The incredible new novel and brand new world from the international bestselling author of the Wool trilogy.
The old world is buried. A new one has been forged atop the shifting dunes. Here in this land of howling wind and infernal sand, four siblings find themselves scattered and lost.
Palmer has never been the same since his father walked out twelve years ago. His elder sister, Vic, is trying to run away from the past; his younger brothers, Connor and Rob, are risking their lives to embrace it. His mother, left with nothing but anger, is just trying to forget.
Palmer wants to prove his worth, not only to his family, but to himself. And in the barren, dune-covered landscape of his home, there is only one way to earn respect: sand-diving. Plunging deep below the desert floor in search of relics and scraps of the old world. He is about to embark on the most dangerous dive of his young life, aiming to become the first to discover the rumoured city below.
Deep within the sand lies the key to bringing his family together – and tearing their world apart.
The series
In The Sand Chronicles, Hugh Howey crafts a world as unforgiving and mesmerizing as the desert itself. Set in a future where the Earth is dying, the series follows a disparate group of survivors who must navigate a perilous, sand-swept landscape where nothing is certain except the relentless march of time. With humanity on the brink of extinction, the characters must struggle against both the harsh environment and their own darkest instincts to survive.
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At its core, The Sand Chronicles is a story of resilience. Howey’s intricate world-building brings to life a vast, barren landscape, where the remnants of civilization are scattered like dust in the wind. Yet beneath the desolation, the series is about the people who refuse to give up—those who are willing to fight for survival in a world that no longer offers them a place. The characters’ internal battles are just as intense as their external struggles, with themes of hope, sacrifice, and the power of human connection threading throughout.
Howey's signature storytelling—rich in tension and philosophical musings—creates a narrative where every turn holds both danger and discovery. The series explores what it means to rebuild, to fight, and to trust in a world that seems to have lost its way. As the sand shifts, so too do the characters' relationships, loyalties, and understanding of the world around them, making The Sand Chronicles an exploration of survival both physical and emotional.
With each new twist and turn, Howey deepens the mystery of the landscape and its history, pulling readers further into a world where nothing is ever as simple as it seems. The Sand Chronicles is more than just a post-apocalyptic tale—it's a vivid reflection on humanity's ability to endure, adapt, and find meaning in the most desolate of places. For fans of speculative fiction that challenges the soul as much as it thrills, this series offers an unforgettable journey.
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