Sand Omnibus by Hugh Howey (3.5 stars)

Hugh Howey creates another intriguing post-apocalyptic world, this time modern civilisation has been completely covered in sand, and "sand diving" to retrieve artifacts from the time of high technology is a lucrative but extremely dangerous occupation. I loved the sand divers: Howey delivered a light technology explanation, and great construction of the divers' society with its own rules, indoctrination, and language. The multiple different names for types of sand was a nice touch.

While I didn't get hooked as strongly as I did with Wool, I felt like Sand was a more measured and mature series. There weren't books I hated or incredibly implausible plot devices required. Having said that, there seemed to be some puzzling incongruities with technology: they had mechanical pumps powered by generators to bring up water from wells, but were still using a bucket brigade to move accumulated sand away from the wells...?

This is a society that is brutally oppressed and is steadily being crushed by remote actions we never really find out about. The dumping of sand that rules this future Colorado seems to be deliberate, but in a completely dispassionate and careless way.

I would have had a lot more respect for the novel if the protagonist had died in the desert. A willingness to kill off a major character to prevent the need for an unlikely rescue shows author's grit.

Good read for those who liked Wool.

3.5 stars