The Opportunity

When Subterranean Press set out to publish a premium collector’s edition of Hugh Howey’s wildly successful Silo trilogy (Wool, Shift, and Dust), the goal wasn’t simply to produce new covers. They needed a visual identity worthy of the story’s scale, longevity, and its devoted readership.

These books weren’t just new editions of the familiar story: They were hand-numbered, signed hardcovers—750 cloth-bound editions, and 26 leatherbound—a true collector’s set for fans who had championed the series from its self-published origins to its subsequent international acclaim (and eventual AppleTV+ adaptation). It was important that the design reflect the rarity of Hugh Howey’s charmed journey from bookstore employee to bestselling author.

The Approach

My goal, though simple on the surface, was to design three covers that would:

• Stand on their own as individual, beautiful books

• Resonate together as a unified set

• Reflect the trilogy’s themes of isolation, resistance, and hope

• And present a completely unique vision of the story

I’d worked with Hugh Howey before—on his serialized followup to the Silo series, Sand; on several backlist titles, like The Plagiarist and The Hurricane; on a dystopian anthology, The Apocalypse Triptych; and, in a roundabout way, designing covers for a number of the fan-fiction Silo tales that he authorized—but this was a new challenge.

Typography, color, and iconic, minimalist imagery played an important role in this design. The covers utilize negative space to communicate the scale and starkness of the underground silos, the haunting weight of human madness, the inevitable consequences of the characters’ choices.

The Outcome

The Silo trilogy sold out rapidly, and the books have since become highly sought-after by collectors. They stand as a visual counterpoint to the DIY beginnings of the series, a milestone artifact charting just how far the story has come.

Working with Subterranean Press and Hugh Howey on this was an absolute dream of creative freedom, and is to this day one of the best experiences I’ve had bringing a book to life. The project is a standing reminder of what adventurous and thoughtful cover design can do for a book: Honor the story, elevate the expression, and deepen the connection between the story and its readers.