Wool, Shift, and Dust (Silo #1-#3) by Hugh Howey

Amy     
Lynnie  

dystopian

In the five novellas which make up the Wool Omnibus, thousands of people live in a giant underground silo. The population has been living in the silo for centuries because the atmosphere outside is too toxic to support life. The most serious punishment for silo residents is to be sent outside the silo to clean off the camera lens that shows the decayed outside world.  Cleaners never return. The view from the "window" is populated with the remains of those who were sent outside. But a new sheriff is needed and internal politics begin to change drastically as she begins her post. Secrets are uncovered. But how can anyone learn the truth with limited information available? 

Amy's Review

I first read the Wool Omnibus novellas in 2013 and 2014 (and reviewed all five novellas separately on Goodreads). With the TV show about to be released (called SILO on Apple TV) and a new audiobook released by one of my favorite narrators, I decided it was time to re-“read” it. I have often recommended Wool to others and I still stand by my recommendation.  I really hope the TV show does it justice.  I understand they built a giant silo set and I can’t wait to see it.

I love Hugh Howey’s characters in this series. He describes the silo so clearly and it is compelling to learn how people can live out their lives within the confines of their underground world.  The mechanics of the building, the different silo levels, the rumors and limited historical knowledge, the groups of people who make up the various communities within—it’s all fascinating and makes for a great read.

I often can’t remember the endings of novels for some reason—it’s an odd quirk that I can usually only recall the central story plot and/or characters. So the ending of Wool this second time surprised me anew! I am now planning to re-read the other Wool sequels too.

Interesting, intriguing, exciting, shocking, and outstanding. Wool is so brutal, yet satisfying. It's a gripping story full of twists and suspense with a lot of heart.  It's a difficult story at times but so well-constructed and I couldn't put it down.

I absolutely adored Edoardo Ballerini’s narration of Wool!  His wide variety of voices fit perfectly with the story and his acting was superb, as usual.  A+!

Lynnie's Review

I couldn't put it down once I started it. One of the best instances of world-building I've read in a while, filled with incredible characters and a story that gets under your skin from the moment you realize what's going on. If you're a fan of sci-fi or dystopian lit, you won't want to miss this one.

Amy      
Lynnie   

dystopian, science fiction

In this sequel to Wool, the reader learns about the creation of the silos which is a helpful revelation. There is a new cast of characters.

Amy's Review

I originally read the three novellas which make up the novel Shift in 2014.  However, I’m re-reading them now that Apple TV+ is basing their show SILO on Hugh Howey’s Silo series.

I enjoyed it this time just as much as the first time I read it. I love the creativity of the story and the way Hugh Howey plays things out. He's so creative and always pulls me in. His main characters are all so different and you care about them all. 

Lynnie's Review

This prequel to Wool is still well-written but not nearly as engaging. I found it easier to walk away between the three books which make up Shift than I did the five Wool books. Still, it's interesting to see how the silos were created and why. Worth the read if you liked Wool.

Amy      
Lynnie   


action-suspence, sci fi

This final novel in the Wool trilogy ties up all the loose ends and includes all the characters from the first two novels.

Amy's Review

This re-read was motivated by the tv show SILO based on Wool. Dust, the third novel of the Wool series, had a slow first half but a gripping second half.  The problem with the first half was all the technical details that this reader didn’t care to have.  But the conclusion was terrific.  When I originally read this book 9-1/2 years ago, I gave it 4 stars. I’m giving it 3-1/2 today. But still a great story and a must-read for those who had read the first two novels in the series.

Lynnie's Review

A fitting end to the Silo series.

It felt like the story moved along more slowly in this book than the previous two installments (Wool, Shift), but I was glad to find out what happened to the folks we've come to care about and how they could use the information they've learned over the past few books. Hugh Howey has proven himself as a wonderful world builder--I can't wait to see what he writes next.