Andrew Smith's Reviews > Dust

Book 1 in this trilogy introduced us to a large group of people surviving some kind of apocalyptic event by sheltering in a large bunker, or silo, buried deep in the ground. We learned that they were there for the long-term and that our planet may be permanently uninhabitable. It was, in truth, the most compelling and surprising story in this mini-series.

Book 2 took us back to the beginning, to the time before the need for people to hide under the ground. We learned what happened and why. This prequel answered a lot of questions as it filled in the gap and then slightly overlapped events covered in the opening episode. But in my view this was the weakest of the three books.

Book 3 (this book) picks up events from where books 1 & 2 left off. We’re back inside silo territory as the key characters start to increasingly question what life outside really looks like. Is everything really so totally desolate? Once again it’s a pretty lengthy tome - perhaps a little too long for a tale that’s mainly occupied in tying up loose ends - but it does bring a satisfying, if somewhat convoluted, resolution to proceedings.

As a whole, I found it an intriguing and inventive series – one that kept me entertained for many hours as I listened to each episode on audio. I’d heartily recommend it to all lovers of dystopian fiction or just those that love long, complex tales that keep you invested and keep you guessing.