Ask yourself—can the human spirit be trapped and resist the lure of yearning for what lies beyond?
Crafted by the masterful pen of Hugh Howey, the Silo book series is a trilogy that explores the depths of human curiosity and the dichotomies between freedom and control, technology and nature. It sits in the middle of the science-dystopian-apocalyptic fiction trifecta, dividing into the darkest aspects of a sterile and clinical society through the minds of characters that refuse to yield.
Sinister and alluring, the Silo series got a highly praised TV adaptation that displays intrigue and twists in a thrilling package. But as always, remember that checking the books might be a better idea first.
Ready to go down the stairwell and explore what lies under the surface?
“Their Inhospitable World”: The Background
The Silo book series comprises three books: Wool, Shift, and Dust. However, it did not start as a series—or a book, for that matter.
Hugh Howey initially conceived it as a stand-alone short story titled Wool, self-published online in 2011. Thanks to its intriguing premise and fantastic world-building, the novella enjoyed enormous success, and Howey continued developing the story by writing a series of subsequent tales that eventually got compiled into the first two books.
Beyond these, the Silo book series also features three short stories that expand on the information in the main three books.
 |
 |
 |
“The Dead World Some Ancient Peoples Left Behind”: The Setting
For as long as humanity has had a collective memory, it has lived underground.
Their new world is called Silo, a self-sustaining building with over a hundred floors buried deep on Earth’s crust. But for all its cold sterility, this industrial home remains far more inviting than the surface, which habitants know to be a barren and deadly wasteland thanks to cameras showcasing live footage.
They have no memories or records of what happened or why they’re there. They just know it’s unsafe to leave—in more ways than one.
Thus, came to be Silo’s number one rule: Don’t talk about the outside world, or you will unceremoniously be sent there to clean the sensors—a task no one has ever returned from.
But curiosity is the defining trait of humanity. With no known records of the outside world, conspiracy theories abound, as well as the belief that the all-seeing authorities of the silo are keeping some secrets down under.
“If The Lies Don’t Kill You, The Truth Will.”: The Plot
As is commonplace in many post-apocalyptic and science-fiction novels, the plot unravels as the characters—and the readers—move forward and discover the secrets of the setting.
The first novel, Wool, starts with Holston, a self-described dead man walking. He is going to the surface, a fate no one has returned from—not even his wife, Allison. She was condemned to cleaning outside after becoming convinced that the outside world is habitable and the Silo authorities are hiding it.
In search of her, Holston ventures outside to fulfill his sentence and finds far more than just his wife. Holston’s discovery is enlightening and intriguing, setting the premise by giving us a glimpse of something more sinister behind the Silo system.
With Holston’s departure, he leaves a vacancy as sheriff of the Silo. Juliette is the top candidate for the spot but inadvertently gets caught in a power struggle between different factions within the Silo, circumstances made worse by her independent nature and desire to do things right—and learn.
Through Holston’s eyes, readers start to see the cracks in the Silo system, and following Juliette’s steps leads them to the truth.
Subsequent books, Shift and Dust, are a prequel and a sequel, respectively. Shift focuses on the past and the circumstances that led to the apocalyptic event that marks the Silo series, while Dust follows the characters and plot concepts set up in Wool. Summaries of both can be quite spoiler-heavy, so be aware.
“We Are Not The People Who Made This World, But It’s Up To Us To Survive It”: The Characters
No exquisite setting or fantastic plotline is complete without compelling characters. Particularly when it comes to post-apocalyptic thrillers, it’s fundamental to have a well-rounded cast that can engage and drive the plot rather than being carried by it.
Luckily, the Silo book series has fleshed-out characters that fulfill specific roles within the story without being stereotyped or kept in cliché boxes.
Holston is our decoy protagonist, and his initial journey sets the stage for Juliette, the actual protagonist of the story. Her inquisitive nature and stubborn dedication to her beliefs lead the story towards change, building upon the foundation set by Holston and Allison. Juliette and the characters supporting her represent change driven by ingenuity.
Against her, you have the traditionalist Bernard—the head of the IT department and an ambitious man whose perspective and role within the Silo leads him to wish to preserve the status quo at all costs. He and the Silo system represent control, with Machiavellian drive.
“Some Tangled Knots Only Make Sense Once Unraveled”: The Concepts
Sci-fi and post-apocalyptic novels tend to be, deep down, critiques of modern society. Their concepts revolve around dark or concerning trends seen today, then explored them by pushing them to their logical limits.
The Silo book series is no exception. Conceptually, the novels revolve around the struggle between information and control—human curiosity and yearning for more, and the various interests trying to limit access to specific information.
In an interview with Nell Minow for Roger Ebert.com, author Howey states that the Silo book series began as “this idea that our information is filtered and what these echo chambers do to our psyche, especially if we’re just fed bad news all the time.”
The books are meant to evoke a debate—how much information is too much? Should people know everything? Who decides what is worth knowing? How should you question the information you have available?
Who Is The Silo Book Series For?
Fans of grounded, industrial, post-apocalyptic scenarios, this one is for you. The Silo book series adds a touch of sci-fi by featuring a wasteland that feels entirely inorganic and artificial, enhancing the horrors of a rigid, sterile world trapped underneath the soil.
Despite its mature writing style and darker topics—or precisely because of it—young adults seeking to move from YA fiction have found a liking to the series. The prose is masterful, rich yet easy to follow, and paints a picture.
The imagery written by Howey is unnerving and disturbing, so any enthusiast seeking to explore a new dystopic horror should start digging.
