Kemper's Reviews > Wool
Wool (Silo, #1)
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A bunch of people live in an underground community and those who break the rules are cruelly expelled to their doom? Reality TV producers have to be kicking themselves for not coming up with this idea themselves.
At an undetermined time in the future, the people of the Silo have lived for generations with only a few dusty camera views to show them the world above ground. After the sheriff steps down from his post in rather dramatic fashion, the mayor and a deputy determine that a mechanic named Juliette is the best candidate to replace him, but her appointment results in a series of events that threaten to expose long kept secrets and tear the Silo apart.
Hugh Howey is one of the biggest success stories in self-publishing, and I understand why after the early chapters do an exceptional job of introducing us to this world. The stairwell is a vertical highway connecting the complex, and journeying from top to bottom is no easy task. Having two characters make the trek in the early part of the book was a great way of giving us a tour of the Silo that established not only how it works logistically, but how it functions as a society. Juliette started out as a very strong character against this vivid background, and Howe sets her up perfectly as the hero to carry the story.
Unfortunately, he seemed to have some problems with what to do after that, and I was slightly let down at where the plot went from there. I can’t say much about that without giving the book away though. (view spoiler)
Overall, Howey created a well written sci-fi tale with an intriguing setting that I was very interested in, but unfortunately, I found the plot and actions taken by the characters far less compelling. I don’t regret reading this, but I probably won’t be checking out the follow-up books to it.
At an undetermined time in the future, the people of the Silo have lived for generations with only a few dusty camera views to show them the world above ground. After the sheriff steps down from his post in rather dramatic fashion, the mayor and a deputy determine that a mechanic named Juliette is the best candidate to replace him, but her appointment results in a series of events that threaten to expose long kept secrets and tear the Silo apart.
Hugh Howey is one of the biggest success stories in self-publishing, and I understand why after the early chapters do an exceptional job of introducing us to this world. The stairwell is a vertical highway connecting the complex, and journeying from top to bottom is no easy task. Having two characters make the trek in the early part of the book was a great way of giving us a tour of the Silo that established not only how it works logistically, but how it functions as a society. Juliette started out as a very strong character against this vivid background, and Howe sets her up perfectly as the hero to carry the story.
Unfortunately, he seemed to have some problems with what to do after that, and I was slightly let down at where the plot went from there. I can’t say much about that without giving the book away though. (view spoiler)
Overall, Howey created a well written sci-fi tale with an intriguing setting that I was very interested in, but unfortunately, I found the plot and actions taken by the characters far less compelling. I don’t regret reading this, but I probably won’t be checking out the follow-up books to it.
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Reading Progress
August 21, 2014
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Started Reading
August 21, 2014
– Shelved
September 3, 2014
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Finished Reading
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Trudi
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rated it 5 stars
Aug 21, 2014 02:02PM
Eagerly anticipating wrongness and point missing.
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Dan wrote: "Don't you get tired of being wrong all the time?"
I did at first, but I got used to it after a while.
I did at first, but I got used to it after a while.
All good: you move beyond review into analysis of form. The point you make in the spoilers section is clear, concise and IMO accurate.
Thom wrote: "All good: you move beyond review into analysis of form. The point you make in the spoilers section is clear, concise and IMO accurate."
Thanks!
Take that, Dan and Trudi!
Thanks!
Take that, Dan and Trudi!
Great review, Kemper!
I actually just finished the second one and really enjoyed it. You get this time hopping duel perspective that answers most of your questions from the first one and plays nicely into how the third one is going to finsih up. Personally, I think the second one is leagues ahead of the first, but I'm not going to badger you to continue. Just wanted to give you a little nudge to see if I can sway your vote. ;) I always look forward to your reviews!
I actually just finished the second one and really enjoyed it. You get this time hopping duel perspective that answers most of your questions from the first one and plays nicely into how the third one is going to finsih up. Personally, I think the second one is leagues ahead of the first, but I'm not going to badger you to continue. Just wanted to give you a little nudge to see if I can sway your vote. ;) I always look forward to your reviews!
Stepheny wrote: "Great review, Kemper!
Thanks! And thanks for the feedback on the next ones. I'm not overly enthused about carrying on with the series, but that does sound like it might be worth a look.
Thanks! And thanks for the feedback on the next ones. I'm not overly enthused about carrying on with the series, but that does sound like it might be worth a look.
I haven't ventured on to the third one yet. I am doing them all on audio. I really enjoyed finding out why they were in the silos and what great and catastrophic event led them to where they are. :) I am hoping the third one isn't a disaster like a lot of "third of the trilogy" books are.
Like Stepheny I thought the trilogy improved as it went along too (I didn't think Wool was great but the reviews were so good that I persisted with the series). I found the three books as a whole to be a reasonably interesting easy read - not as amazing as the reviews indicated, but quite good.
Book Two - Shift - was my favourite: it explains how the silos were created and I usually enjoy the backstory around dystopian societies more than actually reading about the result. Although other reviewers noted that they couldn't relate to the characters or their motives, I actually thought the characters in Shift were more relatable than those in Wool, although this might be due to my secret desire to become Mistress of the Universe.
Book Two - Shift - was my favourite: it explains how the silos were created and I usually enjoy the backstory around dystopian societies more than actually reading about the result. Although other reviewers noted that they couldn't relate to the characters or their motives, I actually thought the characters in Shift were more relatable than those in Wool, although this might be due to my secret desire to become Mistress of the Universe.
I concur, I would also add that I thought this representative of a sub-genre that is fast approaching "used up" status
Lyn wrote: "I concur, I would also add that I thought this representative of a sub-genre that is fast approaching "used up" status"
Right, the "world" inside a giant prison, its prisoners unaware of their imprisonment, having lost their history. Think of Forster's "The Machine Stops", Heinlein's "Universe" and Silverberg's The World Inside.
Right, the "world" inside a giant prison, its prisoners unaware of their imprisonment, having lost their history. Think of Forster's "The Machine Stops", Heinlein's "Universe" and Silverberg's The World Inside.
"While she takes plenty of actions during the course of the story, none of them really accomplish anything." Truth
I'll second Thom Dunn's comment about what you wrote in the spoiler section. I rated the book higher than you did, but there was still a nagging bit about the story that bugged me. (view spoiler)