Hugh Howey

Bestselling author of Wool and other books. Currently sailing around the world.

SAND Daily Deal!

Oh, boy. It’s been a while since I’ve had one of these. For today only, SAND is on sale for the bargain basement price of $1.99 (it’s usually $9.99!!). Don’t feel bad for taking advantage of this insane price. The publisher is taking the loss, not me! So buy as many as you like! Gift a few to friends and loved ones! Besides WOOL, this is by far my most popular novel. It’s a different world, a completely unrelated story, and one of the books I recommend when people ask…

Dwindling Primes

The biographical details are great, but where I’m really getting to know Molly is through her poetry. It comes in all varieties and styles–much of it simple prose. She began keeping a journal at the age of seven, and has been faithful to it for many, many years. One of the things I’m trying to do is cross-reference the time she wrote the poems with what she was studying at the Academy or going through in her personal life. It provides more insight into what things are permanently her, and…

Understanding Hyperspace

There’s quite a lot of material on hyperspace in The Reader. And as a medium for travel, hyperspace plays a pretty big role in Molly’s adventures. A massive role, frankly. Some of the secrets of hyperspace are what turn her story into something with universe-wide implications. That’s why it’s important that I understand the principles fully (if not the exact science). One of the documents that has helped me the most is a paper Molly wrote for her math instructor. It isn’t on hyperspace at all, but rather on the…

Deconstructing the Humanization of Delphi IV

One of the best tools I have for making sure my telling of Molly’s story is both honest and compelling is, ironically, her Academy records. I have every paper Molly wrote, from Junior Academy book reports to a pre-action tactical assignment she wrote just prior to the Tchung Affair. Here’s a sample from one of her essays (picking up on the second page). I think it’s a fair representation of her unique mixture of iconoclasm, creative thinking, and human decency. ************************************* It is clear, therefore, that Dr. Glav Jones has…

Digging for the Science

I apologize in advance to my friends at NASA, who are eagerly anticipating the results of my research. Many of them have taken an interest in what I’m doing, but I believe they are going to be surprised to discover something. I know I was. Molly’s story is about people and relationships, not about gadgets and gizmos. As a geek, (and someone who likely suffers from an autism spectrum disorder) I was confused by the focus of my source material. The vast majority of it recounts conversations, feelings, people and…