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Wool Omnibus (Wool #1-5)

by Hugh Howey (Goodreads Author)

4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 · rating details · 73,332 ratings · 8,560 reviews

This Omnibus Edition collects the five Wool books into a single volume. It is for those who arrived late to the party and who wish to save a dollar or two while picking up the same stories in a single package.

The first Wool story was released as a standalone short in July of 2011. Due to reviewer demand, the rest of the story was released over the next six months. My thank ...more

Kindle Edition, 509 pages

Published January 25th 2012 by Broad Reach Publishing

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Best Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

32nd out of 1,998 books — 17,586 voters

Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century

8th out of 342 books — 3,201 voters

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Community Reviews

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Feb 21, 2014 Cass rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, books-i-own-ebook, dystopian-utopian

There are two stupid things about this book, neither have to do with the writing. The writing is good, the story is original, I highly recommend this book.

Let's address the stupid things.
The name is stupid. It is like a garage band was after a clever name. There are no sheep in this book, there is no wool in this book. There is one tiny insignificant piece where a character is knitting but she isn't even using wool, she knits with cotton. Given the subtitles are all knitting related (unravel, There are two stupid things about this book, neither have to do with the writing. The writing is good, the story is original, I highly recommend this book.

Let's address the stupid things.
The name is stupid. It is like a garage band was after a clever name. There are no sheep in this book, there is no wool in this book. There is one tiny insignificant piece where a character is knitting but she isn't even using wool, she knits with cotton. Given the subtitles are all knitting related (unravel, cast off etc) I think the book should have been called "knitting" and then the book would have never sold a single copy.

I shall rename the book for the author SILO. Hereafter I shall refer to the book as such... Because it is a much better name that will actually appeal to the target market.

The second stupid thing about SILO (okay WOOL but my name is better) is that it is serialised into individual books. The author asks at the end of this omnibus if the reader would rate and review each book separately. As far as books/stories/novellas go only WOOL1 and WOOL 3 really stand alone. The others are just parts in a novel. They are also all the size of novellas not novels, making this omnibus edition about the size of a book. Here is my advice to the author. Just sell the omnibus edition, ebook users can read a sample anyway, the $6 price tag is very reasonable for the whole book. In fact because I didn't realise it was a series of novellas I bought the first part plus the omnibus which was silly of me. Perhaps good for the authors pocket but it doesn't endear me toward him.

None of that has anything to do with the novel. The novel was original and highly interesting. Finally a novel that I don't think I could flippantly surmise in a paragraph or two.

Usually I do like to give a summary of the novel but I won't in this review as I think there are lots of refreshing little things about the novel that are enjoyable to discover while reading, plus a few good places where you can say "oh wow I didn't see that coming".

WOOL is a good little dystopian novel. The type that leaves you thinking about it for days. The type that creeps back into your mind months after you have read it. It has a fairly original concept that kept me thinking. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to all lovers of dystopian fiction.

Despite complaining about the way it has been serialised I am hoping the author has lots more little stories about this world coming.

ETA: Before you comment. This review has been around for almost two years, and it has spawned a wonderful bunch of friendly people who laugh and joke in the comment section - many (most?) of whom completely disagree with me. Please read the comments (even the first page or two). You don't want to be that douche who thinks he is the first person in 500 comments to think to inform me that wool was used for cleaning, or that is was a metaphor. I disagree with the importance of either as a reason for naming the book WOOL, and if you read even a few of my comments you will find lots of reasoning. Enjoy the community, but don't be the dude that makes us snogger (yes, so crazy is this littler community that we even coined our own word!!). ...more

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Dec 04, 2013 Nataliya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia-postapocalyptic

This is the review for the entire Wool pentalogy (my new favorite word, btw). Wool introduces us to a postapocalyptic world where survivors of whatever disaster that made the outside uninhabitable huddle underground in a giant "silo" that houses hundreds of people. As we can predict, the disaster was man-made (*). (view spoiler)

(*) "You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn

(*) "You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!" - courtesy of "Planet of the Apes" (I give credit when it's due!)

Left - what a silo looks like, in case you are agriculturally challenged, like me. Right - apparently people already live in the underground missile silos. No shit.

Even speaking about the outside has become taboo, and breaking this taboo results in exile to the toxic outside, where - for reasons unknown to most - the condemned take time to clean the silo "windows" before their death, and the survivors inside can enjoy the toxic views for a few more years. For a long time, the Silo has been functioning like a well-oiled machine until we witness a confrontation between a strong-willed young woman who is not afraid to dig through the secrets of this shelter/prison and an equally strong-willed official who for reasons of his own prefers a status quo. The question stands - what is preferable: safety and security or truth and potential devastation? And the answer to that one is not that easy.

This story began as a standalone novella and was subsequently expanded into 4 more volumes (with more potentially to follow, but seems that this particular story arc is complete). The first part has a bleak and haunted, almost vintage sci-fi feel to it. The sequels are more action-packed and touch upon this world's politics (which do not detract from the story). All together they make a fun and enjoyable read. The plot remains tight throughout and all the storylines are compelling. The end may be a bit rushed, but it is still satisfying.

The characters are well-developed and multidimensional. Due to originally unplanned expansion of the story, the protagonist Juliette does not take center stage until the third part, but she quickly and effortlessly becomes the natural center of the story. She is an awesome heroine - rational, practical, level-headed, strong-willed, courageous, tough, and outspoken. She is good with machinery and kicks ass. She is a good friend. In short, she is cool, and I want to be her BFF now.

The story is well-written and a page-turner. Worth giving it a shot. 4.6 stars - rounding up to 5 with clear conscience.

Edit September 2013: 3.5 stars - a skim-through a year later showed me its flaws, or maybe I became more critical. Who knows? ...more

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Dec 04, 2013 Carol. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: dystopia fans, revolutionaries, thoughtful fantasists

Shelves: apocalypse, dystopia, sci-fi, female-lead, my-library

Forget Wool. This should have been called Forge.
description

Writing that's a power-punch to the gut. Direct, slow build of heat, singeing as it suddenly roars into flame. A world that feels solid, heavy, hard-edged, soldered with characters that are heated and molded into something new. This isn't knitting a scarf so much as forging a steel chain.

I absolutely love the character of Juliette, determined, essentially elemental, a person that rocks my character world. I love how all her metaphors are mechanical ...more

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May 10, 2013 Maciek rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: speculative-fiction, science-fiction, read-in-2013, reviewed

I don't get the hype.

If you'd judge a book by its rating on Goodreads and Amazon, you should consider Wool to be a science fiction miracle - the vast majority of Goodreaders gave it 5 stars, and on Amazon it currently holds an astonishing 3,740 five star reviews - with new ones appearing every day. Wool seems to be a prodigious child of a next Asimov or Heinlein, destined to last for decades and inspire generations of readers and writers.

What's even more interesting is that Wool began its life ...more

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Aug 21, 2014 Trudi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: apocalyptic-types, on-my-kobo, series, science-fiction, 2012-reads, dystopia, kick-ass-heroines, awesome

Outstanding!

WOOL began its life as a self-published short novella in July of 2011. That's hard to believe. I feel like I've been hearing about this thing for ages and ages.

So I'm late to the party, but not that late. Due to excited reader response over WOOL 1, author Hugh Howey quickly released the next four parts in the series. Then came along this Omnibus which collects Parts 1-5. There is now a 2013 edition with a great new cover that features a blurb by none other than Justin Cronin, author ...more

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Jan 11, 2014 Dan Schwent rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014, lendable

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. When the old sheriff of the Silo dies, Juliette, a Mechanic, is thrust into the role and quickly finds herself in over her head after asking the wrong questions. What will she discover when she's cast out of the Silo into the toxic world beyond and left for dead?

Yeah, that's not a great summary but there's a lot I don't want to spoil.

Since I've become more and more interested in the idea of Kindle publishing as of late, I decided to check out Wool, one of the juggernauts of self-publishing. Whil When the old sheriff of the Silo dies, Juliette, a Mechanic, is thrust into the role and quickly finds herself in over her head after asking the wrong questions. What will she discover when she's cast out of the Silo into the toxic world beyond and left for dead?

Yeah, that's not a great summary but there's a lot I don't want to spoil.

Since I've become more and more interested in the idea of Kindle publishing as of late, I decided to check out Wool, one of the juggernauts of self-publishing. While I heard the title (and thought it was stupid), I went in cold and was pleasantly surprised.

Wool takes place in a dystopian future where what's left of humanity lives in a Silo underground, levels upon levels of apartments, farms, mines, machinery, a self contained community. People who commit certain offenses are sent out to Clean, to clear the grit off the sensors providing the residents a view of the outside, before dying in the nuclear wasteland.

Juliette, the protagonist of parts 2-5, is a fantastic character. Her logical mind, honed from years of repairing ancient machines, quickly has her asking all sorts of questions about the history of the Silo and the possibility of life beyond. Her relationship with Lukas was believable and not at all sappy.

The book reminds me of old school science fiction, exploring ideas about control, conformity, and manipulation. When Juliette and company figure out what's been going on for two hundred years, the manure hits the windmill.

The writing was understated but still good. It's several notches above what you'd expect in a self-published book and probably a notch or two above some Big Six publishing house efforts lately. Is it deserving of the massive hype it gets? Probably not but it's still really good. I think the "little guy done good" aspect of Howey's success gives it a little more punch in some people's eyes.

A few minor things bugged me, most related to pace and how readily some of the people revolted. Also, I wouldn't have minded a little more of Silo 17 in the epilogue. Still, it has some strong scenes in it. Juliette running out of air was a pretty powerful scene and will stick with me for a long time.

Wool should appeal to old school science fiction fans and dystopia fans alike. 4.5 out of 5 stars. ...more

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Dec 29, 2013 Crystal Starr Light rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, book-club, horror, it-s-not-you-it-s-me, so-boring-it-s-boring, editor-wanted

Bullet Review:

Good story, but OMG, did we REALLY need 500 pages to tell it?! So much of the "story" is just Juliette spending chapters getting into and out of clothes and airlocks, it was about ready to drive me nuts. Could be a superb story minus about 200 pages.

And because of that, it's doubtful I'll pursue the rest of the series. There's a good internet saying for this:

tl;dr

Too long; didn't read

Sums up how I feel pretty well.

Full Review:

It is some unspecified time in the future; people live i ...more

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May 27, 2013 Gary rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, atl-pocalypse, science-fiction, dystopia

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm not one to expound too much on low ratings, but I feel compelled to do so, here, given the high praise heaped on this book by other reviewers.

That said, this will be spoilerific, so if you want out, now would be the time to bail. Seriously. I'm going to spoil the hell out of this.

Disclaimer: I have absolutely nothing against indie publishers (authors who choose to self-publish). This review has nothing to do with that.

First, the things I liked about the book.

The author is actually very good ...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Veronica Belmont rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sword-and-laser

Some books take a while to dig into. The first few chapters set up the story, introduce you to the main characters and build a framework for the tale to come.

Wool sets up the story too, but in a heartbreaking and gripping way that has you consuming the book as quickly as possible, if only to learn the answer to: "that's not really about to happen, is it?"

There are moments in Wool when I wondered if maybe the book was too dark. I mourned for characters and didn't know how they would possibly get ...more

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Sep 04, 2014 Kemper rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014, apocalypse-now, sci-fi, vast-conspiracy, dystopia

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 J 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)[

I was disappointed that Juliette wasn’t given more to do in the sheriff’s role and as a character overall. In fact, while Bernard made for a great villain with his infuriating arrogance, he was so ahead of Juliette at every turn that it made her disappointingly passive. While she takes plenty of actions during the course of the story, none of them really accomplish anything.

Juliette doesn’t uncover the conspiracy; her friend in IT finds the data that clues her into what’s going on although she does figure out the bit about the suits being deliberately made badly. Before she can really do anything as sheriff she’s almost instantly demoted and sent out to clean and only survives that because her friends swapped the faulty parts of the suit. That kicks off the whole rebellion, but Juliette has no part of it. At the other Silo she spends most of her time trying to get a pump working and almost dies doing so, but again, that doesn’t resolve anything in this story. Finally, in the end, she again almost dies because she accidently tries to save the life of the villain of the story, and we learn that Bernard wasn’t bested because of anything she did, rather it was all done by other people.

Part of this is disconnection is because of the structure of the plot. Sending Juliette out of the Silo automatically cuts her out of the action that takes place for the rest of the story. Her dangers mainly come from her environment, not because of anything connected to the plot although an argument could be made that Howey was trying to put in some kind of theme about her overcoming the elements since she almost dies by earth and air (Surviving the toxins and asphyxiation after being sent out to clean.), water and then fire.

One of her Big Damn Hero moments is supposed to be her rushing up the stairs of the second Silo when she’s completely exhausted because she’s desperate to get back into radio contact with her friends, but what exactly was that going to accomplish even if she had gotten back in touch of them? Essentially the character's major achievement is that she suffers and endures so that she can continue to suffer and endure.

So I found it very disappointing that we had a good character that I wanted to root for as the lead in the story, but she felt removed from the action with little actual impact on the plot. It’s kind of sad that Howey built up such a great sci-fi setting and then pushed the best character away from it to have her explore something similar but decayed and mostly empty.

I was also wishing that the story would have been more than a vast conspiracy storyline. The idea that all the silos were part of some centuries old evil master plan was OK, but I think it would have been far more interesting if the situation in the Silo was the result of internal conflicts that had built up over the decades. Juliette and Bernard at war with each other in the Silo is a story I’m more interested in than just another plot about unspeakable secrets kept from a society. (hide 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.
...more

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Apr 08, 2014 Arah-Lynda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Arah-Lynda by: Arah-Leah Hay

Shelves: top, i-said

Hugh Howey paints a world, or what is left of one post apocalypse, with an eye for detail that is easily visualized; one that you can descend into and inhabit.

This is epic storytelling, told with a taut hand on the tiller, controlling the pace and direction, allowing the reader to uncover truths together with the many, care worthy, relatable characters that populate this place. I blinked a couple of times and found myself entrenched in this world. And it all seems so effortless, the narrative fl ...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Kaila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia, science-fiction

This is going to end up being one of those books I force on all my friends, insisting that they read it immediately. I loved it and can't wait for more.

Please see my full reviews of the stories:

Wool 1
Wool 2: Proper Gauge
Wool 3: Casting Off
Wool 4: The Unraveling
Wool 5: The Stranded

Now go read this! You won't regret it!

Update May 13, 2012:

Hugh Howey has announced over on his blog that his self-published book Wool has been acquired by Fox! I couldn't be happier for him, and I am so excited for the ...more

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Jan 03, 2015 Damali rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian-pa-zombies, submerged-buried

Wool tells the story of a group of people living in an underground bunker with over 100 floors. Just talking about what's on the outside, or a desire for any change in their situation is considered treason, and may cause them to be sent for Cleaning. Cleaning is when the condemned person cleans the windows so the people can get a clearer view of the world outside. This series has Twilight Zone written all over it, and I'd be surprised if it doesn't end in a Twllight Zone-type fashion.

Wool One, 4 ...more

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Feb 18, 2015 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, apocalyptic-types, dystopias, ebook_kindle, holocaust-and-atrocities, mystery-and-thrillers, political, reviewed, science-fiction

It's past my bedtime, and I have to work in the morning, so I'm going to try to bang out this review quickly. Apologies if, like many of my reviews, it's spastic and rambly and generally sucks.

This book, omnibus, whatever has been on my reading radar for a long time. It's been recommended to me vociferously by one of my real-life-friends who, every time I tell her what I'm reading at the moment, responds with "But have you started Wool yet? No? Tell me when you have." But one of the reasons why It's past my bedtime, and I have to work in the morning, so I'm going to try to bang out this review quickly. Apologies if, like many of my reviews, it's spastic and rambly and generally sucks.

This book, omnibus, whatever has been on my reading radar for a long time. It's been recommended to me vociferously by one of my real-life-friends who, every time I tell her what I'm reading at the moment, responds with "But have you started Wool yet? No? Tell me when you have." But one of the reasons why I'd been so reluctant to start it is simply the fact that there are so many parts. There's Wool's 5 novellas, which is a series on its own, if read that way, but then Wool is only book 1 of a larger series, called Silo. That's a little daunting, and I had to be sure of the reading order before I started because otherwise I get all twitchy.

But I can see why friend was so adamant about me reading it. I was hooked almost from the very beginning, and felt the need to know more. I enjoyed the characters, the different story lines, the writing and the pacing and the mystery of it all. And it's rather ambiguous as well - which I liked quite a bit, though I wish that the main antagonist's character had been a little bit more in the gray than the black. I'm reminded of how the doctor from The Girl With All The Gifts was handled. It's the same kind of thing... from the perspectives of our protagonists, the antagonists seem evil and ruthless... but viewed in a big picture kind of a way, they are really the ones who are striving, even if it's in a misguided way, to help humanity survive.

But, it gets a little morally murky there. Things are vague... but the explanation that we're given about the history of how things came to be this way is just... horrifying. There's no other word for it. It's not so much that the silo's ancestors destroyed the world... but the WHY that's so horrifying. The thought makes me literally sick to my stomach. Ugh.

I fully admit that I don't understand the reason for the lies. I think that people, just by nature, are going to want to aspire to more... to stretch their wings (to be all cliche) and leave the nest. We're explorers and by nature we're curious. Was it just to cover up the deed that landed everyone in a silo and to control the people remaining? It seems like the lies would be more troublesome to continue with than the truth would be - and the wasted resources in fabricating the lie that ensures the condemned will clean seems... excessive to me. If the goal is the preservation of life, in a certain way... I think people are more willing to work towards a common goal than be held back by fear. One can only exist in a state of fear for so long before something has to change. Or maybe it's just late and I'm being idealistic again.

There's not a lot of science in this book, and what is there is pretty vague. There's a lot more engineering and mechanical based jargon, which makes sense considering the world they live in and who the main character is. But I couldn't help but think about the real logistics of living in a closed environment like that, especially one that is holding itself in limbo for an unknown future. Not just about the big things like making sure that there's power and food and water and clean air... but resources would by nature be limited. So I think about things like clothes and shoes, right? Sure, I'm betting that they laid in a huge supply of coveralls and boots at the beginning. But these things wear out. And fast when they're worn all the time and actually used. I'd imagine that a porter, who's job is running up and down stairs with messages and packages and rumors would go through a pair of shoes in... I don't know, a month? Two? They're walking on metal grating, which is going to be more abrasive than other types of flooring, so two months would be on the high end. So their supply is going to run out very quickly. They can make more... but rubber, I would think, would be in short supply as well. They drill for oil and refine it to make gas to power generators and such, but are they also making other things from it, like rubber for shoe soles? Is that a Legacy skill? What about fabric? Are they growing cotton? Or is everything wool just because that's the title? What about sanitation? Unless the birth control that is only briefly mentioned at the end also prevents menstruation, there's going to need to be some sort of preparation for that. What about glasses? Nail clippers? Toothbrushes? Toilet paper? They live in a world of metal sunk into the ground... when was the last time anyone had a Tetanus shot?? Mental health care? Medicine? Probably in supply - but what about the skill and knowledge to make more? The supplies to make more? Are there even scientists? Emergency response teams? Firefighters?

This leads me to my next question... If a specialized segment of the silo workforce is lost... how do they recover? For instance - Mechanical is at the very bottom of the silo, and they keep all of the power and machines that keep the silo running, well... running. They work night and day to make sure that these machines will last. So what happens if there's a an accident, like a fire or a flood, or an explosion or something, and they can't get out in time? These people have learned their jobs and skills by shadowing the previous generation and learning on the job. There doesn't seem to be a back-up plan if a segment of the population is lost.

Yet when that happens, the solution is to send farmers down to be mechanics now. Led by someone who seems to have engineering skill, sure... but does that person have ALL of the knowledge necessary to keep an entire silo's machinery working? And the skill to teach others how to do that from scratch? It seems that there's a definite lack of planning in the running of the everyday silo operations - the planning was more geared toward controlling the people to ensure they never want to leave rather than preparing for situations which might leave the silo uninhabitable by accident.

And speaking of farmers, I'm assuming that they are the ones responsible for keeping animals as well. What kind of animals are in the silo? I know of pigs, rabbits, rats, and dogs, and assume that there are sheep (because of the wool), but what else? Only food animals and dogs? No cats? Nothing else? Every single other type of animal on the planet is assumed to be extinct? That's horrifying to me, too. But ok, even if they did plan for preserving animals (and there is no evidence of this in the book) - where would they keep them? What if they weren't keeping LIVE animals, but their DNA or something, because this is presumably the future and we may have that technology... but that brings me back to logistics. How would they have compiled samples of every animal species in secret, and where do they store them, and are there scientists or people with the knowledge to figure out how to Jurassic Park them?

I don't know. Still... if one doesn't think too much about the details, this is a pretty interesting and compelling book. I enjoyed it and I will definitely continue on with the series, because I'm curious and I want to know more.

I'm sure that there's more that I have rattling around in this ol' brain of mine that I should have included in here... but I am tired and it's time for bed. So that is all. ...more

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May 16, 2013 Jonathan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: personal-favourites, dystopian, fantasy-sci-fi-challenge, gritty-reads

There are many books that deny the hype and expectations associated with them. To a degree Wool is one of these books in that it is both better and worse than hype would inform you. Regardless it is a brilliant modern dystopian novel, a modern work with style and ideas similar to those seen in Ray Bradbury or George Orwell. When other readers try and argue that The Hunger Games or Divergent are the best modern dystopian novels, Wool is the novel that you point them to for correction.

This novel c
There are many books that deny the hype and expectations associated with them. To a degree Wool is one of these books in that it is both better and worse than hype would inform you. Regardless it is a brilliant modern dystopian novel, a modern work with style and ideas similar to those seen in Ray Bradbury or George Orwell. When other readers try and argue that The Hunger Games or Divergent are the best modern dystopian novels, Wool is the novel that you point them to for correction.

This novel contains five books in one, though all five books are, in actuality, part of the one unfolding story. This story begins with a ritualistic 'cleaning', in which one man is sent from the underground silo to the outside. This outside world is destroyed entirely and the only glimpse of this world allowed from the silo is through one single camera. This camera requires cleaning, therefore certain crimes result in individuals being sentenced to die outside as they clean the camera. From the beginning this novel was excellently written to provide instant descriptive power and the impact of granting a glimpse into the emotions of the main character as he awaited his sentence, reflecting on his life. From this point on the reader is drawn into a plot about lies and truth within the silo, analysing the power struggles within this tightly controlled environment. What is the role of IT in this world? Are the cleanings so necessary? Is the truth more dangerous than the lies? These are questions prompted early on and later answered.

The ultimate power of this novel is in how it is so character driven. As a result the reader can experience a beautifully written (not poetically but structurally or linguistically beautiful) novel that delves into the character's minds to look at the trauma and pain they experience in this gritty post-apocalyptic, dystopian, world. I've not seen this in many books or read a book that so seamlessly integrates description into plot, showing and not telling. At least that is what I felt about the novel.

Finally, since the book stunned me and will probably now haunt me for the next few days, a look at the title. The title 'Wool' is simple and punchy, but at the same time a title that seems irrelevant to the book. A clever title designed to be thought provoking and in some sense, deep. The kind of postmodern title most books adopt these days. Yet I thought of several potential meanings for the title and I will briefly explain them:

1) Wool in connection to the idea of insulation or protection.
2) Wool as a metaphor for knitting, as most of the chapters are connected by knitting related titles.
3) Wool in connection to the idiomatic expression 'to pull the wool over your eyes'. Therefore the sense of being blinded to the truth.
4) Wool in connection to the phrase 'a wolf in sheep's clothing'. Again the deceptive element of wool where someone wearing wool can appear to be soft and caring but really be a true monster.
5) Wool in connection to all the above ideas, as a deceptive and soft insulative material with the capability to be used for multiple purposes (like many of the people and products in the silo). Ultimately while it may seem that wool can be grown and developed it is only dead material taken from the coats of sheep and therefore is a material that ends up cycled, much like the people and materials in the silo. Wool is deceptive and if you look further into it, and question where it came from and what it is, you begin to understand the reality of what wool is.

Wool, is a multifaceted, multi-useful material. And it is the nature of duplicity that features throughout this book. I fully recommend you go and read this, taking into account your own personal reactions and not merely the reactions granted by hype and popularity. ...more

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Apr 06, 2012 SJ rated it 5 of 5 stars

I feel as though I really need to go to confession before I start this review. Bless me for I have sinned...I initially gave Wool #1 a 3 star rating.

I did! I know. I know! I need to hang my head in shame. Please forgive me!

Here's the deal. Someone mentioned the first book in this series was seriously discounted or possibly completely free. I picked it up. I read a few pages. I was HOOKED BEYOND BELIEF. Then, the book ended. I didn't know the book was a sequel, assumed it was a novella, and was I feel as though I really need to go to confession before I start this review. Bless me for I have sinned...I initially gave Wool #1 a 3 star rating.

I did! I know. I know! I need to hang my head in shame. Please forgive me!

Here's the deal. Someone mentioned the first book in this series was seriously discounted or possibly completely free. I picked it up. I read a few pages. I was HOOKED BEYOND BELIEF. Then, the book ended. I didn't know the book was a sequel, assumed it was a novella, and was exceedingly disappointed. Nothing written that good should end that abruptly with nothing tied off and finished off. And as a stand alone, it IS an excellent bit of fiction, but I don't LIKE short stories. Even when I know in my heart they are good, I resent them for their brevity. With this book being as amazing as it was, I was even more annoyed than normal with it. I gave it 3 stars, I moved on.

Or did I? No, I didn't if I'm honest with you. I TRIED to move on, but I kept thinking about it. And thinking about it. And disagreeing with certain aspects of how groups of people in the story coped with certain things that happened. But then I started to think maybe I wasn't giving it enough credit, changed my mind and started finding it plausible again. Rinse, repeat. The book got in my head, which meant that it filled one of my major criteria for a 5-star rating. When you keep thinking about a book long after you've put it down, there's something about it that is special. At least, for someone like me, who has the attention span of a gnat.

I found myself 'Google-ing' the author, wanting to know what else he had written, and BAM, I realized I was a moron and had overlooked that there was more to the series. Back to Kindle, found the omnibus, picked it up, and DEVOURED the book. I couldn't put it down! It was so well written, and yet so unclear what the final message would be, I read frantically with dread in my heart. Dread that the story would end on the same sort of cliffhanger, dread that characters that I cared about and had invested in would be tossed away, but most importantly..well...

Most importantly I worried about what exactly this author, who is so gifted at making the reader FEEL something, would decide was the *message* of this book. I didn't want it to be an act of futility, and I cared enough about it to hold my breath and read at a frantic pace to try to rush to the end. I NEEDED to know what the truth of humanity would be in this world.

What WAS the verdict? What was the message? I can't tell you that. I won't even tell you whether I found the ending disappointing or not. Spoilers. But I will say that this book is fantastically written, and it WILL become a classic work in this genre in the next 20 years, you can bet your bottom dollar on it.

Yup, go read it. It's cheap, it's fab, it's worth it. ...more

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Dec 03, 2013 Alex Duncan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wool...

This must-read work of dystopian fiction happens in a ruined and toxic landscape where a community exists in a giant silo underground, hundreds of stories deep. There, men and women live in a mysterious and controlling civilization that is full of regulations they believe are meant to protect them.

I wasn't sold on this one immediately, and I wasn't certain whether or not I should purchase it. In the end I'm really glad that I gave it a go as it's such a wonderful story and interesting se ...more

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Aug 27, 2013 Willow rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

I loved Wool!

Not that the title is that great. I realize Howey used the word ‘wool’ to symbolize a thick cloud of deception that encompasses his grim and terrifying world, but the word has other meanings like sheep and itchy sweaters that I think detracts from the sharpness of this fantastic story. Don’t be fooled though, this is a wildly imaginative and thoughtful tale. I enjoyed it a lot.

Howey is an excellent writer and has several things going for him. One is his vivid characters and rich di I loved Wool!

Not that the title is that great. I realize Howey used the word ‘wool’ to symbolize a thick cloud of deception that encompasses his grim and terrifying world, but the word has other meanings like sheep and itchy sweaters that I think detracts from the sharpness of this fantastic story. Don’t be fooled though, this is a wildly imaginative and thoughtful tale. I enjoyed it a lot.

Howey is an excellent writer and has several things going for him. One is his vivid characters and rich dialogue. I cared about these people. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to them. So many apocalyptic stories are peopled with douchebags (it drives me crazy!) and that wasn’t the case here. The villain has an agenda and I understood it, even if I didn't agree. And Juliet, Howey’s heroine, is awesome! She’s strong, compassionate, and clever (Howey shows you this too, instead of telling you. Yay!) She also doesn’t lose her focus mooning over some guy. She’s got a job to do and she wants to do it well. I loved it!

Howey’s other gift is his pacing. Wool opens up like an onion, revealing layer upon layer of mystery and treachery, the suspense almost excruciating. Yes the second book has a long passage of world building which probably could have been chopped down, but once that’s over with the story doesn’t slow down. And it’s not endless action either. It’s mystery. I simply had to find out what was beyond the silo.

The next thing I loved about Howey’s writing was his visceral description. I mean, wow! I was there, with Juliet and everything she goes through…sight, sound, touch, and smell. A couple of scenes left me breathless. Another made me want to go wash out my mouth. I don’t think I’ve been so completely pulled into another world in a long time. In fact, I dreamed about this world. If you read this right before you go to bed, I bet you don’t leave. Lol
I’ve read in critical reviews that Howey goes into way too long descriptions about pumps and mechanical devices. But that didn’t bother me. In fact, it just embedded me more in Juliet’s point of view. After all, she’s a mechanic and she would be focused on stuff like that.

There is also some symbolism in Wool that added another dimension. Some of it is obvious, like the title, but others are more subtle. (view spoiler)

Howey originally wrote Wool as a nail-biting short story, and then added onto it. But there were some plot holes and unanswered questions in that story, so Howey spends some time trying to explain things in his subsequent books. I think for the most part he succeeds, but I’m sure there’s something nitpickers will find to pick apart. After all that’s what we Scifi lovers do. Lol

If I was going to knock anything, it would be the ending. I thought it was a little rushed and maybe a bit too convenient, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this. I highly recommend this exciting scifi story.
...more

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Jul 03, 2014 Lynxie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Lynxie by: Molly Woah

Shelves: 5-star-review, legendary-leading-ladies, made-me-think, smirk-worthy, awesome-authors, dystopian, indie-author, sci-fi

Main Entry:
wow [wou]

Part of Speech:
verb

Definition:
amuse, delight

Synonyms:
bowl over, break one up, charm, cheer, crack up, entertain, go over big, kill*, knock dead, knock someone's socks off, make laugh, make roll in the aisles, slay, tickle, tickle pink, tickle to death

Review:
I don't even have a more eloquent way of saying that. It's the only thing I can really say about Wool.

Hugh Howey paints a vivid picture of a world that is so stark, it's deadly. What started out as a rather in-your-f ...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Mark Souza rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wool Omnibus creates an absorbing dystopian world of oppression and treachery. The inhabitants of this world live underground in a silo, the outside world above ground is hostile and toxic, a world they can only see on video screens. The political climate is almost as poisonous as that outside. Those who voice their unhappiness are sent to cleaning, a death sentence where offenders are sent outside in airtight suits with a limited oxygen supply to clean the sensors which project a view of the ou ...more

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Mar 17, 2014 Brendon Schrodinger rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: apocalypse, science-fiction

I have had a few reservations that have prevented me from reading 'Wool' sooner. Firstly the old 'if it's popular it can't be that good'; works for Dan Brown and to a degree 'The Hunger Games', but it worked against 'Harry Potter'. Secondly, self-published author made good: hello 'Fifty Shades of Grey'. Thirdly, a post-apocalyptic tale from a sealed community; been done to death, even in the gaming world with the'Fallout' series.

What could 'Wool' possibly offer to a cynic like me?

Sure it didn't I have had a few reservations that have prevented me from reading 'Wool' sooner. Firstly the old 'if it's popular it can't be that good'; works for Dan Brown and to a degree 'The Hunger Games', but it worked against 'Harry Potter'. Secondly, self-published author made good: hello 'Fifty Shades of Grey'. Thirdly, a post-apocalyptic tale from a sealed community; been done to death, even in the gaming world with the'Fallout' series.

What could 'Wool' possibly offer to a cynic like me?

Sure it didn't offer new ideas in post-apocalyptic fiction, but what ideas it did explore were thorough and smart. The design of the environment, the 'silo' of the series name, was well-realised, with lost of details to make your imagination work overtime. You could see how the community worked, how all the sections of the silo worked together, and also how some worked against each other.

But there is much more to 'Wool' than the setting. Both the characters and the plot are winners also. The first section seems so much like a short story, one of the classic punchy sci-fi stories of the fifties and sixties. After that section, and while you are thinking 'where can he go from here?', the book shifts gear and gives an intelligent follow up to the events and introduces more characters with depth and emotion. These aren't your usual 2-D sci-fi pawns at all. The main character is an engineer who is thrown out of her element.

While most of the work is a good fun sci-fi read, that keeps you guessing and empathising with the characters, there are some truly beautiful scenes that elevate the work above even the great sci-fi stories. These little gems make you stop and smile. So while this book is not a five-star read, it is a solid highly regarded four-star read. It also goes to show that sometimes I should not be so discriminating in my reading selection. Yes self-publishing ebooks bring out so much trash, but I guess there are some gems to be had now and then. Also that no sci-fi trope is too overdone as long as it is approached with a good plot and strong characterisation. ...more

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Nov 10, 2013 byeol ★彡 rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-sci-fi-dystocalyptica, ebooks, 2013-reads

Part 1 - Wool ★★★☆☆
One does not simply call their wife "baby" (or "honey"). Minus one star for me not being able to tolerate grown, sensible men calling grown, intelligent women ridiculous pet names. Else a quick read with some twists that manages to pull you in despite its short length and relative little world building (yet). Looking forward for more to come!

Part 2 - Proper Gauge ★★☆☆☆
Rather slow in the beginning, catching up speed in the last third, with some interesting meditations on and in Part 1 - Wool ★★★☆☆
One does not simply call their wife "baby" (or "honey"). Minus one star for me not being able to tolerate grown, sensible men calling grown, intelligent women ridiculous pet names. Else a quick read with some twists that manages to pull you in despite its short length and relative little world building (yet). Looking forward for more to come!

Part 2 - Proper Gauge ★★☆☆☆
Rather slow in the beginning, catching up speed in the last third, with some interesting meditations on and insights into life and death, vibrant characters, and definitely leaving me curious for more. So many questions about the silo!

Part 3 - Casting Off ★★★☆☆
Again: so many questions! I better get some answers before this omnibus is over!
And what a killer ending, definitely had me grinning ("I KNEW IT!") one second and then gaping with an open mouth ("WHA...? Oh my, now it's getting interesting!"). Good stuff, gimme more!

Part 4 - The Unraveling ★★★☆☆
Let the action begin! Enjoyed the various perspectives and parallel subplots. Good characters again but would have loved for a more balanced pacing but let's see how this one plays out. On to the last one!

Part 5 - The Stranded ★☆☆☆☆
The last one was too convoluted, losing itself in dull prose and prodding along like glue in its minutious descriptions of plotlines ultimately contributing nothing to the plot. The endless descriptions of war and fighting didn't help in endearing it to me.
I ended up skimming the last 150 pages or so and it turned out I did not miss anything of big importance. This could have easily been trimmed down around 40% and would have been better. The names started to grate on my nerves as well as some wording choices (what's with the constant bobbing of heads, dipping of chins, and "he took this" and "she put this"--just say "it" already!) and the inorganic nature of this collection of short stories.
This series could be much better with a professional editor at hand, evening out the rough edges and making it into an more balanced-out whole novel.

In Conclusion...
I had such high expectations for this as it has been praised basically everywhere but I don't think I'll be following the series anymore; what started off as exciting, interesting, and full of potential quickly became an ordeal and I dreaded picking it up and having to spend more time in this gray and dull world with random characters suddenly getting some spotlight. At some point I just wanted it to be over and I only finished it so I didn't start off the new year with a DNF. ...more

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Sep 18, 2014 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, political, post-apocalyptic-dystopian, science-fiction

Many, many readers here (including many of my friends) have rated this book (these books) 5 stars. While I like the novel I can't go 5 stars. There are parts that truly annoy me. Still that being said I'm going to recommend it (as I've said before, the parts that annoy me will be what other readers like). Over all I'd go 3.5+.

You have probably read the book's synopsis. For me to say any more would involve spoilers so I won't address much specifically about the plot etc. outside a spoiler warning Many, many readers here (including many of my friends) have rated this book (these books) 5 stars. While I like the novel I can't go 5 stars. There are parts that truly annoy me. Still that being said I'm going to recommend it (as I've said before, the parts that annoy me will be what other readers like). Over all I'd go 3.5+.

You have probably read the book's synopsis. For me to say any more would involve spoilers so I won't address much specifically about the plot etc. outside a spoiler warning. A part of the point of this book (these books) is (are) the gradual revelations you get. In general this is a post-apocalyptic novel told in an episodic manner with shifting points of view. The writer develops a habit of setting up a sort of "cliffhanger" situation and then shifting to the other point of view for a while. The plot comes together very well and there aren't any major sticking points where you can look back and see internal problems. What's said makes sense inside the story.

There are 3 things that tend to annoy me. The first he only does a couple of times and that's set up a situation...and drop back and give a long (usually not that interesting) flashback to tell about the person or world. The second I mentioned above. There is more "book" here than there needs to be to tell a good story. Howey frequently stretches the storytelling out...even drags it out at times. I occasionally wanted to scream and did a couple of times skip forward a little. (view spoiler). One of the things that gets drawn out is my third annoyance. The internal dialogues (Juliet needed to get her love life worked out on her own time not mine) and emotional tangles that had little to do with the story (and of course some of them did).

On the whole I think there's something here for everyone but everyone won't like everything in the book... Try it for yourself I can recommend it.

...more

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Oct 21, 2014 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, apocalyptic, series, 1paper, 2fiction

It was a 3.5 read, rounding up because it was self published with excellent editing & formatting, as good as any of the Big 6 publishers put out.

Apparently this was published in 5 parts, the first a short story that was haunting. The second was OK & it got better with each episode until the final piece, much longer than the first, was hard to put down.

I've read a lot of post apocalyptic SF & was surprised at how new & different this was in many ways. It actually surprised me at o ...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Penny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookclub, post-apocalypse, science-fiction, series, highly-recommended, scifi-and-fantasy-club-bookshelf

This has everything you need in a good book - great characters, an interesting setting, deep questions, high stakes, mystery, conspiracy and fantastic writing. I can't recommend it enough.

Although the plot was great it wasn't the best part of this series for me. The questions surrounding human nature and how best to manipulate it were far more interesting. Hugh Howey delivers complex ideas with just the right pacing to make them stick. I'll be ruminating on this one for a while yet.

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Feb 03, 2015 Rob rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sword-and-laser, read-2013, science-fiction, silo, own

Executive Summary: While I feel only the first story works by itself the 5 stories as a collection make for an excellent novel that shouldn't be missed.

Full Review
I first heard about Wool sometime last year as it gaining momentum, but before Mr. Howey had signed the print deal. It's become a pretty trendy pick as of late, and Sword and Laser chose it for the May pick this year.

While this is technically 5 connected stories, I think it reads much better as a novel. I think only the first story is ...more

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May 09, 2013 Rachel (BAVR) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, kickass-protagonist, screw-this-world

5 stars - Holy shit, SO MANY 5 STARS.

As my GR friends know, it's rare that I squee over a book. Probably because I read mostly crap. It's cool. I can admit it.

Wool is not one of those crappy books. It's the best work I've seen from a new author in a long time, not to mention the best work I've read from a self-published author yet. Howey's books are now on my must-read list.

I don't want to give away too much about the plot because a majority of my reading enjoyment came from the way Howey unra 5 stars - Holy shit, SO MANY 5 STARS.

As my GR friends know, it's rare that I squee over a book. Probably because I read mostly crap. It's cool. I can admit it.

Wool is not one of those crappy books. It's the best work I've seen from a new author in a long time, not to mention the best work I've read from a self-published author yet. Howey's books are now on my must-read list.

I don't want to give away too much about the plot because a majority of my reading enjoyment came from the way Howey unravels the mysteries of the silo. Basically, the outside world has become uninhabitable for humanity. Stepping outside equals a death sentence. The remaining scraps of people have lived for centuries in an underground silo, a stifling, insular place with strict rules and dangerous secrets. The silo's highest form of punishment is to send a person to cleaning, which means they send them outside. But that is ALL I will tell you because this book is worth NOT being spoiled.

I think it says a lot that I lived in a perpetual state of anxiety while reading out of fear that my favorite characters would die. Howey builds a colorful and meaningful cast of characters, male and female, old and young. The main character is Juliette, one of the most kick-ass heroines I've read in a long time. She is strong and capable and worthy of my adoration. She comes from the deepest part of the silo, where she works as a mechanic, and all of the politics in her world come to a boil when she's asked to take an important position up top.

Howey plays with several themes regarding class. The people down low are hard-working and feel like they're being overlooked by the people up top. The people up top may seem like they have more power, but they are just as paralyzed by their constant visual reminders of the cleanings. It's hard to find a real bad guy in Wool, and this even-handed view of a small, trapped society gives a striking glimpse into the way the silo's, and as an extension, our society works. The times when Howey plays on the themes of human decency, love, and mortality are some of the best in the story. At its core, Wool has a lot of heart, both from the author and the world he's created.

There's mystery, action, adventure, a bit of romance, and the best character of all time named Solo who I begged Howey not to kill in my status updates. If you're looking for a vivid new look on a post-apocalyptic world, give Wool a chance. This splendid discovery is Raptor Approved. :D ...more

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May 07, 2013 Tom Merritt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Stellar. It starts at breakkneck speed and pulled me in right away. I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic, but this is also a rich version. Howey did a great job of revealing mysteries without revealing them all and keeping me interested in what was going to happen next. I liked that he didn't just keep teasing me. This isn't a suspense novel, it's roller coaster and anything can happen.

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Jun 04, 2012 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalyptic, post-apocalypse, sci-fi, female-protagonist, favorites

You know that feeling you get when you finish a really great book and you want to shout about it from the highest mountain and tell everyone you know to read it? Yeah, that's me right now.

The Wool Omnibus is *the* way to read this series of stories. Once I read Wool #1, I couldn't stop. Good thing I bought the omnibus! Wool is about the people who live in a sealed silo that goes for more than a hundred levels below Earth because the surface of Earth is toxic and uninhabitable.

What happens when t ...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Jon Scott rated it 1 of 5 stars

I read about this book as a Goodreads book of the year selection. I had never heard of it and read some of the reviews which sounded good so I went to Amazon and read some more reviews before I decided to purchase it. Wow. This book sucked. I can't really understand why so many readers gave it such strong reviews. I wanted to like the book (I consider the omnibus one book) but I just could not. After reading the mock interview at the end of the book, I was pulling for the author. From what I cou I read about this book as a Goodreads book of the year selection. I had never heard of it and read some of the reviews which sounded good so I went to Amazon and read some more reviews before I decided to purchase it. Wow. This book sucked. I can't really understand why so many readers gave it such strong reviews. I wanted to like the book (I consider the omnibus one book) but I just could not. After reading the mock interview at the end of the book, I was pulling for the author. From what I could gather, Wool was a self published book. I am all for self publishing to bring edgy work to the public eye. But from essentially page one, question marks kept popping up in my mind as to the quality of the work.
When it comes down to it, the major problems with Wool were twofold: plot and character. When it came to plot, I felt like I was reading pages of materials where the content was going nowhere and ultimately it didn't. Way too much detail was written about nothing important. A major character spends pages attempting to pump water out of the base of a silo, and to what end? Nothing. She really didn't have much of a plan, and what she did plan seemed stupid, ill considered, and a colossal waste of time for both reader and character. Another example comes from the beginning of the book when two characters are seeking out a third to become the new sheriff. They plod on for pages climbing up and down the endless stairwell for what? Nothing too revelatory or interesting.
I believe Howey loves his characters and wanted them to live and breathe, but to me, they were flat, underdeveloped and cartoonish in nature. Howey failed to develop their inner lives. Long felt emotions appeared flat and uninspired. New found relationships seemed strained and ill conceived. I'm not going to go into detail to dismember each character but let it suffice to say that I could not believe in them. Howey seemed to lack the skill or ability to bring to surface the unique qualities of the characters that people his world. While I'm at it, the lead male character loves the girl so much he has to tell his mommy? And then his mommy comes to visit him in lock up where he spends hour after hour on the telephone discussing sweet nothings with his "babe"? The relationships are more mature in Twilight, for goodness sake.
I love sci-fi from its early ages through its golden age and even to today, but Wool failed on every level, coming off more as an endless sample of student writing than cutting edge fiction. I was disappointed not only in the novel, but also the Goodread readers who included it as one of the best of the year. If that is the case, then 2012 will fade into obscurity quickly as a barren year for quality sic-fi and for good reason. One final observation. Wool? Does this have to go down as one of the most misleading, inconsequential titles in the history of novels? I guess Howey pulled it over my eyes.
Sorry, Hugh. ...more

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Coffee Club with ...: Wool Omnibus 01/24-02/24	8	5	Feb 26, 2015 07:41AM
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About Hugh Howey

I'm the author of WOOL, a top 5 science fiction book on Amazon. I also wrote the Molly Fyde saga, a tale of a teenager from the 25th century who is repeatedly told that girls can't do certain things -- and then does them anyway.

A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified ...more

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Quotes from Wool Omnibus

“He’d only ever seen a gun once, a smaller one on the hip of that old deputy, a gun he’d always figured was more for show. He stuffed a fistful of deadly rounds in his pocket, thinking how each one could end an individual life, and understanding why such things were forbidden. Killing a man should be harder than waving a length of pipe in their direction. It should take long enough for one’s conscience to get in the way.” — 25 likes

“It turned out that some crooked things looked even worse when straightened. Some tangled knots only made sense once unraveled.” — 16 likes

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