I watched the series Silo so thought I'd read the book it comes from. This is such a good book. Really well written and the story is gripping. Highly recommended.

This book begins with a mystery. Why is a whole community living in an enormous undergroud silo and what was the cataclysmic event that brought them here? One thing is clear. To survive in this safe haven from a toxic outside world it is necessary to have a very clearly defined social structure with rigid rules. And to break these rules inevitably brings swift and severe punishment, as we discover quite early on. However, not everyone is content to conform blindly to the prescribed order - and it is the thoughts (and actions) of these questioning individuals which provide the tension in the plot. As we follow the lives of the key players, it becomes obvious that change must come, but how and at what cost to these individuals and to the larger community? I must admit I was surprised to find myself enjoying this book. Not, I hasten to say, because of any fault or shortcoming on the part of the author, but because it was a genre new to me. However, once I had come to grips with the setting and the personalities of the main protagonists, I found it difficult to put down. Immensely well planned, constructed and written, I would recommend this book - and its many inevitable sequels - to everyone, confirmed sci-fi buffs or late-life converts like me.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this debut, presented as five separate volumes wrapped together. The concept, whilst familiar enough, was intriguing, and the first volume slim enough to slip in a small bag. Reading it on the train, I wanted the journey to carry on - the first section is so brilliantly and tightly written it grips you from the first page then leaves you dangling desparate for the chance to read on. Howey gradually lets you into the world of the Silo, where the last remaining humans live sheltered from the poisonous atmosphere outside. Questioning is forbidden, but always lurks beneath the surface. Some are brave enough to investigate, and others brave enough to help them. I loved this book, and think it will work really well as a film (Ridley Scott has bought the rights). It's a story that crosses the boundaries of genres and will have you on the edge of your seat.

Well written sci-fi. Fantastic female protagonist, good twists and some gripping chapters. First one I’ve read of this series. Thoroughly enjoyed this.

This was one of those books that just grabs you from early on and didn't let go till the end. Please someone make this into a film as its perfect for a film conversion. The story revolves around a community living in an underground silo and the laws surrounding discussing the outside and punishable by death through being assigned to 'cleaning'. Cleaning being the cleaning of the outside video camera that feeds images to the internal video wall displaying the barren and toxic landscape outside the silo. The first chapters follow the current Sheriff of the silo and his decision to volunteer for cleaning having watched his wife being put to cleaning 3 years earlier and unable to live with the grief any longer. Upon exiting the silo he sees wonderful green and lush lands and wildlife that he didn't expect. Really is a great book and will definitely be on the hunt for other Hugh Howey books in the future. Please make this into a film....