I started reading Wool after Season 2 of Apple TV’s Silo premiered, too impatient to wait for the weekly episodes to unfold. I was immediately hooked. This book is a masterful blend of suspense, character depth, and thought-provoking themes. The story is told through the eyes of multiple characters, each chapter immersing you in their thoughts and emotions. Hugh Howey’s writing style shines here, offering vivid, introspective glimpses into each character’s state of mind. This perspective-driven narrative compels you to ask intriguing questions: Who holds the truth? What motivates their actions? Do horrific deeds become understandable—or even justifiable—once you understand the reasoning behind them? The pacing is superb, with moments of tension and cliffhangers that left me breathless. It’s a story that explores the nuances of power and control, and the sacrifices we make for security (sometimes at the expense of our own humanity). The way information—or the lack thereof—shapes decisions and outcomes is a recurring theme, adding layers of depth to the plot. I loved every moment of this book and can’t wait to dive deeper into the series. If you enjoy stories that combine heart-pounding action with philosophical undertones, Wool is a must-read!

I picked up the Wool Omnibus, by Hugh Howey, some time ago, though I can't recall why. Possibly something I saw somewhere, possibly it was a Kindle daily deal. But when I saw it on Ruth's preliminary top ten list for this year, I decided it was time to pull up the first story (it's somewhat a serialized tale). So I did. And I read it. And then I read the second. And then the third. And when I got to the end of what I had on m Kindle, I checked to see if the story continued. The Wool story doesn't, but I'll be getting to the prequels pretty soon, I can tell you that. The setting is not all that original. It's basically a "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" genre: a group of people are living in an artificial world and eventually learn that the world is larger than they imagined, as well as that their history is not what they thought it was. More specifically with regard to Wool, the artificial world is an underground Silo whose view of the toxic world outside comes via a group of cameras and sensors that reveals only a barren, brown, poisonous land with some tall ruins in the distance. Due to the constraints of their living space, life is strictly regulated by "The Pact"--which determines jobs, relationships, etc. One of the biggest taboos of the pact is talking about the Outside, a taboo punished by being assigned the one-way trip outdoors to clean the sensors (the bodies of past "cleaners" are clearly visible on the camera monitors). As one expects in this type of story, eventually someone or ones start to question their society and what they `ve been told and then hidden truths begin to be revealed, causing all sorts of trouble. So yes, the plot here isn't all that original. It is, however, utterly compelling. I'm not going to say any more about it because while it's not all that original in the big picture sense, and while it does get a tad more predictable toward the end, the details are captivating enough that I don't want to ruin your fun. Also, Howey does not shy away at all from killing off major characters, including point-of-view ones, and it would be difficult to talk more plot without spoiling such events. I'll simply say that the deaths, when they come, are extremely effective; you'll mourn the loss of more than one of these characters. And that is really where the strength of Wool lies. I'd say the major reason the plot is so compelling is because the characters are so compelling. Each point of view character is fully formed and distinctive. Howey has a way with succinct characterization--we feel we know each of these characters intimately without getting bogged down in a lot of back story or interior monologue, making us care deeply about what happens to them even as we speed through the plot, dragged on by its urgency and by our connection to the characters. Wool also deepens toward the end, as more and more is revealed about how this society was created and maintained, and what decisions went into such maintenance. Here, Howey poses some big questions about ethics, the needs of the many versus the needs of the few, means versus ends, etc. As I was reading Wool, I kept thinking it reminded me of those great early Heinlein books I read as I was first introducing myself to science fiction. It shares a lot of qualities with those books--a sparse and speedy plot, characters who are good with their hands and who use their skills and knowledge to get out of trouble, ethical dilemmas, and so on. It's been a while since I've read those old novels, and I don't know if they'd hold up at all, but Wool certainly feel right in place alongside them in my memories. Highly recommended, though I also recommend you don't start Wool without a good block of time in front of you. Having to stop will just annoy you.

Wow! What a great story. I found Howey's Wool Omnibus after I read and reviewed Containment. Amazon's "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" is to blame! The price for the five Wool books (as an Omnibus series) was way too low for the quality of science fiction provided. In the same spirit and classic theme of dystopian stories like Orwell's 1984, and moving forward, modern and recent stories like The Hunger Games, Wool is the story of a world gone wrong. A world where people know little and continue their lives both in that ignorance and hope for the future. A world that is both expansive and confining, providing both mundane routine and mysterious details as the story progresses. The writing style and descriptive language is very readable and focuses on character development backed with simultaneous individual stories which allow the reader to piece together what is going on. The story unfolds in a way where you learn a critical point (the first 10 pages reveal this style perfectly), then the reader can wonder how that came to be, and work towards the origin of that point. Things are revealed at just the right pace, leaving you wanting for more while turning the pages, and really leaving few stones unturned. This makes for that page turning-"gotta stay up late" quality that I love when immersed in a great story. The story does take about 100 pages to get to that point, and those first pages want and need to be read, but the initial pace quickly picks up leaving a sense of not being able to turn pages fast enough. This pacing may leave the reader surprised and satisfied at the same time. At this point after getting to read all five Wool books in a week rather than months, I can only imagine having to wait for the release of the next book during the initial publication of each book in 2011 and into 2012--as each book leaves you wanting more and unwilling to wait. Even here at the end of book five of Wool, more is wanted. That leaves "First Shift-Legacy" as book six of the Wool silo series, which is more of a prequel with a new set of characters (purchased and cued up!). The title plays on what a reader already has learned from the first five Wool stories. Of course, waiting is not what you get with the Omnibus edition; you get all five of the books in one... and at a great price that is NOT reflective of what you reading. Each of these books is worth the $5+ price that would total $25+ for the entire series if purchased separately--and I bet in the initial publication and for the relative anonymity of Hugh Howey, pricing might have been a barrier, especially without a hard publication along with the electronic versions. The price was definitely something that made me interested in giving Wool a try--and now I am thinking I did not spend enough for the satisfaction gained. To make up for it, I am buying the rest of what this author has to offer on Amazon. Wool is not a science and technology driven story, although the ecosystem is a technological and self contained marvel. Wool is a story of a dystopian future that provides a sense of dread and claustrophobia, while dangling the carrot of freedom at well paced intervals. Wool is the story of human beings with their weaknesses, strengths, and in a sense of classic story telling, of how one individual can infect others with ideas that are both dangerous and liberating. In short, classic sci-fi. Hugh Howey has a wonderful story telling capacity and hopefully has lots more to write in a productive career, while exposing readers to provocative, mind expanding, and thoughtful ideas in an entertaining and lively style. Highly recommended. Buy everything!

The TV series was great and I’m anxiously waiting for season 2. However the book, as they always do, had more depth and the story flowed better. This is the first Howey book I have read but I also purchased the other two books in the Silo series and will start book two shortly. Well done. Thanks for the enjoyment.

Play Video Just received today. Good quality of pages and looks original. Can't wait to complete it.

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

Libro muy interesante y entretenido. Un fijo para los amantes de la serie de TV

I watched the TV series first and I liked the concept but not so much the characters and how the plot evolved I bought this cos I read in the that series 1 on TV was only part of the book and I have not been disappointed. the characters are much stronger and more defined their motivations are much more believable. most of the dramatic scenes in the TV series have been added on.. don't know why the story is compelling enough I would say the e book is way better that the TV series except for some parts of too much emotional turmoil. some spoilers . . . . Jules is a stronger more able person than the TV series and more of a leader. none of the emotional baggage Hollywood seems desperate to add on to every character. she is not motivated by the loss of her lover at all she has moved on. jules also figures most of it out herself not needing all the prompts from dead holston etc Bernard is more black and white still very unlikable and he does not want to be liked unlike in TV. he is also a small man not the massive one in the TV the secret monitoring room does not exist unless its gonna be in the 3rd book. neither is the IT guard dog play a prominent role as in the TV which good in my opinion.