In 'Wool', the first book of the Silo series, Hugh Howey depicts a dystopian future where humanity lives in a self-sustaining underground silo. The story follows Sheriff Holston and later Juliette, a mechanic turned sheriff, as they uncover the sinister truths and conspiracies within the silo. The novel delves into the lives of the silo's residents, who are kept in the dark about the true state of the outside world, and the harsh punishments for those who express a desire to leave. The book is known for its suspenseful and engaging narrative, exploring themes of survival, hope, and the quest for truth in a confined and controlled environment.
Set in a world devastated by a nuclear apocalypse known as the 'Flame Deluge', the novel follows the monks of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz as they dedicate their lives to preserving scientific knowledge. The book is divided into three parts, each set in a different time period, spanning over 2,000 years. It delves into themes of Christian theology, the tension between religion and science, and the cyclical nature of human civilizations. Miller's work is a stark warning about the consequences of military build-up and the importance of the marriage between science and faith[1][4][5].
In this book, Steven Pinker presents a detailed argument that violence has significantly decreased over the course of human history. He uses extensive data and statistical analysis to demonstrate this decline in various domains, including military conflict, homicide, genocide, torture, and the treatment of children, homosexuals, animals, and racial and ethnic minorities. Pinker identifies four key human motivations – empathy, self-control, the moral sense, and reason – as the 'better angels' that have oriented humans away from violence and towards cooperation and altruism. He also discusses historical forces such as the rise of the state (which he terms 'Leviathan'), the spread of commerce, the growth of feminist values, and the expansion of cosmopolitanism, which have contributed to this decline in violence[1][4][5].
Pierce Anthony's "Incarnations of Immortality" is a series of fantasy novels that explore the concept of immortality through various personified aspects of life and death. Each book focuses on a different immortal being, such as Death, Fate, or Time, and their interactions with mortals. The series blends fantasy elements with philosophical and theological themes, examining the nature of existence, mortality, and the human condition. Anthony's writing is known for its blend of humor, adventure, and thought-provoking concepts. The series is a popular choice for readers interested in unique fantasy worlds and explorations of timeless themes.
The Dark Tower is the seventh and final book in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. It follows Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger of Mid-World, as he completes his quest to reach the Dark Tower, a structure that is the nexus of all universes. Roland's world is crumbling, with time and space distorted, and he must navigate through various dimensions and confront his enemies, including the Man in Black and the Crimson King. The book concludes with Roland reaching the tower, only to find that his journey is cyclical, and he is transported back to the beginning of the series. The story blends elements of dark fantasy, science fiction, horror, and Western genres, and is a culmination of King's multiverse, linking many of his other works[1][3][5].
It's three centuries after the apocalypse, and a small Catholic monastery in the desert is collecting and safeguarding whatever pre-calamite artifacts it can, to preserve knowledge until civilization gets going again. Brian Brushwood joins to discuss this post-apocalyptic "Jesuits in space" novel.
Alienating the Audience 
