Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Arrow (25 April 2013) (no date)
Description
In a ruined and toxic landscape, a community exists in a giant silo underground, hundreds of stories deep. There, men and women live in a society full of regulations they believe are meant to protect them. Sheriff Holston, who has unwaveringly upheld the silo's rules for years, unexpectedly breaks the greatest taboo of all: He asks to go outside.His fateful decision unleashes a drastic series of events. An unlikely candidate is appointed to replace him: Juliette, a mechanic with no training in law, whose special knack is fixing machines. Now Juliette is about to be entrusted with fixing her silo, and she will soon learn just how badly her world is broken. The silo is about to confront what its history has only hinted about and its inhabitants have never dared to whisper. Uprising.… (more)
Media reviews
The novel has been compared with the post-apocalyptic fiction of Cormac McCarthy and Justin Cronin, and is more character-driven than conventional sci-fi.
User reviews
LibraryThing member TadAD
This is one of those books where the final opinion is really an averaging process.
In some areas, this book exceeded my expectations. The latter ran along the lines of, "Here we go. Another post-apocalyptic U.S.A. caused by man's stupidity about the environment or about war, people struggle to
Also on the plus side of the ledger is the pacing. It's a quick story that — except for a tiny bit of "okay, get on with it" about two thirds of the way through — kept the plot driving forward. Howey's writing style is engaging and his dialog generally sounds like people talking instead of a stilted 1930s movie script.
In the neutral corner are the characters. They're not flat. However, they're not quite three dimensional either. Let's call it 2½D. Only one, arguably two, of the main characters really came out of the pages as a real person. The others had that feel you sometimes get in a long series where the author assumes you've read all the previous volumes and already know the characters: you know there's a full personality there somewhere, but you can't quite discern it in the words in front of you.
On the negative side, Howey needed a technical advisor, someone to review some of the science and correct it. As a fix-it homeowner, I deduced that Howey is not a fix-it homeowner. As a computer guy, I wondered why their advanced technological skills didn't include stuff that's commonplace even today. As a scuba diver, I winced at some of the diving gaffs (it being a critical element at one point in the plot).
There's one more area where I'd like to comment. Science fiction can be just an adventure, something to divert you during a summer afternoon. That's okay. However, the really great science fiction makes you think. It leaves you pondering the idea or the message or the theme after you've finished it. In other words, it gets to you. Beyond its rather interesting take on Armageddon, Wool is sort of "what you see is what you get." It plays in the shallow end of the social science fiction pool.
So, in the end, is it readable? Sure.
Is it worth reading? If you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories, probably.
Is it going to enter the canon of great science fiction? No.
Do I understand the plethora of 5 star ratings on this book, here and on Amazon? Nope.
In some areas, this book exceeded my expectations. The latter ran along the lines of, "Here we go. Another post-apocalyptic U.S.A. caused by man's stupidity about the environment or about war, people struggle to
Show More
survive, greed rules, love triumphs, yada yada yada." Well, no. It is post-apocalyptic but pretty much everything else about the plot line managed to surprise me to some degree or another. Also on the plus side of the ledger is the pacing. It's a quick story that — except for a tiny bit of "okay, get on with it" about two thirds of the way through — kept the plot driving forward. Howey's writing style is engaging and his dialog generally sounds like people talking instead of a stilted 1930s movie script.
In the neutral corner are the characters. They're not flat. However, they're not quite three dimensional either. Let's call it 2½D. Only one, arguably two, of the main characters really came out of the pages as a real person. The others had that feel you sometimes get in a long series where the author assumes you've read all the previous volumes and already know the characters: you know there's a full personality there somewhere, but you can't quite discern it in the words in front of you.
On the negative side, Howey needed a technical advisor, someone to review some of the science and correct it. As a fix-it homeowner, I deduced that Howey is not a fix-it homeowner. As a computer guy, I wondered why their advanced technological skills didn't include stuff that's commonplace even today. As a scuba diver, I winced at some of the diving gaffs (it being a critical element at one point in the plot).
There's one more area where I'd like to comment. Science fiction can be just an adventure, something to divert you during a summer afternoon. That's okay. However, the really great science fiction makes you think. It leaves you pondering the idea or the message or the theme after you've finished it. In other words, it gets to you. Beyond its rather interesting take on Armageddon, Wool is sort of "what you see is what you get." It plays in the shallow end of the social science fiction pool.
So, in the end, is it readable? Sure.
Is it worth reading? If you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories, probably.
Is it going to enter the canon of great science fiction? No.
Do I understand the plethora of 5 star ratings on this book, here and on Amazon? Nope.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dlitwack
Book one was wonderful, with the kind of potential that could make it a classic (think a sci-fi O'Henry or the surprise ending of an Ender's Game). Had the rest of the five books maintained the same level of excellence, I would have given it five stars. Which is not to say the remaining 500 pages
The author has a tendency, at least early on, to kill off point-of-view characters--in itself not a fatal flaw, but nevertheless annoying. Secondly, a large percentage of the surprise occurs in the first book. And while there's a lot of world building to come, it's spread over many more pages and lacks the impact of the first book. Sure, there's lots of action throughout. The book was fast paced and hard to put down. But there were too many scenes of people running up and down stairs --a limitation of life in a silo. And some places had pace but little tension.
Hemingway said never confuse movement with action. Some scenes consisted mostly of people we hardly knew shooting at each other. Contrast those with the part where Juliette goes underwater to fix the pumps--much less violent, but with far more tension.
The writing overall was good, but the editing became sloppier as the story progressed. Book five, which is 35% of the total, seemed to ramble a bit.
One final peeve. After reading The Hunger Games, Divergent and now Wool, I'm sensing a trend toward ever increasing gratuitous violence. I'm reminds of the scene in the spoof movie Hot Shots, where a Rambo-like Charlie Sheen is mowing down enemies while a video-arcade counter shows the growing body count. The display finally declares a new record when the count exceeds that of Total Recall. I'm starting to feel that way about the latest crop of dystopian novels.
Show More
weren't good. But as the story progressed, some flaws emerged.The author has a tendency, at least early on, to kill off point-of-view characters--in itself not a fatal flaw, but nevertheless annoying. Secondly, a large percentage of the surprise occurs in the first book. And while there's a lot of world building to come, it's spread over many more pages and lacks the impact of the first book. Sure, there's lots of action throughout. The book was fast paced and hard to put down. But there were too many scenes of people running up and down stairs --a limitation of life in a silo. And some places had pace but little tension.
Hemingway said never confuse movement with action. Some scenes consisted mostly of people we hardly knew shooting at each other. Contrast those with the part where Juliette goes underwater to fix the pumps--much less violent, but with far more tension.
The writing overall was good, but the editing became sloppier as the story progressed. Book five, which is 35% of the total, seemed to ramble a bit.
One final peeve. After reading The Hunger Games, Divergent and now Wool, I'm sensing a trend toward ever increasing gratuitous violence. I'm reminds of the scene in the spoof movie Hot Shots, where a Rambo-like Charlie Sheen is mowing down enemies while a video-arcade counter shows the growing body count. The display finally declares a new record when the count exceeds that of Total Recall. I'm starting to feel that way about the latest crop of dystopian novels.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MCoorlim
I have to admit, I missed Wool when it was first released. I met Hugh Howey on a WorldCon panel for new authors, and made a mental note to check out the series. This review contains mild spoilers.
I finally got around to reading it.
Wool is set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity scrabbles
The story follows Hoslton, the city's sheriff, as he struggles with the mysteries surrounding the city. Nobody knows why the populace lives underground, or what happened to the surface -- the city's records were wiped out in an uprising over a century ago. Holston's wife had discovered a means to recover deleted records, and in doing so had uncovered evidence that the records had been deleted intentionally by the victors of the last uprising, a tactic that served to forestall any further conflicts.
Her discoveries lead her to such a strong belief in conspiracy that she committed the ultimate crime: expressing a desire to go outside. The punishment: You get your wish. It's exile and a death sentence, one that Hoslton was duty-bound to administer to his beloved wife three years ago.
Most curious to the Sheriff is the fact that, as part of the sentence, the condemned are asked to clean the ground-level windows before the toxic atomsphere eats through their protective suits, and none of them have ever refused to perform this task out of spite or despondence. Now it's time to find out why.
Howey does an excellent job in revealing the setting and backstory to the reader in the space he's allotted himself. Short stories are all about economy of word, and the author doesn't waste any while still managing to paint the dystopic hopelessness that his characters accept as the status quo. Wool works as a short story, answering story questions with more questions that kept me guessing until the end, leading me to reasonable false assumptions that were shattered by a logical reality.
I cannot discuss Wool as an indie title without commentary on the publishing path that Mr. Howey took with it. Initially published as a short story through Amazon KDP, it has since been optioned as a movie by 20th Century Fox. The author has signed a supposedly 7-figure distribution deal with Simon and Schuster while retaining electronic publishing rights.
This, my friends and aspiring authors, is How You Do It in the modern world of publishing.
Overall I give Wool 5 stars. It definitely deserves the success it has brought to Mr. Howey.
I finally got around to reading it.
Wool is set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity scrabbles
Show More
for survival in an underground city, ignorant of their past and unthinking of the future. The outside world is widely believed to be a toxic deadland.The story follows Hoslton, the city's sheriff, as he struggles with the mysteries surrounding the city. Nobody knows why the populace lives underground, or what happened to the surface -- the city's records were wiped out in an uprising over a century ago. Holston's wife had discovered a means to recover deleted records, and in doing so had uncovered evidence that the records had been deleted intentionally by the victors of the last uprising, a tactic that served to forestall any further conflicts.
Her discoveries lead her to such a strong belief in conspiracy that she committed the ultimate crime: expressing a desire to go outside. The punishment: You get your wish. It's exile and a death sentence, one that Hoslton was duty-bound to administer to his beloved wife three years ago.
Most curious to the Sheriff is the fact that, as part of the sentence, the condemned are asked to clean the ground-level windows before the toxic atomsphere eats through their protective suits, and none of them have ever refused to perform this task out of spite or despondence. Now it's time to find out why.
Howey does an excellent job in revealing the setting and backstory to the reader in the space he's allotted himself. Short stories are all about economy of word, and the author doesn't waste any while still managing to paint the dystopic hopelessness that his characters accept as the status quo. Wool works as a short story, answering story questions with more questions that kept me guessing until the end, leading me to reasonable false assumptions that were shattered by a logical reality.
I cannot discuss Wool as an indie title without commentary on the publishing path that Mr. Howey took with it. Initially published as a short story through Amazon KDP, it has since been optioned as a movie by 20th Century Fox. The author has signed a supposedly 7-figure distribution deal with Simon and Schuster while retaining electronic publishing rights.
This, my friends and aspiring authors, is How You Do It in the modern world of publishing.
Overall I give Wool 5 stars. It definitely deserves the success it has brought to Mr. Howey.
Show Less
LibraryThing member rss365
Apparently, engineers of the future will be unable to conceive of block and tackle.
LibraryThing member blbooks
First sentence: The children were playing while Holston climbed to his death; he could hear them squealing as only happy children do. While they thundered about frantically above, Holston took his time, each step methodical and ponderous, as he wound his way around and around the spiral staircase,
My thoughts: I first read this one in 2013. I loved it so, so, so much. I never went back to reread it, however, until now. I saw that it was being adapted into a show/series. I may never see the adaptation, but I am so glad that I took this chance to reread it. It's been long enough that it was like reading it for the first time--which was glorious for the horror-mystery bits. I love the tension of this one.
Premise/plot: Set in the future. What remains of humanity is living underground in a silo--or silos, as the case may be. Generations have come and gone, hundreds of years have passed, those that live in the silo have only ever known the silo. It functions or malfunctions, as the case may be, by following or "following" rules and guidelines put into place. But what happens when little things trigger chain reactions?
So this one is titled, "Wool." Those trouble-makers, those "law-breakers," if you will, are "punished" by being sent OUT. And one of their last responsibilities is cleaning. Cleaning cameras, viewers, windows? But one woman sentenced to this fate refuses to clean....and subsequently....well life in Silo 18 will never be the same.
Further thoughts: I definitely recommend this book. It's a little bit of everything--dystopia, mystery, suspense, horror, science fiction. It alternates points of view. But this is an instance where that is a great thing--used for building suspense.
Show More
old boots ringing out on metal treads.My thoughts: I first read this one in 2013. I loved it so, so, so much. I never went back to reread it, however, until now. I saw that it was being adapted into a show/series. I may never see the adaptation, but I am so glad that I took this chance to reread it. It's been long enough that it was like reading it for the first time--which was glorious for the horror-mystery bits. I love the tension of this one.
Premise/plot: Set in the future. What remains of humanity is living underground in a silo--or silos, as the case may be. Generations have come and gone, hundreds of years have passed, those that live in the silo have only ever known the silo. It functions or malfunctions, as the case may be, by following or "following" rules and guidelines put into place. But what happens when little things trigger chain reactions?
So this one is titled, "Wool." Those trouble-makers, those "law-breakers," if you will, are "punished" by being sent OUT. And one of their last responsibilities is cleaning. Cleaning cameras, viewers, windows? But one woman sentenced to this fate refuses to clean....and subsequently....well life in Silo 18 will never be the same.
Further thoughts: I definitely recommend this book. It's a little bit of everything--dystopia, mystery, suspense, horror, science fiction. It alternates points of view. But this is an instance where that is a great thing--used for building suspense.
Show Less
LibraryThing member norabelle414
The silo is a very well-structured society. Everyone has a job to do and everyone does their job. Anyone who questions the system is sent outside the silo to clean the sensors which provide the residents of the silo with their only view of the outside. The air outside is toxic, and the cleaners die
I loved every little thing about this dystopic story, especially the straightforward and matter-of-fact writing style. It is fitting to life in the silo, and to Juliette herself, much more than flowery prose would be. Definitely recommended to anyone who likes dystopias.
Show More
just after doing their job. That's really only a synopsis of the first 20 pages or so of this 500+ page chunkster. But discovering this world for yourself is half the fun, so I won't say any more.I loved every little thing about this dystopic story, especially the straightforward and matter-of-fact writing style. It is fitting to life in the silo, and to Juliette herself, much more than flowery prose would be. Definitely recommended to anyone who likes dystopias.
Show Less
LibraryThing member nnschiller
This mid-read review covers my experience of the first story and half of the second.
I picked this up on a Kindle sale based on word of mouth recommendation and I'm really enjoying it. The author does two things (at least) really well. First, he doesn't go crazy w/ world building exposition. He lets
These observations cloud my impression of very good post-apocalyptic fiction w/ rich characters and observations about the human condition.
I'm sold and looking forward to the rest of the stories.
The five stories in the omnibus were very well crafted. I was enthralled. Tempted to give it a 5 star rating. I may yet.
I picked this up on a Kindle sale based on word of mouth recommendation and I'm really enjoying it. The author does two things (at least) really well. First, he doesn't go crazy w/ world building exposition. He lets
Show More
his characters and their stories reveal the setting. Second, he reveals his characters w/ how they move and how they physically act with each other and the environment, rather than through exposition and interior monologue.These observations cloud my impression of very good post-apocalyptic fiction w/ rich characters and observations about the human condition.
I'm sold and looking forward to the rest of the stories.
The five stories in the omnibus were very well crafted. I was enthralled. Tempted to give it a 5 star rating. I may yet.
Show Less
LibraryThing member silentq
Wow, this was an intense book, claustrophobic and oppressive at times, and it had me exclaiming aloud at the fates of some of the characters. The tone is set in the first segment when the sheriff in an underground silo expresses a desire to go outside to join his wife. She was sentenced to cleaning
Show More
the sensors that are the only view of the hostile climate outside, a de facto death sentence, after she went unhinged and demanded to be let outside. The conspiracies and hidden nuggets of information are slowly presented, with the ever present fear that the person who just learned something important will die before they can pass it along. The bulk of the story revolves around the replacement sheriff, a woman from the lowest levels of the silo where the mechanical workers are sequestered, keeping the generators and oil pumps running. The systems in place to keep the limited population of the silo alive and complacent are trying to suppress any uprisings, and we learn the consequences of defiance along with the characters. I loved how the world was introduced through the figures of authority and with the current way of life being presented as normal, and then things break down through the course of the story. The writing felt well researched, from how to fix a generator, to how to survive underground for so long, even to a chilling section under water. The stairs form the spine of the silo, one set, with everything branching off, and the characters spend a lot of time rising and falling along that line. Show Less
LibraryThing member freddlerabbit
Wool is an interesting world - a fantastical setting proves dystopian over time, but the future holds some hope for change (the omnibus edition contains the entire set of stories to date). Howey has written believable and compelling characters - basic themes of love, friendship, loyalty - and what
Show More
happens when loyalty conflicts with morality weave throughout the book. The plot has some surprises, and the narrative of the Wool universe unfolds over time. Readers who enjoy mystery and science fiction should appreciate the plot unfolding and the occasional bouts of mechanical or technical detail - however, Wool isn't as tech-heavy in the description as, say, Alastair Reynolds or the Red Mars trilogy, so you want to head into it realizing the focus here is really on the people. A very solid, enjoyable and occasionally surprising read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Arbitrex
I can't help but compare this to the Hunger Games, another e-book sensation that catapulted a new author to stardom, except this one hasn't yet skyrocketed yet and its a far, far better story and writing. Since the Wool series depends upon a long slow reveal of the world, its hard to summarize what
Show More
the story is about without ruining it - think of a full treatment of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' taking place in a colossal fallout shelter. I don't even want to ruin where the title comes from, as its an 'aha' moment when you realize that the innocuous fabric has such a tragic purpose. All I can say is, this is fantastic dystopian sci-fi, I highly recommend it, and I look forward to more of Howey's work. Show Less
LibraryThing member AuntieClio
Wool is a post-apocalyptic dystopian book with a somewhat hopeful ending. The people of Wool live in a silo, designed to hold a population on 100 floors underground. For the people of Silo 18, this is all they've known. The somewhat totalitarian government they live under is also all they know, and
But secrets aren't always meant to be kept and after Jules, a young woman from maintenance becomes sheriff, secrets start being revealed. When Jules is sent out to clean for asking the wrong questions, what should be a "normal" death and a return to order becomes something very different.
Not normally one for bleak dystopian science fiction, Wool came highly recommended by a respected fellow reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this, loving the way the mystery slowly revealed itself. liking the characters and becoming very curious about how Silo 18 became Silo 18. That it had an upbeat, more hopeful ending that other dystopian novels, made it even more likeable.
Shift and Dust are already on the physical TBR stack, waiting for me to find a spot for them. Maybe I'll wait a bit so I can savor them that much more when I get to them.
Show More
people who speak out are sent outside to clean the camera lenses which broadcast the dreary landscape onto windows in Silo 18's public spaces. Being sent to clean is a death sentence.But secrets aren't always meant to be kept and after Jules, a young woman from maintenance becomes sheriff, secrets start being revealed. When Jules is sent out to clean for asking the wrong questions, what should be a "normal" death and a return to order becomes something very different.
Not normally one for bleak dystopian science fiction, Wool came highly recommended by a respected fellow reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this, loving the way the mystery slowly revealed itself. liking the characters and becoming very curious about how Silo 18 became Silo 18. That it had an upbeat, more hopeful ending that other dystopian novels, made it even more likeable.
Shift and Dust are already on the physical TBR stack, waiting for me to find a spot for them. Maybe I'll wait a bit so I can savor them that much more when I get to them.
Show Less
LibraryThing member whiteknight50
Unique, refreshing, excellent, excellent book. If you are on the fence, buy it, you won't be disappointed.
LibraryThing member amobogio
Well written dystopian psychodrama adventure. Howey creates a concrete sense of place in this Omnibus set of the first five Wooliverse novellas. The characters are diverse and interesting and real - they have a life of their own and were able to constantly maintain the overall story's tension. I
Show More
look forward to reading the remaining Wool books and strongly recommend the Omnibus to anyone with even a passing interest in speculative fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member hmcleod94
Very very good. Hooked me right away, I absolutely loved the book and am tearing through the series.
LibraryThing member NikiTee
Listen, whatever you're reading - STOP. Put that book down, buy this one and read the hell out of it.
Sometimes I forget how good books can be. I plod through books sometimes, feeling like I've read 100 pages when I've read only 10. I put the book down and six weeks later remember I am supposed to
Not this one. Not Wool.
Hugh Howey is an exceptional storyteller. Wool is ridiculously well-written and engaging, all the while desperate, bleak, and suffocating. Trust me - these adjectives all belong together in a single sentence. My husband even says to me, "I can already tell you how this story will go. Everybody THINKS the outside is toxic and uninhabitable, but they'll come to find out it's livable.." Not only is my husband WRONG like a wrong person on Wrong Day, but Howey shames him by demonstrating his talents by weaving hope into this dystopian wonderland.
Quick synopsis - in a post-apocalyptic setting, remaining generations of humans and some animals (dogs, bunnies, and rats are mentioned) are existing below-ground in a cylindrical structure buried very very deep into the Earth's surface. Population control is strict and brutal. For every birth there must be a death. Birth control is implanted in the very-young. Howey has masterfully created a culture and its norms within the walls of the silo, and things are status quo for the reader for only a very short period of time. Things quickly start to unravel, and the wool begins to retreat from their and our eyes...
Read this book, seriously. Begin the journey that is Wool, and you won't regret it.
Sometimes I forget how good books can be. I plod through books sometimes, feeling like I've read 100 pages when I've read only 10. I put the book down and six weeks later remember I am supposed to
Show More
finish it. Not this one. Not Wool.
Hugh Howey is an exceptional storyteller. Wool is ridiculously well-written and engaging, all the while desperate, bleak, and suffocating. Trust me - these adjectives all belong together in a single sentence. My husband even says to me, "I can already tell you how this story will go. Everybody THINKS the outside is toxic and uninhabitable, but they'll come to find out it's livable.." Not only is my husband WRONG like a wrong person on Wrong Day, but Howey shames him by demonstrating his talents by weaving hope into this dystopian wonderland.
Quick synopsis - in a post-apocalyptic setting, remaining generations of humans and some animals (dogs, bunnies, and rats are mentioned) are existing below-ground in a cylindrical structure buried very very deep into the Earth's surface. Population control is strict and brutal. For every birth there must be a death. Birth control is implanted in the very-young. Howey has masterfully created a culture and its norms within the walls of the silo, and things are status quo for the reader for only a very short period of time. Things quickly start to unravel, and the wool begins to retreat from their and our eyes...
Read this book, seriously. Begin the journey that is Wool, and you won't regret it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
I have a rule of never leaving a book unfinished, even if it's a bad one, so it's always a risk picking up a book as fat as this one. On this occasion, it was a risk that paid off big time. A few pages in and I got that rare feeling - that you're at the start of something that's going to provide
Set in the future, in which survivors of some apocalypse have been living for multiple generations in vast underground silos, it's a chilling vision of the future. These silos are so big you have to make an overnight stop when travelling from the top floor to the bottom, and that took a bit of getting my head round. I liked the way the author imagined this world in all its detail, such that it became as plausible as possible, and that he created a really impressive female protagonist. But what impressed me most was the fact that not one single information dump was to be found within the pages of this book. Everything we learn about this future world - and there is plenty to learn - we see through the eyes of the characters, learning as they learn, seeing as they see. Showing not telling at its very finest. Can't wait to read the others in the series.
Show More
interest and entertainment of a very high standard for a very long time.Set in the future, in which survivors of some apocalypse have been living for multiple generations in vast underground silos, it's a chilling vision of the future. These silos are so big you have to make an overnight stop when travelling from the top floor to the bottom, and that took a bit of getting my head round. I liked the way the author imagined this world in all its detail, such that it became as plausible as possible, and that he created a really impressive female protagonist. But what impressed me most was the fact that not one single information dump was to be found within the pages of this book. Everything we learn about this future world - and there is plenty to learn - we see through the eyes of the characters, learning as they learn, seeing as they see. Showing not telling at its very finest. Can't wait to read the others in the series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Hegemellman
I am so glad to have found Wool. The entire existence of humanity, as far as anyone knows, has been reduced to a single population (in 50 silos ). They carry on their day to day tasks just like the generations did before them. They do the best that they can with finite resources and life isn't too
My one criticism of the book (and what keeps me from having the 5 star tingles) is that very early on we know most of the secrets of the silo and have to be patient while the characters find them out. I understand that this is because the first "book" of Wool was a standalone short story (that definitely gave me the 5 star tingles) and everything else followed serially, but it was certainly frustrating as a reader to only be waiting for what happened next instead of feeling the drive of finding out the next secret.
With that said, finding out what happened next was enough to keep me reading all the way through. The plot as a whole was compelling and interesting. I was emotionally connected to not only the individual characters, but to the silo as a whole. I worried about them as if I had a stake in how they turned out. The ending was satisfying yet rather open-ended. I can feel story ideas bubbling in my head, which is what I consider the mark of good world-building.
P.S. This would make an excellent television show or miniseries.
Show More
bad until light starts to show through the cracks in society. It turns out that there has been a lot of deception going on to keep things running smoothly.My one criticism of the book (and what keeps me from having the 5 star tingles) is that very early on we know most of the secrets of the silo and have to be patient while the characters find them out. I understand that this is because the first "book" of Wool was a standalone short story (that definitely gave me the 5 star tingles) and everything else followed serially, but it was certainly frustrating as a reader to only be waiting for what happened next instead of feeling the drive of finding out the next secret.
With that said, finding out what happened next was enough to keep me reading all the way through. The plot as a whole was compelling and interesting. I was emotionally connected to not only the individual characters, but to the silo as a whole. I worried about them as if I had a stake in how they turned out. The ending was satisfying yet rather open-ended. I can feel story ideas bubbling in my head, which is what I consider the mark of good world-building.
P.S. This would make an excellent television show or miniseries.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ellenflorman
I often find real treasures among recommendations on LT and Wool (Omnibus) by Hugh Howey is one of the best! This was a page turner and a story that I thought about when I was not reading it. I normally don't care for dystopian stories, but this one grabbed my attention from the first page and
Show More
didn't let go until I finished it 5 books later. I have downloaded the prequel and can't wait to start it. Hghly recommended!! Show Less
LibraryThing member becaussie
I really enjoyed this. Seeing the great reviews I tentatively bought the first book and then downloaded the omnibus. I see from other posts that there is a prequel and I look forward to getting my hands on it. I've recommended Wool to a few friends and look forward to discussing it with them.
LibraryThing member ben_a
Lean, enjoyable apocalyptic sci-fi and can also be read as a well-imagined turn on the generation ship motif.
LibraryThing member Sharn
I believe this is one of those books that I would've found to be much better if I had read it a little faster. The storyline was great and the writing was great. The book is actually broken down into 5 books, the first book I really liked and left a cliffhanger at the end that prompted me to buy
This about life in silo. An underground silo. If you are sent to 'clean', you are being put to death. You can't even talk about the outside. Those in charge are ruthless.
I'm trying to word this review without including any spoilers but I can't. I don't even want to talk about 1 specific person without giving away too much so you'll have to read this -like no other- book for yourself and draw your own conclusion!
Show More
the collection and I have to say I was a bit disappointed reading the 2nd book which is probably why my reading slowed down, I was so bored with the 2nd book but then the 3rd book started and I was sucked back in.This about life in silo. An underground silo. If you are sent to 'clean', you are being put to death. You can't even talk about the outside. Those in charge are ruthless.
I'm trying to word this review without including any spoilers but I can't. I don't even want to talk about 1 specific person without giving away too much so you'll have to read this -like no other- book for yourself and draw your own conclusion!
Show Less
LibraryThing member huntersun9
I enjoyed WOOL very much, but would have liked to read more about the day-to-day life of the Silo residents leading up to the revolt. More detail about the social life and repressed culture and less stairway minutiae would have fleshed out the story more and made the revolt more plausible. At
Show More
times, the story dragged and I had trouble believing that people who had lived in a multi-story environment for many generations would become so fatigued going up & down the spiral staircase of the only home they've ever known. BUT the story line was very interesting overall and I will read more of Howey's work. Show Less
LibraryThing member MarkSouza
Wool Omnibus creates an absorbing dystopian world of oppression and treachery. The inhabitants of this world live underground in a silo, the outside world above ground hostile and toxic, a world they can only see on video screens. The political climate inside the silo is almost as poisonous as that
Hugh Howey weaves a fascinating tale of politics, treachery, loyalty, bravery and love. There is no heavy-handedness to the storytelling. Revelations are woven in masterfully, gems for the reader to find and interpret. If you ever wondered who would replace Bradbury and Heinlein, the answer is Hugh Howey. Much like Stephen King, though he may not write in a genre you usually read, his masterful storytelling demands your attention. I can’t remember who recommended this book to me, but I would like to thanks them. The story ends with a few open ends leaving room for a sequel, which I hear is in the works. That is a good thing as I was not ready to leave the world of Silo 18. There is also a movie in the works. I hope they do the novel justice. Read the book first.
Show More
outside. Those who voice their unhappiness are sent to cleaning, a death sentence where offenders are sent outside in airtight suits with a limited oxygen supply to clean the sensors which project a view of the outside world to the video screens on the upper levels. No one sent to clean has ever failed to do so, though no one knows why since nothing is forcing them to, and no one sent to cleaning has ever survived. Inside, the population is segregated by occupation, each living on their own levels of the silo. Everyone lives by a rigid pact, everyone but I.T. I.T. seems to run by its own rules while pulling all the strings behind the scenes. An intrepid few try to unravel the fabric of secrets and lies before they too are put to cleaning.Hugh Howey weaves a fascinating tale of politics, treachery, loyalty, bravery and love. There is no heavy-handedness to the storytelling. Revelations are woven in masterfully, gems for the reader to find and interpret. If you ever wondered who would replace Bradbury and Heinlein, the answer is Hugh Howey. Much like Stephen King, though he may not write in a genre you usually read, his masterful storytelling demands your attention. I can’t remember who recommended this book to me, but I would like to thanks them. The story ends with a few open ends leaving room for a sequel, which I hear is in the works. That is a good thing as I was not ready to leave the world of Silo 18. There is also a movie in the works. I hope they do the novel justice. Read the book first.
Show Less
LibraryThing member teresa1953
This is a corker of a book...or books I should say. In his preface, Hugh Howey explains how his very short story turned in to a much demanded longer one and how it has taken off beyond all his wildest dreams. It deserves all the accolades it has received and I loved it.
So the first book of five is
Part One starts off simply enough with a man called Holston climbing to his death passing giggling children and adults going about their daily lives. But this is set in the undetermined future when a catastrophe has befallen the planet earth and human beings are living in a many floored giant silo. Holston has decided to "go outside" and this means his certain death...he is to carry out the "cleaning" where many before him have also died and are decomposing in full view of the occupants of the "inside." Some have volunteered, most have been sent as a punishment or the bad luck of the draw. It is very intriguing and Holston's story makes you want to hear more and that is why the author was asked to write more and duly obliged!
What I loved about life in the Silo is the parallels with life today. Everyone has knows their place. The animals bred for milk and meat are right down on the bottom floors with the folk who tend to them. Climbing up a bit is "mechanical" where the engineers run the machinery that runs the Silo and provide it's light and heat. Up in the middle are the IT geeks.....and right at the top are the Mayor and his flunkeys. Nothing has changed much, despite the catastrophe, and we have to wait a bit before we find out why that has happened. All the way through the first three books I was wondering if this was the only Silo in existence and the final sentence gave me my answer! Then it gets really exciting!
It's all there...life, death, grief, struggle, doubt, love and hate. Howey has created a whole new world and tells us that Ridley Scott has "picked up" the story...which is great news.
I thoroughly recommend this set as a great read and a refreshing change from most dystopian stories. Howey has a wonderful imagination and writes superbly. Oh and you have to make your own mind up why it is called "Wool".....I have my own take on it and would love to hear everyone else's.
So the first book of five is
Show More
very short...a novella really. Each book is longer than the one before and the main characters grow and seed themselves in to the reader's mind.Part One starts off simply enough with a man called Holston climbing to his death passing giggling children and adults going about their daily lives. But this is set in the undetermined future when a catastrophe has befallen the planet earth and human beings are living in a many floored giant silo. Holston has decided to "go outside" and this means his certain death...he is to carry out the "cleaning" where many before him have also died and are decomposing in full view of the occupants of the "inside." Some have volunteered, most have been sent as a punishment or the bad luck of the draw. It is very intriguing and Holston's story makes you want to hear more and that is why the author was asked to write more and duly obliged!
What I loved about life in the Silo is the parallels with life today. Everyone has knows their place. The animals bred for milk and meat are right down on the bottom floors with the folk who tend to them. Climbing up a bit is "mechanical" where the engineers run the machinery that runs the Silo and provide it's light and heat. Up in the middle are the IT geeks.....and right at the top are the Mayor and his flunkeys. Nothing has changed much, despite the catastrophe, and we have to wait a bit before we find out why that has happened. All the way through the first three books I was wondering if this was the only Silo in existence and the final sentence gave me my answer! Then it gets really exciting!
It's all there...life, death, grief, struggle, doubt, love and hate. Howey has created a whole new world and tells us that Ridley Scott has "picked up" the story...which is great news.
I thoroughly recommend this set as a great read and a refreshing change from most dystopian stories. Howey has a wonderful imagination and writes superbly. Oh and you have to make your own mind up why it is called "Wool".....I have my own take on it and would love to hear everyone else's.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Jilliancamp
I really enjoyed these books. The series had me wondering what was happening in the life of its characters when I was not reading, I had read a review in which the reviewer lamented the title; indicating it made no sense. I disagree. The title - Wool - is more than just a reference to the material
Show More
used to clean the windows; wool is symbolic of the secret that weaves its way through this futuristic society. I am looking forward to future installments of Wool. Show Less
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Science Fiction — 2024)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Science Fiction — 2014)
Prix des libraires du Québec (2015)
Language
Original publication date
2012-01-27