Suvudu Universe

Wool by Hugh Howey Published by Century Hardback - 509 pages Published March 2013 Review copy provided by publisher

It's been a while since I've read any post-apocalyptic fiction, and so it was with great relish I started reading Wool. I'd heard a lot of good things about it from the Nights at the Round Table Podcast where they talked about it being a self-publishing success that gained mainstream momentum. With that recommendation I gave it a shot.

Wool was originally written as five separate short books, and you can see this as each section is self-contained, giving Howey ample opportunity to ramp up the tension between sections. Wool's pacing is superb, and the end of every chapter had me hungering to flip the page and continue onwards.

The world of Wool is a bleak one indeed. From the opening chapters with Sheriff Holston to the bulk of the story with Jules, the world of the Silo isn't a pleasant one. Deceit, misinformation and conspiracy are rife throughout the silo and the only options are to silently conform or face exile. What I love most about this world are the cultural taboos that Howey has installed. Even whispering the word "outside" is a crime punishable by exile; an exile that means you see the decaying outside world and also die in the process.

The insular and self-sufficient world of the silo is both claustrophobic and homely as the people live, love and die within its walls. It's only when you start to see the bigger picture that you get a feel for how constraining things really are. Think of a mix of Total Recall and the video game Fallout and you've got a decent idea of this bleak post-apocalyptic world where a tiny glimmer of hope exists. There is also a strong philosophical line throughout the novel straddling between the bliss of ignorance and the chaos of knowledge. Coincidentally I was listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast at the same time that talked about the Reformation and Lutheranism with historical precedents to the issues in Wool, making Howey's story all the more compelling.

Howey has written a strong female lead that doesn't bend towards any cliché. Jules reminds me a lot of Zoe from Firefly, she's strong because she's lived her life in a place where strength is a necessary part of day to day living, but it also allows her to have feelings for others without any sudden swooning phase. These characters are very much a product of their environment, and as such are completely believable.

Wool was a definite surprise for me; a welcome break from outside my comfort zone. Shut within the silo, Howey has created a world that lives and dies by its people and its secrets. A brilliantly crafted story with an excellent post-apocalyptic culture. I'm glad that I have the sequel sitting on my shelf; I can't wait to dive right back in.

About the author
Jamie Gibbs is the overlord of Mithril Wisdom as well as a terminal geek and great lover of sandwiches.You can follow him on his Google+ or Twitter profiles for a daily dose of fanboy rants.