The low expectations really can add to the enjoyment. Do you think the mysterious nature of the self published story contributed to the experience of the book? 'I do, I think you really nailed something.

It makes no sense, even as you're living through it.' Since Wool was published outside the traditional system the book had little to no advance press and readers typically found the book by accident or word or mouth. 'Instead, I'm getting calls from Hollywood producers and literary agents, and it seemed like every day was some new piece of startlingly incredible news. When the books started marching up the bestseller lists, none of us could believe it, and we were all waiting for it to come to a crashing halt. My co-workers watched me hole up in the conference room every day to write in utter darkness. I was working in a bookstore, making $10 an hour, only able to work 30 hours a week, and just living this very simple life. You can't imagine something like this ever happening to you. What was it like for you when Wool first started to become a major success? How did your life change? 'It was insane. Howey granted an interview with to discuss the success of Wool, his characters and upcoming projects among other topics. A prequel, the Shift series followed shortly thereafter and the final book in the saga, Dust, is slated for release on August 17.

By crafting an incredible world, a unique story and a brilliant cast of characters Howey created a story that shot up the bestseller lists almost exclusively by word of mouth. Fans clamored for more so Howey sat down and penned five more chapters, eventually publishing the entire series as the Wool Omnibus. Readers loved the book and it made its way onto the bestseller lists. Disenchanted with the current publishing model he recognized an opportunity within the current slate of e-pub tools and decided to self publish his next story. Howey was working at a book store when he penned the short story that started it all. How would society react? Would they seek out the truth? These are just some of the questions Howey tackles. Hugh Howey's self published 2011 post apocalyptic story takes us deep inside a world that is limited by available space and what little information is available is strictly controlled. The silo is the only history worth remembering and it is filled with uprisings that are not spoken of openly. History of the outside world has been reduced to quickly fading memories. The working class trudges through life in the down deep while those in charge live up top.

Society is divided by proximity to the surface. The only view of the outside world is a video screen on the uppermost of 144 levels. Humanity has taken refuge in a giant silo buried in the ground. The outside world is dead, the air poisoned, the last traces of civilization lie crumbling on the horizon.

Dust hugh howey