Review: My vision of Visions of Wool
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 8, 2013
Hanna Elizabeth's story is great: it's  interesting, well-written, and fast-paced. This would be more than enough, but there's something more here. Way more. And if you read this book with a keen eye, you will be astounded.All the fan fiction writers who expanded Hugh Howey's world have their own "vision of Wool". To me, choosing such a metafictional title is a revelation in itself; from the start, the author's message to her readers is clear: this is her way of seeing things, it's a variation on the original. Consider yourself warned. If you come and complain that it contradicts such or such point of the blueprint, you will only be proving that you didn't get it.Onomastics very often points to an author's intent as well. When the main character's called Chuck and his girl is named Jenny, don't look too far for hidden meanings. But when, as it is the case here, the main character answers to the name of Grace and her boyfriend is Chance, you can be sure that the writer is telling you to read between the lines. These names really have a direct link with the meaning of the whole story, from beginning to end. Hanna Elizabeth even allows herself a few play on words, proving nothing is done by chance here, and everything is gracefully done.Grace has visions. She can't always be sure whether they're visions of the past (anaphora) or the future (cataphora). It's up to her, then, to put everything in order in her mind and find a plan of action. Which is exactly, in true metafictional fashion, what a writer does and feels.Before being able to really play a role in the silo (and here you have the metafictional aspect of characters being both creators and actors), Grace has to read a book written by an ancestor (Annabelle - sounds a little like Hanna Elizabeth by the way) to know what to do. That's the importance of legacy. Learning. Having a vision isn't enough. One needs to learn before doing. It is necessary for inspiration, to find one's own path. Just like Wool fan fiction writers needed to read Hugh Howey's work and all the pre-existing fan fiction to produce their own part.The Book of Grace, interestingly enough, is in itself a book within a book, already preparing the ground for a sequel (yay!), the Book of Mercy - if I understand correctly. This mise en abyme, like Russian dolls, is another metafictional device, and it's probably one of my favourites.The difference with what we're used to in the Wooliverse here is the healing aspect: when Grace becomes a creator, she decides what her own path will be, and it involves trying to help (lead?) others. This may hint at the healing power of literature. Reading makes others feel better, and sometimes it helps the writer too in the process.This is probably the best kind of therapy I can think of.Keep them visions coming, Hanna.