why Wool is not another post apocalypse tale but an encouragement for all people to live beyond what the talking heads/politicos/preachers etc have to say about fearful times. A reminder to pull my head out, look around and make up my own mind.

Besides enjoying the story, concept and characters. The transitions from present to past (flashbacks)/the relative simultaneous moments characters are going through was pretty smooth. Not sure why that stands out to me the most, but I liked it. I would recommend this book for an entertaining read.

About the author

Hugh Howey is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Silo Series: Wool, Shift, and Dust; Beacon 23; Sand; Half Way Home; and Machine Learning. His works have been translated into more than forty languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. Adapted from his bestselling sci-fi trilogy, Silo is now streaming on Apple TV+ and Beacon 23 is streaming on MGM+. Howey lives in New York with his wife, Shay.