Review: Exploring Isolation, Being Alone, Separation - Effectively...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 15, 2013
Nicomus Columbus introduced me to what I could assume is a cult following for Hugh Howey... This has been opened up via the Internet that permits Fan Fiction to be created. Hurray, something good should come from this because the U.S. has definitely been fan oriented for many years! I've never heard of Howey, but that really doesn't matter, because the fiction created has no real or legal relationship to what is, has been, or will be created by this author. It is merely a "take-off" from a concept favored by the new author and used to create something all his own...Nicomus got on the Silo Saga with two short stories in one book, selling for just 99 cents. There are many others writing in the Saga series so if you enjoy short stories and this concept, check it out! I might even submit some from me! LOL...cool idea!Now Nicomus writes somewhat weird stuff, if you've read him before. I've become one of his fans since I enjoy the unique, the conceptual landscape that is created from just one word: Silo...What if you lived in a silo? Perhaps the world outside has been contaminated from some of the horrendous toxins or warfare used these days? Or perhaps you came into a life that was in fear of nuclear war and the silo was prepared for that event, like the old days of underground shelters? Or, perhaps there is a perfect world outside full of sunshine, but you were born in a silo and have never left because others living in that silo warned against leaving...You would never know what was real, would you?Jonah is gone now. He was the last one in Silo 34 other than me. I'm 13...Now what am I supposed to do?Jonah had been the only person in 13's life for all his life. Jonah had tried to teach him as much as he could--as much as he knew...But, that didn't mean much when 13 was alone...Before he left, Jonah had started talking about somebody else in the Silo, asking 13 if he saw him. Each time he looked, 13 answered "no."Finally, he lied and told him yes--that he would keep watching so that Jonah could sleep now.Of course the silo was so big that if one of them left and went to explore other parts of the silo, above level 34, they could lose each other, maybe for hours. If more than 4 went by, 13 would go look for Jonah.Of course, they also didn't know how long 4 hours were, or whether it was night or day. But when they didn't know, they created their own body schedule for sleeping and eating...But now Jonah was gone...You know when 13 lied about not seeing that other person in the silo? Well there really was somebody there.Her voice came to him...~~~Part IIClifton and Jimi had never seen the dead man before. Where and how could a stranger be here? They would notify the cleanup crew, but knew they wouldn't do anything... They never did...It appeared to be suicide again--11 in 4 months... Suicide had occurred before, but never this many. Something must have happened, but what?Clifton went to where he lived and read until Janis came. Since Clifton was always reading, she asked him whether it was another philosophy book. He told her he was reading Solipsism. That God didn't exist and neither did she... In fact, he didn't know anything about the past since that was only what was from his imagination.Janis was not impressed, of course...But Her Voice came to him later that night. Fortunately Janis woke him...It had been 12 years ago when they had found Clifton deep within the silo...he didn't know who he was nor how long he had been where they found him...Then in the midst of a large group of silo dwellers at a dance, she asked him if he was ready... To Go Outside...Columbus' writing makes you think. He demands that you enter into the world that he has created for you. If you do not go willingly, he will not force you. If you are not willing, you may rate his books low. For those who go willingly, he shares with readers about feelings, internal feelings that you may not wish to face. For someone like me, who is alone most of my days, I know of what he writes. For some it will be frightening. For me, the silo is a version of my cabin. I love being alone in my cabin. Can you deal with isolation? If not, you'll find living in his silo a strange place, a horrible place--a place where some commit suicide because of where they live.If you lived in the silo, would you create an outside world?Perhaps Nocomus' world is that outside world... Would you stay?Much to ponder, much to consider... Nocomus Columbus has a unique style of writing that is edgy, unorthodox... but his work is well-written... I visited the Silo 34 'cause I'm a fan. But there were too many silo-dwellers partying, so I left to head home... LOL Try his latest and let me know what you think...GABixlerReviews