Wool

I am one of those people who picked up Wool after finishing the first two seasons of Apple TV’s Silo because why not return to the source material when you can’t wait to see what happens next?

Wool is just fine? It’s a relatively quick read with prose that is easy to follow. I think Wool has a unique dystopian setup that’s very different from the rest of the dystopia genre. So much more could have been done with the premise though, the the world-building was lackluster and limp. It felt like a more compelling, rich world was beneath the surface, but never had the chance to come into its own. All the elements of a more dynamic society were there, but Hugh Howey rarely expands on the different factions and power dynamics he set up – it left me wanting more.

The characters are a mixed bag. Juliette was likeable, but none that interesting. Once again, there are whispers of a deeper backstory, but they’re never expanded upon. As a result, Juliette doesn’t feel fleshed out. In contrast, Lukas and Bernard held my attention. Their interactions are the highlight of the novel and the dialogue between them sets the stakes of the novel.

To that end, I can see why Silo was such a hit show. It takes all the best and most intriguing elements of Wool and builds upon them, weaving a more complex story that I found more engaging. The characters and their relationships are more fleshed out while other characters have their legs cut out from underneath them (I demand justice for Lukas; he’s much better in Wool). That isn’t to say Wool is bad, it’s just I can’t help but compare it to Silo which I enjoyed immensely.

Wool is a novel that only really breaks ground with its premise, but offers a story worth telling nonetheless. I anticipate coming back to the dusty, wind-swept world of Wool, it feels teeming with life… ironically.