The Next Best Book Club discussion

I opened this folder because I am in a quandry and wanted your help.

This morning I read a post recommeding readers find the books called Wool Omnibus 1-5 by Hugh Howey and devour them. I was intrigued - don't ask me why, but looked up this title over at Amazon. Then I was blown away when I saw this series of books garnered 1307 5 star reviews and only 7 1 star reviews. Now how many friends or family members could one author have? Are these statistics right? I did read some of the glowing 5 star reviews and also the 7 negative ones. One of the 7's were annoyed because the first book was actually a novella for 99 cents, another thought it was childish, and they felt cheated. But for $5.99, a reader can have all of the 5 books.

Now did I forget to mention that this is science fiction, a genre I seldom read? And if this omnibus is so popular, why haven't I ever heard about it in any of the Good Read groups or elsewhere? Not even an advertisement that I know about?

So, my question is - did any of you hear about Wool ny Hugh Howey. And if so, what did you think?

This is the book Nancy is referring to.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...

It was released as WOOL, a novella, on it's own originally, by an author, so it's self published.

Nancy, this is why you might not have heard much about it. There are a lot of readers who are not willing to read self published work.

Also, word might be spreading now about it because rumor has it that 20th Century Fox has bought the movie rights to it...

I've not read it myself.

Thanks Lori. I knew it was an indie from what I've read but knew nothing about the movie rights. It is about a dystopian society so it most probably would appeal to readers of The Hunger Games and Divergent.
For $6, I think I'll try them.

I think for $6 bucks, you can't go wrong. Especially with it being all 5 books together at that price. Where else can you get a 500+ book for that kinda money, right?

If you give it a go, I'd love to hear what you think. I'm so far behind in my review reading that I haven't got the opportunity to read it yet.

Will do Lori except I have over 700 books on my Kindle at the moment soooooooooooooo. Most of them are free- used to spend money at bookstores but now I just go to the free areas and voila - 700 books to say nothing of the traditional books in my book closet. And while I have to have them that minute, the new books hang out and have to make friends before I read them.

Will let you know, Lori. Off to download them now. Oh yes I thank you for encouraging me to buy this omnibus. LOL It doesn't take much, I tell you.

I read these a while back and gave them 5 stars. Wonderful depiction of a future where people find that what they wish for may not be what they really want. Engrossing from the very start - I read the whole thing almost in one sitting I just didn't want to put it down.

That's It. I heard from a real person in this group and so Wool, here I come.

Thanks, Jane.

Nancy wrote: "I opened this folder because I am in a quandry and wanted your help.

This morning I read a post recommeding readers find the books called Wool Omnibus 1-5 by Hugh Howey and devour them. I was int..."

Thanks for bringing this book to my attention. I added it to my TBR list and posted something about it on my blog for YA and Children's books...http://thethingsyoucanread.blogspot.com/ Thanks again!

You're welcome. When I read this omnibus, I will let this group know my thoughts.

I only heard of this book when I happened, on a whim, to download another one of his books, I, Zombie. I don't even really know why I downloaded that book - I was just browsing Amazon on my Kindle and it was on a special offer and it had two positive reviews. "OK," I thought, "I'll try it. A silly zombie book may be just the thing after forcing myself to finish You Can't Go Home Again."

So, I downloaded it and I read it and OH MY GOD. I do not have adequate words to describe how utterly amazing (and how horribly disturbing) that book is.

I am not at all surprised to hear that Wool is very well reviewed. I intend to read it, myself, in the next couple of months. I expect to be blown away.

I have read Wool and the prequels and can honestly say that they are AWESOME! Very original concept...I don't want to give any spoilers. Go read them!!
I personally did not care for I, Zombie as much. Very original concept again, but there was a very disturbing scene where I just quit reading the book. If you've read it you know the scene I mean!
Will definitely read more of Hugh Howey's work, he is an excellent author!

I read 1-5 and the First Shift, Second Shift books. One of the best sci-fi post-apocalyptic stuff ever. Definetely would recommend...

Asli wrote: "I read 1-5 and the First Shift, Second Shift books. One of the best sci-fi post-apocalyptic stuff ever. Definetely would recommend..."

Oh, and no relation to the author :))))

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

This thread is talking to the author of Wool. If you have any questions for him.

We have discussed the book in the Group Apocalypse Whenever

FANTASTIC series! Totally blew me away! I have not read any of Hughs other works yet, but I absolutely plan on reading everything. Highly recommend!

I, zombie is a good book tooI, Zombie

Amy wrote: "I, zombie is a good book tooI, Zombie"

That's on my "to-get" list! Thanks for letting me know it's good!

Joyce wrote: "I personally did not care for I, Zombie as much. Very original concept again, but there was a very disturbing scene where I just quit reading the book. If you've read it you know the scene I mean!"

There were quite a few, so not sure which you mean...but it was a very good book if you have the stomach for it. Hugh himself even recommends that nobody read it.

I don't know what made me pick up the fist wool book, but I'm glad I did.
It's incredibly short, so you can read it(the first one) in one sitting with time to spare to start on the second one. If you don't like it, then don't continue on. But the brevity of it makes you wish there was more to know about the world they live in. I heard somewhere that it was just going to be a short story, but readers begged for more.
[also no relation to the author]

I'm using the kobo ereader app on an iPad2, and had a Kobo gift card with a small amount of cash/credits still on it.
Unlike most, I picked this book based on the cover and the $5.99 fit right into the range of credits I had left.
WOW! From the first few pages I'd realized I had struck the jackpot! I am now on book 7 of 8 (Yes, after the First 5 in the Wool Omnibus, the story continues with the Shift Omnibus Edition 1-3!), and I really hope there are more to come).
I don't want to give anything away, but I dream about land of the Silo when I am not awake thinking about it.
Here's a list I found of Hugh Howey books on the Kobo site: http://www.kobobooks.com/search/searc... and he's got a Facebook Fan page as well where he speaks about the progress of the Movie Deal.
The Shift Omnibus is totes as the sequil to the New York Times Best Selling Series, so I suppose that says something for a self published body of works.

I read wool 1-5 and the shift books 1-3 (the third shift book was just released a couple weeks ago), and I have to say....Awesome.. A fresh take on the post-apocalyptic sci fi genre, a genre which everyone seems to be doing much of the same.. I'd recommend for anyone who likes this genre to buy 'em all, read em, and wait for the next one to come out like everyone else..

I discovered Wool about a year ago. I honestly love this series. It has a human element that most sci-fi lacks. I haven't read all five yet, but the first three are amazing (IMO). I'm looking forward to book four. Unfortunately, I bought the first three as stand-alones before I heard about the omnibus. :(

Self-published or not, Wool 1, 2 and 3 are much better than most books backed by a publisher. These days most books have commercial quirks forced into them that seem like an afterthought -- a random love triangle, vampires, or zombies, whatever the publisher thinks will help it sell. Wool does not. It's a very well thought out plot that deserves all the hype it's received.

Well said.

I stumbled upon Hugh Howey's series Wool and was hooked from the first chapter. I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I devoured all of the Wool books and have purchased the Shift series. I love science fiction. I am encouraged by self-publishing. Think of all the great books we have been missing and now have a chance to read!

Have read the first three - loved the first two but 3 was ok. Taking a diversion and reading Bujold's and will come back for 4 and 5. Its nothing short of a new take on dystopia and an excellent one. I began to dream about silo and it has been only next to Dan Simmons's Hyperion universe, a setting has shook me so much.

Elizabeth wrote: "I stumbled upon Hugh Howey's series Wool and was hooked from the first chapter. I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I devoured all of the Wool books and have purchased the Shift series. I ..."
I agree. It doesn't take a "real" publisher to have a great story to tell. However, it takes imagination and plenty of hard work. Just like writers backed by a publisher, there are plenty of good ones out there - you just have to find them.

I, too, stumbled upon Wool (the Omnibus) and LOVED it. A truly original story, well-written with intriguing characters. This is the second self-pubbed author that I've found recently that I really like. And I like the fact that this guy keeps the price low and isn't bending his stories to fit whatever trend is currently out there in the commercial market. Wool is well worth the money and time to read.

Wool is a wonderful read, and Hugh Howey is a great chap who really enjoys engaging his readers online. Sometimes I get frustrated reading self-publishers when it becomes quickly obvious that they need some good editing. Hugh definitely doesn't have that shortfall. Wool is fresh, provocative, and well constructed. Howey is not only a great story-teller, but he's brilliant at exploring the dimensions of storytelling - Wool raises lots of questions for the reader to contemplate on the nature of human capacity.

I'm getting ready to start reading Wool, and I'm excited about it. I stumbled across it on a list of books to watch out for in 2013, and then I read all the glowing reviews. I just hope my expectations aren't too high after reading so much praise!

I am not sure if you guys have overlooked it or prefer commenting here, but we hosted Hugh Howey a few weeks ago right here in the group....

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Even though he is gone now, all of the participants questions and his responses are there for your perusal.

Hugh Howey is still with us! He is just touring in Europe for a bit.

Wool is deep and intricate, full of mysteries and tantilizing trails of breadcrumbs for those who look hard enough. Very emotionally gripping story and characters that run nearly as deep as the 144 floors of the silo.

Beyond the books, Hugh is a real guy. He is active and approachable with his readers, an advocate of the independent author and his wife, Amber, can lift boxes of signed books like nobody's business.

No, Thomas, I mean, Hugh is not actively participating in our author/reader discussion anymore. It ended at the end of January.

I wasn't aware Hugh was participating. That's awesome! It's good to see someone with actual talent get recognition. IMO, a lot of authors get "published" and get a lot of undeserved recognition -- without any contribution to actual literature. That being said, books can still be fun even if they're not good literature. However, the books I'm referring to have very little merit... if any at all. :)

I have read the WOOL omnibus, plus the three prequel books, now combined in the SHIFT omnibus. These are wonderfully written books, and the type of SF stories that become classic, in my opinion. Hugh is simply a great storyteller. His stories are about people, not science. For anyone that may want to try one of his books but isn't big on SF, I suggest The Hurricane. It's my favorite of Hugh's books after the WOOL series.

I've read this series and I loved it... he's a great author to follow as well. Love his blog posts...

After seeing a few comments from the group about the Wool books, I purchased 1-6 from Amazon I've read parts 1 & 2 and love them....thanks for the referral.

Hugh is great. VERY nice guy. I got to know him online, then met a few times when he came to NYC. The first was at a meet & greet with at a bar with his readers, and for the first half hour, I just watched. Those guys were SO into the book, and he was so equally into discussing it with him.

Really good to see success come to good people. (And talented people. Good combination.)

I LOVED WOOL, and I am not a big sci-fi reader. The thing that grabbed me initially was the cover, which reminded me of "Room". These two books couldn't be more different... or are they...(insert suspense building music here)... but I judged the book by the cover, and was thrilled by what was inside. That's what I love about ebooks and my kindle. I probably would not have paid full paperback price for a book outside of my usual genre, but with the lower prices available for ebooks I took the chance. Great author, compelling, believable, make-me-want-more kinda guy.

I devoured Wool. Absolutely loved it. It is utterly unique and unpredictable, and the character Juliette is one of my favorite women in fiction. She is so tough, resourceful, and human all at the same time. Wool may definitely go down as a dystopian classic. It's definitely worth checking out.

What do you think the explanation is for people working for a period of time and then being frozen for a period of time?

Phyllis wrote: "What do you think the explanation is for people working for a period of time and then being frozen for a period of time?"

I think you'll have to read Shift (Howey's prequel) to find out the answer to that. I'm not going to give it away!

Gea wrote: "Phyllis wrote: "What do you think the explanation is for people working for a period of time and then being frozen for a period of time?"

I think you'll have to read Shift (Howey's prequel) to fin..."

I am reading Shift, but there is no explanation, that I can remember, of the reasons for the "shifts"

Phyllis wrote: "Gea wrote: "Phyllis wrote: "What do you think the explanation is for people working for a period of time and then being frozen for a period of time?"

I think you'll have to read Shift (Howey's pre..."

Hmmm. Now that I think of it, I'm not sure either. I haven't finished Shift yet. Howey is pretty good though at answering questions. How far are you in Shift?

Gea wrote: "Phyllis wrote: "Gea wrote: "Phyllis wrote: "What do you think the explanation is for people working for a period of time and then being frozen for a period of time?"

I think you'll have to read Sh..."

This was Howey"s response, which I do not quite understand. Do you?


"It's so everyone is working toward the same end-date. Otherwise, some would die early and others would be awoken later. It keeps them from questioning what they're doing. "Just one more shift." Like: "Just one more week at this job. Just get to the weekend." And then your life is over."

Loved Wool and all the Shift books. Read them one after the other. Just waiting on Dust now