Dust (Silo #3) by Hugh Howey

Format: Kindle
Read: June 2024

This book sees the conclusion to the story of the Silos, and thankfully it is just as good as its predecessors!

Following on from where Shift left off we are brought up to date with both Juliette in Silo 18 and Donald in Silo 1. They are both working towards a common goal – the survival of Silo 18 – but lines of communication are fraught, and Jules is understandably distrustful of the voice on the radio, no matter how much we’d like her to listen! Donald finds himself woken again but this time under a different identity, allowing him to uncover more unsettling secrets and leading him down an even darker path. While Jules struggles with the realities of being Mayor in the aftermath of her failed cleaning and return. She tries to juggle her responsibilities, her promises to Solo and the kids in Silo 17, and her drive to discover the truth about the outside world. 

This novel does goes to some darker places than its predecessors. Silo 18 has just survived an uprising and Jules’ return has only added to the atmosphere of fear and paranoia. She doesn’t handle being Mayor particularly well, and the silo feels like a pressure cooker of increasing distrust, desperation and rising religious fervour as the population deal with how fast their world is changing.

The chapters where Elise finds her in the hands of a cult were particularly creepy, thank God for Jimmy! Howey does a good job again of cooking up the atmosphere. The chapter from Elise’s confused seven year old perspective effectively conveyed how changed and dangerous the world had become, as different adults try to take advantage of her. Meanwhile, Silo 1 also goes through a transformation as murders begin to uncover some of the lies, and Donald does his best to make a difference in the the limited time he knows he has left.

I still love Jules, I love how flawed she is despite all of her determination and strength. She makes many risky decision on the strength of information that she has no definitive proof of. I feel so sorry for poor Donald, ultimately a hero but he has so much personal cost. The poor guy suffered through two books! Jimmy/Solo actually emerges from the trilogy as my favourite character, he really growths through this last book. We finally get to know Charlotte as well, and again she is a great character; vulnerable, confused and frighten but full of bravery and strength when she needs it.

I won’t say any more because I want to avoid spoilers as much as possible!

I am pleased with the ending. All the important mysteries of the Silos were answered, and it was a positive conclusion while still being believable enough. I can’t quite put my finger on why or what I would want to improve it but there was something that left my intellectual side wanting just a little bit more. I would love to know what happened in the rest of the world, did they just carry on while the crazy Americans nuked themselves? I like to think so!

I will definitely have to get Apple TV at some point see how they adapted this. I am very curious to see what the silos look like!