* LOCKED* Congrats to the winners of the Great Proof Giveaway!

[ThomasCardin]

Thank you for sharing the story of the silos with us. I have already grabbed the next book and I am looking at the Molly Fyde reviews next.

http://hughhowey.com/forums/showthre...ee-clearly-now

Just finished the Omnibus and thought I would check out Hugh Howey's website, lo and behold! There is a contest here to win a copy of the books! sign me up.

[lbigbee]

I found "Wool" a few weeks ago when looking on Amazon for something to read on my Kindle. It was at the top of the most popular list and the reviews were all great, so I took a chance and I'm so glad I did. I finished the first installment pretty quickly, then found the Omnibus collection, so I purchased that one next. It's one of the best things I've read in a LONG time. Hugh Howey has created one of the most interesting heroines and one of the most truly wicked villains I've come across in books. I liked the Wool saga so much, I wanted my Mom to read it, so I sent her a copy of Omnibus for her Kindle. She's now a fan too. We discussed Claire Daines for the part of Juliette and Kevin Spacey for Bernard. Yes, we are available to help cast the movie. I think -- I know -- it would make a fantastic movie. I look forward to witnessing all the success, recognition, honors and future books awaiting my new favorite author.

[sirwired]

Come on, D20...

http://hughhowey.com/forums/showthre...=2330#post2330

I think this contest would be about fifty times cooler if these dice were used for tomorrow's roll: http://www.shapeways.com/model/126266/ ; alas it's a little late for Hugh to acquire a pair.

Anyway, here is my Amazon review:
I do not hand out 5-star book reviews lightly, but this book struck me to the core. (Usually I don't write a review at all)

It begins with a short story that if it had been traditionally published, would surely have been showered with awards for Best Short Fiction. It's followed by four books that start with that simple premise and expand it to an entire universe which is simple on the outside, but downright fractal in the amount of detail you just want to KNOW about the setting, the characters, and how life is lived in the setting.

The basic premise in the original story starts with a society that due to an unexplained disaster has been confined to a 130-something story silo buried in the ground. This silo contains an entire self-contained civilization that has been running for hundreds of years. The highest crime in this place is to express a desire to go outside and explore the toxic wasteland that surrounds the silo. The punishment for this offense (along with murder and other capital crimes) is exactly what they asked for: a trip outside. But before the criminal's prompt demise due to the hyper-toxic conditions, they are tasked with cleaning the cameras that provide the silo's only view of the outside world. Despite the fact that this is done in the middle of their death sentence, they invariably perform this task, and nobody there knows why. (It'd be like asking somebody strapped to a lethal injection chair to please sign their tax forms with the arm not encumbered by an IV.)

While Mr. Howey writes compelling characters, the real star of the story is the silo itself and the society it contains. There have been many books written about space colonists or stranded people, but none to my memory that really ask tough questions about how such a cramped and wholly self-sufficient place might actually function; instead most books just use the colony as background filler for whatever recycled plot the author wants to use. Well, now you can find out how such a place might work, because the silo is anything but background filler.

One question I've always asked myself when reading a book about a space colony or other self-contained society: "Where's the toothbrush factory?" Manufacturing a modern toothbrush takes a surprisingly large amount of specialized high-precision machinery that has absolutely no other use. Making any volume of toothbrushes by hand is prohibitively time-consuming and any society goes through them in enough quantity that relying on established stocks indefinitely is not possible. Well, with "Wool's" silo I can certainly imagine opening a door in that place and finding the toothbrush machines. The setting feels that "right."

As anyone with an imagination not crippled by years of ADD-addled modern entertainment can guess, an entire mature society that fits wholly within a 130-ish floor building is just begging for a whole series of books on how such a place evolved, what happens inside, how it actually works, and what happens to the cramped denizens.

I imagine if Mr. Howey ever decided to give up the series, he'd have legions of people begging to write other stories set in this universe, and I cannot wait to read the next installment.

Postscript: Unlike many self-published authors I have read on Amazon, this work has real polish; it is not rife with grammatical and spelling mistakes (correctly spelled, but incorrect, words are the bane of the self-published author), and the writing is clear and concise. Too many self-publish authors fall into the trap of poor pacing and repetitive elements leaving you to think: "This could be a real gem, if only they had a good editor." Well, this book has no such problems.

[colbyz]

http://hughhowey.com/forums/showthre...!-I-m-still-me!!!! - link to my intro thread

http://www.amazon.com/review/ROLTJK5...cm_cr_rdp_perm - link to my amazon review

I love wool. period. I also happen to love everything else Hugh has written and can't wait to read I Zombie. - some new words and such.

[talon2claw]

http://hughhowey.com/forums/showthread.php?381-Ohio-fan

I think the description of the spiral staircase at the very beginning of the first Wool book is what caught my attention. Enough detail to really make the scene real, but so much as to be boring. When a writer can strike a balance like that, it's worth turning the page. What kept me reading through all five parts were the interesting characters, the confined setting, and the good plot.

[Elizpeace]

I always wish I could come up with something witty and smart to say in reviews. All I typically want to do is just say, "read what that guy said" because I'm usually not bright enough to come up with anything different. But, what I will say here are two things.

First, I found Wool through another indie writer, and was about to buy the first part, when I came across the Omnibus, and bought it instead. I'm fairly sure I breezed through the entire thing in 2 nights (kids are always slowing me down). I was so moved, I decided right then and there to get everyone I know to read it. It's a work in progress, but slow but sure wins the race. Right? I also decided to delve more into the world of indie writers, and goodness, I am so glad I have.

My second note is just this: when a book stirs my interest, so that at random times I stop and think about characters, situations, and locations, among other things, you know it is good. I could be running at 6 in the morning or making lunch for my 2 year old, or driving to a client, or washing my hair. At the strangest times I will be reminded (and for no discernible reason) of Jules or the silo or Bernard or standard issue clothing... In the end, I am often *thinking* about the book, and that to me, spells success.

Well done, and cheers!
ep

[jacq1101]

I'm entering this competition.
Here is a link to my introduction thread
http://hughhowey.com/forums/showthread.php?382-Hello

Here is a copy of my review from the goodreads site

This is a collection of 5 novels and novellas centred around a post apocalyptic society that has evolved in a structure referred to as a silo that is suppose to keep them safe from a toxic and damaged outside world. This is a character driven narrative that follows various characters as they struggle with their existence within the silo and their realisation that all is not as it seems and that there is more to the world beyond the silo. It is an enjoyable narrative and though self-published, Hugh Howey's work is well written and for the most part, tightly edited. Threading throughout the novels is an underlying sense of hope which is a nice change from some post apocalyptic stories. I hope this won't be the end of the series and I am very keen to read his other work.

I am currently reading "First Shift". The only thing is, I want to be able to flip through the Wool Omnibus to check a few details while I am reading "First Shift" which as anyone who read ebooks knows is a pain in the butt to do when you have an ebook.... that would be one good thing about a hardcopy of the books.

Looking forward to his new work.