If the lies don’t kill you, the truth will
Author: Hugh Howey
Series: Silo
Genre: Science-Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian
Hunger Games has rekindled readers’ interest in modern dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories. Since then, numerous excellent and thought-provoking dystopian has come out. In my opinion, Wool is another crowning jewel in modern dystopian. It’s quite different from Hunger Games, where Hunger Games was a Young-Adult novel, Wool is definitely more dark and intended to cater adult readers. Originally published as an eBook of short novellas, the immense popularity led to the full-scale publication, this is no small feat for an indie author and tells a lot about the quality of his storytelling.
The plot of Wool is set in “Silo” – an underground community, spanning hundreds of levels. The Silo is the last sanctuary for humankind for hundreds of years. The world outside is hazardous and deadly. The air itself has become toxic and unbreathable.
So, the setting of the outside world is nothing new; there have been numerous other works with a similar world- in-ruin situation. What sets Wool apart is the world inside Silo. The Silo is a fully visualized and functional world with a lot of attention to details. There are various rules and different sections of society, each assigned a particular responsibility, like administration, mechanical, supply, IT, etc. Each of these factions is an essential cog in the machine, that is Silo.
There is one little caveat, as there always is! Silo is cool until you commit the ultimate taboo, i.e., if you show any desire to go out. And, the ultimate punishment is Cleaning, which involves banishing someone out to clean the sensors (used for observing the outside world).
The plot kicks off when the current sheriff Holston commits the taboo. He is sent out for Cleaning. The person who replaces him is our protagonist Juliette. A hard-working mechanic, who is loved by her peers. After taking over the sheriff’s job, she discovers the lies on which the world is built. She uncovers the dirty secrets that can change the world of thousands of souls living inside Silo.
As I have already discussed the setting is the real winner in this book. The author has developed the world with a lot of attention to the details. There are several subtle and well-thought elements in Silo’s world. We see how the people of Silo value each resource, and this includes people themselves. Not anyone can give birth, and you need to win a lottery to do that. Also, because there is limited human population, each human is a valuable resource. So, there are no gender biases (at least none I noticed). A woman can hold any position, be it the physically demanding job of a mechanic, or a high administrative position of sheriff or mayor. This was a real standout for me.
Another significant aspect about the world of Silo is, it keeps you intrigued about how the world has led to the apocalypse, at the same time, not letting it distract readers from the actual plot. The suspense is uncovered layer by layer, and it’s quite satisfying.
The one weak point of Wool is the characters. The first few chapters set up the story quite handsomely. And in these chapters, Hugh creates some beautiful character moments. The relationship between mayor Jahns and deputy sheriff Marnes is one of the most heartwarming and heartbreaking story arcs of the book. Apart from them, the characters of Juliette and Bernard, who’s the big bad guy here, is quite one dimensional. The romance between Lukas and Juliette is very rushed and not very organic.
Although Hugh knows how to build up tension, he uses limited space of Silo to create a claustrophobic environment, especially during the moments of resistance and war. There are a couple of last-minute escape sequences, and they are quite brilliantly done. The pace is perfect, and it keeps you on edge the whole time.
Apart from some small flaws, Wool is a perfect post-apocalyptic story with some fantastic payoffs and still leaves you with enough questions to keep you intrigued about the history and future of humans in Silo.
wordsofbookradiant 