Shift

The Silo Saga, Book 2

By: Hugh Howey

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Watch Silo, the Apple TV+ series based on the bestselling Silo Saga!

The second volume in the New York Times bestselling Silo series. Hugh Howey goes back to show the first days of the Silo, and the beginning of the end.

In 2007, the Center for Automation in Nanobiotech (CAN) outlined the hardware and software platforms that would one day allow robots smaller than human cells to make medical diagnoses, conduct repairs, and even self-propagate.

In the same year, the CBS network re-aired a program about the effects of propranolol on sufferers of extreme trauma. A simple pill, it had been discovered, could wipe out the memory of any traumatic event.

At almost the same moment in humanity’s broad history, mankind discovered the means for bringing about its utter downfall. And the ability to forget it ever happened.

©2013 Hugh Howey (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Loving this series

This book worked its way up to the end of the first. Really enjoying it

Thrilling

Fantastic prequel serves as the perfect second book in a well written series. You’ll have a hard time pausing this one between listens. Great narration.

Great book great reading

Great story great narration. Just as good as the first, looking forward to the third.

Prequel

A necessary prequel to the series that goes back to who built the SILO's and why. Howey makes his characters feel very real and you're rooting for them the whole time. You must read this book to make sense of book 3 as the characters continue on in the next book.

Great story and series

This a prequel to the first book in the series. It shines light into this madness

Austin sequel

Awesome book with a great third act. Everything was great throughout the book but the last part was awesome.

Enjoyed better than first in series

Much better than first book in series. Overall more interesting and did a good job of changing perspectives from character to character. Kept me engaged as I did chores and projects around the home. Still suffers from pacing issues. It’s not that it is too slow or too fast, but that some sections are very structured and descriptive and the reader feels in the story. Other sections are quick and things happen and feel like reading an event that occurred like it was something that had to occur in the story and the author wasn’t that interested in. Same challenge with first book.

Very engaging. Captivating. VERY good narration.

Overall, an excellent story. I was a little disappointed with how the uses and abuses of actual existing tech was sometimes inaccurately portrayed. Used the common trope of “I need something difficult/unlikely to happen so hacker or tech wiz”, as if they are wizards who perform magic. However, the creative and imaginative side of Howey’s mind shines through when involving (currently) fictitious tech or events/locations of his design. So long as he isn’t hemmed in by the limitations of current tech, his ability to weave an engaging tale is rather impressive.

These are my first books narrated by Ballerini. I will certainly watch for his name attached to projects in the future. He does a very good job. Among the top ten narrators I’ve found among the hundreds of audiobooks I have in my library.

It’s been a long time

I find that this series is very complicated, and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. The performance is good the story is intricate. And oh, if someone is thinking of reading the first book, after having watched the Apple series, be prepared to be surprised. Excellent writing Mr. Howey, please continue.

Great story

Loved the story and it’s characters. This works Hugh Howey has created us full of insights into human nature and challenges.