HOWEY, Hugh, Wool ([self published], [Charleston, SC]), 2011 [first printing; see below for bibliographic note]

128x203mm; pp. 59, [2, author notes]

Vanishingly scarce self-published first edition of this contemporary sci-fi classic, signed and inscribed by Howey. The Silo series began in 2011, with the present short story 'Wool' a post-apocalyptic vision of humanity clinging to survival in a complex subterranean structure. The work combines elements of Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker, as well as the novels of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley. Silo has recently been adapted for AppleTV by Graham Yost, with a second series in production.

The book series is an extraordinary example of success by word of mouth, and of the transformation of the publishing industry in the online age. As with E.L. James and the exactly contemporary Fifty Shades of Grey, Howey decided to self-publish online, putting out 'Wool' in June 2011 through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (Fifty Shades was also issued through Kindle in the same month). Unlike James, who published physical copies of Fifty Shades with the Writer's Coffee Shop, Howey seems to have used a local printing company to produce his books, as the colophon simply reads 'Made in the USA / Charleston SC' (Howey's home state).

This very early physical copy was produced on 28 January 2012 (colophon), and is the earliest known copy at the time of cataloguing. We have retained 2011 as the publishing year as this is indicated on the copyright page. It is not known whether any physical copies were actually produced in 2011; a stated 'Second Edition' is also known, still bearing 2011 on the copyright page. This is therefore the true first edition, and the design of the cover is markedly different from all later editions.

The book is in fine condition; completely unmarked, and with square corners and clean edges to the pictorial card covers. Affectionately signed by Howey ("thanks for reading and for all the support!") to the title-page.