Wool Omnibus, by Hugh Howey

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

I am wondering for those of us that have finished the book. Do you plan on reading the other two parts of the Silo Saga? Here is a poll about it.

[Chris]

I've only read the sample for this on my Kindle and it was pretty awesome. I'll probably pick up the whole book soon.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Great. It would be fun to read it together. I just need to finish the stories I'm currently reading.

[Daniel]

I'm reading the first book at the moment... I've just got up to part 4 and I'm finding it quite interesting. I like how the story has a lot of mystery around it. :)

[A]

I just finished the first Wool book. Cool ending. Does anyone know if this is just an ebook or if its a book you could get at a library?

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Anna wrote: "I just finished the first Wool book. Cool ending. Does anyone know if this is just an ebook or if its a book you could get at a library?"

I have no idea. I have bought the omnibus (1-5). I'm sure it won't be available in the libraries in UK though.

[Daniel]

I've got the UK version where the stories are set as a trilogy of books. So over here it'll go;
Wool
Shift
Dust

Rather than a series of short of short books.

[A]

Oh okay. Thanks guys. :)

[Chris]

It should be in libraries sooner or later. While Howey was originally an indie he signed a print deal with a publisher so his books should be available everywhere soon.

I'm on what I think is the second novella in the omnibus. I enjoyed the first one, but the second one seems a bit meandering so far. Not much action, but its quite interesting. I feel like he's just exploring the world at the moment.

[Belle]

Excellent book choice!! I have read all 5 in ebook format. Excellent story and amazing author (he's actually my new fave.) @Anna, you can but the ebook for roughly $6 in Amazon (the price includes all 5 books.) It is also now available in paperback (all 5 books combined in 1) which can be obtained at any major book store. I bought a paperback copy as well, from Barnes and Noble. Aaaand, I got it signed by Hugh Howey this past Saturday :) (will post up a pic on my blog.)

[Jill]

Would be very interested in reading this book, but first want to finish my current book. I never heard of this series, but all the online reviews rave about it! I'm really intrigued.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Jill wrote: "Would be very interested in reading this book, but first want to finish my current book. I never heard of this series, but all the online reviews rave about it! I'm really intrigued."

Indeed they do [rave the book], and when something gets really popular it often turns out to be good so I am expecting at least a pretty decent read.

We will be reading it for the whole month so join in when you feel like it, even if we've finished reading it. I just started it today and I'm a slow reader, but so far I am impressed, there is so much going on in so little pages and so many theories in my mind and at the same time I just want to know what is going to happen.

5% (view spoiler)[I really like the idea that people can willingly decide to end their life and would be allowed, at the same time I am wondering if Holston will die in the first book or there will be some kind of revelation about the world outside, but don't tell me please :]
Love the flashbacks and short chapters (hide spoiler)]


Annabelle wrote: "Excellent book choice!! I have read all 5 in ebook format. Excellent story and amazing author (he's actually my new fave.) @Anna, you can but the ebook for roughly $6 in Amazon (the price includes..."

You lucky girl! I don't have a single signed book :/

[E.J.]

I'm reading Wool at the moment and I find it a bit hard-gong at times as it tends to waffle occasionally, but the premise is incredibly captivating. Definitely a great one to discuss as there's a lot of material - Hugh Howey sure is prolific!

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Ok, so I've read part 1 of book 1. Gosh it's bigger than I thought. And I have two questions,

12% of omnibus version. Chapter 10, book 2:

(view spoiler)[

First one is how many levels are in the silo? Did they say 40? Can't find the part.

The second one is related to the death of Holston. I did not see that coming, which I actually makes me so happy. I was so sure those images are hoax and that he would not die. I feel manipulated by the author. He made me believe what he wanted and he surprised me. There is one thing I don't really get. When they were dressing him up in the protective gear, did he not see the helmet did not have a visor? Or if it was working and transmitting images, what do you think, does the IT team knows about it? Do you think they are doing it so the people will clean?
(hide spoiler)]

[Daniel]

Are you reading the UK version where it's a trilogy or the US version with multiple separate books?

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Daniel wrote: "Are you reading the UK version where it's a trilogy or the US version with multiple separate books?"

I'm reading the omnibus version with book 1 to 5. I'm at chapter 10 of book 1. I shall be putting chapter and book number now before the spoilers.

[Daniel]

I'm confused now :S

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Daniel wrote: "I'm confused now :S"

Hahaha sorry. I have no idea what are the editions our there. This is the one I'm reading: Wool

It contains: Holston, proper gauge, casting off, the unravelling, the stranded. SO I guess I'm at book 2.

I got confused as well because the chapters continue in each book, they don't start from 1, and I thought book 1 can't be just 40 pages.

[Daniel]

That's what I'm I'm reading... I understand you now :)

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Daniel wrote: "That's what I'm I'm reading... I understand you now :)"

You are half way through :P

[Daniel]

I confuse other people easily :L

[Chris]

I'm about halfway through Proper Gauge. I'm a slow reader at the best of times, though.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

I'm slow as well. Can anyone answer my very complicated questions frew posts down/up.

[Jill]

Going to pick up the series this weekend - do I purchase the series, books 1-5? How many books are there?

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Jill wrote: "Going to pick up the series this weekend - do I purchase the series, books 1-5? How many books are there?"

The omnibus contains books from 1 to 5, it's quite good so far. I know there is 3 more parts from 6 to 8 but they are considered as prequel to Wool, so it is ok to read just parts 1-5, though I would like to read the rest as well.

30%(view spoiler)[Gosh do I hate Bernard. And the author keeps killing all the characters.

I found out how many stairs are there: 3x58-13 or 161 (hide spoiler)]

[Chris]

Just finished the Proper Gauge section (the second novella of the omnibus) and I was a little bit meh. It's okay. All they did was walk down to the bottom, have a few conversations and then walk back up. Yeah, there was some character development and all that, but all they did was have a wander about. It's very well written, though.

[Dale]

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Ok, so I've read part 1 of book 1. Gosh it's bigger than I thought. And I have two questions, "

The answers to your questions, Ellie, are:

- over 140
- No
- Yes
- Yes

Happy reading :)

[Destiny]

Just finished Wool Omnibus and thought it well worth the read. I wasn't so intrigued by #1, though it was well written. The story really picks up in #2 and the plot twists kept me riveted. It was an interesting concept that was well developed and believable. Anyone else find the ending a bit sappy?

[Dale]

Mmm yes - a bit. My understanding is that after Howey achieved great success with his e-publications of parts 1 and 2 and was picked up by a literary agent ... suddenly the demand for him to produce more stepped up. Whereas he was able to produce the earlier parts at more or less his own pace, suddenly the pressure was turned up. I think this shows now and then in the content/quality of the later writing - not that this takes away from the originality of his vision. A part of the novel that I found unconvincing was the character of Lukas - who first appears in part 3. He seems thinly drawn and I don't feel that someone like Juliette would really go for him.

Still a wonderful dystopian vision though.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Sorry guys, I wasn't around for a few days so I am a bit behind with reading (still on part 3), but I am enjoying it so far. I like how it's all happening in one building and still so much going on. It feels a bit unpredictable as well, with all the deaths.

It seemed to me that Lukas us being outlined as a mystery, an odd bird, and we always have people like that. But I'm not finished with part 3 yet.

Would guys plan to read the shift omnibus?

Dale wrote: "
- over 140
- No
- Yes
- Yes"

Thank you :)

[Chris]

I'm at 36%, mid way through part three. I like how we're getting a slow reveal about how primitive their technology is, dot matrix printers and the like. I'm kind of half expecting it to end up that they're not on Earth at all, but Mars or something. And I know it's a gimmick, but I really hope the main character doesn't die at the end of this one (although I think she will).

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Chris wrote: "I'm at 36%, mid way through part three. I like how we're getting a slow reveal about how primitive their technology is, dot matrix printers and the like. I'm kind of half expecting it to end up tha..."

I finished part 3 and started part 4. I can't imagine the book finishing at part 2, though.

Huh, the idea about Mars never occurred to me. I was so sure it must be earth, now not so much.

[Chris]

I'm pretty sure it's earth. Mars would be too outrageous a twist to pull off cleanly. No, I'm pretty sure the whole outside is just the setting for what goes on inside the silo.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Chris wrote: "I'm pretty sure it's earth. Mars would be too outrageous a twist to pull off cleanly. No, I'm pretty sure the whole outside is just the setting for what goes on inside the silo."

Also it doesn't seem the technology is on a level for space travelling and building something like that on Mars. But it still doesn't give you clues where it is. Why would someone build a silo next to a city when a city is most likely to be attacked. Also it doesn't seem like nuclear winter, no talk of snow. Would it be a chemical/biological warfare?

[Chris]

Just finished part 3 and I thought it was the best so far. Kind of obvious that it wasn't the only silo considering there are others listed in the contents, however I'm not quite sure what the logic is in keeping them all ignorant of each other's existence. Still, looking forward to finding out ...

[Chris]

I'm up to 67%. It's getting better and better. Loved the battle and Howey wrote it so well. There were lines I just read over and over again. And it's so nice to read a popular book that doesn't have some sappy teenage romance polluting its dystopian heart.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Chris wrote: "And it's so nice to read a popular book that doesn't have some sappy teenage romance polluting its dystopian heart. "

Amen to that! I am reading part 4, somewhere at 50% so no spoilers please :)

[Chris]

Sorry! :-)

[Amy]

I just finished reading the Omnibus Edition okay. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it is very well written. I do agree that the writing quality degrades slightly toward the end. I was a little confused by Lukas and Bernard. I started to feel too much empathy for Bernard to suit me. Lukas just felt a bit childish to me, and not worthy of the connection with Juliette. He needed a little more testosterone.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Chris wrote: "Sorry! :-)"

That's fine. It wasn't a spoiler for me :) Maybe use the spoiler the tag?

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Amy wrote: "I just finished reading the Omnibus Edition okay. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it is very well written. I do agree that the writing quality degrades slightly toward the end. I was a little ..."

I'm still reading, but I find the characters easy to connect to. It's easy to do something bravely in writing, but in life we often just follow events. Just my two cents.

[Chris]

Am I allowed to talk about spoilers yet?

I'd like to say that I think it's a bit ridiculous that ££££ ££££ without ££££. What do you all think?

[Chris]

I'm at 88%. I think Lukas is a wet blanket but otherwise this book is pretty good. Hopefully finishing it off in the next day or so as I've got a couple of other books I want to read now.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Chris wrote: "Am I allowed to talk about spoilers yet?

I'd like to say that I think it's a bit ridiculous that ££££ ££££ without ££££. What do you all think?"

You are always allowed to use spoilers Christ :] See this: <*spoiler*> (remove starts and apply closing tag. I'm giving html lessons on PM)

;)

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

I am wondering for those of us that have finished the book. Do you plan on reading the other two parts of the Silo Saga? Here is a poll about it.

[Susan]

Hi Everyone - I am reading the Omnibus Wool 1 through 5 and I am just starting 5. I am really enjoying the story and I love Juliette. I have a tendency with books I like to slow down towards the end because I hate to have the story be over. With that said, I am definitely reading the Shift series, can’t wait. Am I the only one who, when they saw the word Silo, thought of a different type of silo?

[Dale]

Yep, initially I made that mistake too :) And isn't Juliette just an amazing heroine? I wonder who will play her in the film?

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Susan wrote: " Am I the only one who, when they saw the word Silo, thought of a different type of silo?

What did you guys think assumed silo was?

I wonder what the name of the movie will be. I bet they are not gonna leave it be Wool!

I have the shift omnibus, I think I'll read it soon. :)

[Susan]

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Susan wrote: " Am I the only one who, when they saw the word Silo, thought of a different type of silo?

What did you guys think assumed silo was?

I wonder what the name of the movie will be. I ..."

My first thought when I saw the word silo was “missile silo” not “grain silo”. It must have been all those duck and cover drills in grammar school. I really hope, when they do the movie, that they don’t mess with the story. So many times, most times, the movie does not do justice to the book and I am so disappointed. I wonder if Hugh Howey has a say in the movie title.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

I think the title will be completely irrelevant. Somehow Wool doesn't sound cool enough to make a blockbuster. At least there is a lot of death and action in the book, hope Id doesn't get too much.