Sand by Hugh Howey

Let’s start with a little bit about author Hugh Howey. He’s mainly a science fiction writer, particularly the Silo series, which includes the bestselling novel “Wool.” Like many modern writers, at least in the US, he did a lot of other things before his writing career took off, such as yacht maintenance, professional sailing, and working in bookstores. But I find him most interesting because of his relatively unconventional path in the publishing industry. He first gained significant attention when he began self-publishing the series that would become Wool on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform. These stories were originally standalone pieces which later got compiled into novels due to their popularity.

Impact on Self-Publishing and the Modern Landscape of Publishing

Howey’s success — and “Wool” is hugely successful — is significant for its impact on self-publishing, demonstrating the potential for independent authors to achieve commercial success and influence. He has been a continuous and loud advocate for self-publishing, digital publishing platforms, and maintaining rights to one’s work, making him a key figure in discussions about the modern landscape of publishing. Howey continues to both write prolifically and demonstrate commercial success. 

Complex Worlds and Themes in Sand

Howey creates really complicated, highly unusual worlds in mostly dystopian futures. Sand features a post-apocalyptic setting and explores themes of survival in a harsh world dominated by, yes – sand. Howey takes us to a future where the old world, with all its achievements and history, is literally buried under massive amounts of sand, shifting beneath the feet of those daring enough to try to uncover its secrets.

The Setting and Characters in Sand

The story is set in a desolate, sand-covered Colorado (although it takes a while to figure that out) where the remnants of civilization now scavenge through the dunes to unearth buried relics of the past. But those relics are buried deep beneath the sand, and somewhere along the way, technology was developed to allow people to dive in sand much the way we dive in water today. The technology of “sand diving” into the deep sands with suits rigged to allow movement through sand as if it were water adds a thrilling and unique element to the plot. The protagonist siblings – Palmer, Vic, Rob, and Conner – belong to a family with a broken and mysterious history, living in a society that mirrors both the mysteries and their fractured relationships. The narrative explores human themes of survival, betrayal, and the quest for a better life beyond the dunes.

“Conner and Gloralai dumped their buckets and turned toward town. From the top of the ridge, they had a commanding view of the Shantytown slums. Conner could pick out the corrugated metal roof of the small shack he shared with his brother. The dune behind their shack had been creeping; the back half was already buried. Another month, and the sand would tumble over the roof and pile up around the front door. They could dig their way in for a while, but then it’d be time to cut their losses and move.”

Character Development and Themes

To go into detail about just one of these siblings, Conner is a significant part of the story’s main family dynamic. He is one of the four siblings who navigate the challenging world of a sand-covered, post-apocalyptic Colorado. Conner is depicted as being particularly strong and resilient, traits that are crucial for survival in the harsh environment that defines the setting of Sand. His role in the family and the narrative is critical. He helps to illustrate the complex interpersonal relationships that the siblings have with each other and with the world around them. His interactions and decisions significantly impact the family’s dynamics and the unfolding of the plot. Conner is no hero – he has depths and flaws that are gradually revealed through the story.

Conner, like his siblings, is involved in sand diving—a vital activity for their survival. Sand diving involves using specialized gear to burrow into the deep sands that have buried civilizations, in search of relics and remnants of the old world that can be traded or sold. This occupation is not just a job for Conner and his family; it’s part of their identity and ties deeply into the narrative’s exploration of themes like survival, discovery, and the human connection to the past. Overall, Conner’s character is emblematic of Howey’s ability to create authentic, compelling characters whose personal journeys are both individually engaging and critical to the broader story.

“The dive suit was cut away from him with a knife, the wires in the fabric popping as they were severed. That suit would never move the sand again. Vic stood and left his side and ran over to shoo someone away from the metal sphere, telling them not to touch it. She didn’t dare touch it either. Instead, she searched one of the impaled men and found her visor and band. Conner watched as she loosened the sand and sent their bodies beneath the market floor. She buried the bomb in the sand so no one could move it.”

Immersive Writing and Cautionary Notes

Howey’s writing lends itself to full immersion – read it in one go for the best effect – and he paints a world so palpable that each grain of sand can almost be heard in the wind and felt on the skin. His ability to develop characters shines through as each sibling’s story unfolds, revealing layer after layer of familial bonds and personal ambitions. The pacing is pretty tight, with each chapter acting as a building block towards an ending that would be tough to tolerate if you thought this was a stand-alone book. But – lucky us, it’s the first in a series. I will say that Sand is almost action-thriller like, so don’t expect a ton of slow, rational philosophical developments.

Overall, Sand gives a unique perspective on possible futures related to ecological and societal collapse. Howey’s talent for creating engaging narratives that explore the depth of human resilience and adaptability is on full display here. For fans of Hugh Howey and lovers of dystopian novels, Sand promises an immersive and reflective experience, although it’s not without its somber undertones.

A couple of cautionary notes. If you are at all claustrophobic, the under-sand scenes in this book might be triggering. There is a fair amount of cursing, and while there is no explicit sexual content, the siblings’ mother does run a brothel to make ends meet.