Half Way Home [Kindle Edition]

Hugh Howey (Author)

Book Description

Five hundred of us were sent to colonize this planet. Only fifty or so survived.

We woke up fifteen years too early, we had only half our training, and they expected us to not only survive ... they expected us to conquer this place.

The problem is: it isn't safe here.

We aren't even safe from each other.

Product Details

• File Size: 414 KB
• Print Length: 240 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Broad Reach Publishing (June 1, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003QCIPGK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #1 in Books > Children's Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
  • #1 in Books > Children's Books > Action & Adventure
  • #3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Science Fiction > Adventure

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

138 of 140 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An AWESOME Book April 27, 2011

By MCA Students READ!

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I recently finished Half Way Home by Hugh Howey and absolutely loved it!!! Hugh Howey is a relatively new author who I think has tons of potential. I've also read the other books by him, the Molly Fide series, and really enjoyed them too. I really can't say enough good things about them.

Half Way Home is set in a futuristic world where colonies of people are sent out to explore planets and are born as full grown adults. We follow a group of young people who were "born" too soon, only halfway through their training for their jobs in the new colony. The main character, Porter, struggles with his own emotions as he accidently becomes the leader of a group that has broken off from the main colony. This second group goes on an exploration mission and discovers the true, dark reason their mission was nearly aborted.

I really like the way the plot and the characters were developed. In some books by other authors I've read, I've felt I didn't get to know the people well enough. In this book, I really felt that I knew Porter and Kelvin and Tarsi. I felt their pain, their losses, and their happiness. I loved the pacing as well. The story didn't move too fast that your head was spinning, but I never felt it dragged. I hate to use this old line, but here it is: I laughed, I cried, I loved it!!!

I would recommend this book to older teens and adults. There are some pretty mature themes in this book, such as homosexuality, abortion, and fairly graphic death. I would only recommend this book to mature people who would be able to handle this.

This book is definitely unique. I have a hard time coming up with a point of comparison in books. This book is remotely similar to Star Trek, but even that is a stretch. It is about exploring a new planet with new creatures and a "crew" of sorts, but it is definitely different and worth reading. It is not only well-written, but thought provoking as well. It's a "make you think" book, one that I would certainly read again.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story, well written, a little slow January 24, 2012

By Niall

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

TL;DR:
+ Great SciFi survival novel
+ Well written
- A little slow

I found Hugh Howey through the Wool series of novella's and I loved them to bits.
Similar to Wool, this book grabbed me from the start. And unlike a lot of kindle authors, Hugh has/is a great editor. You won't be annoyed by word repetition or poor spelling.
Unlike Wool this book feels a little dragged out in parts, I enjoyed the character development but I also found myself speed reading and muttering "come on" occasionally.
If you enjoy Scifi novels, survival stories or any combination of the two, then you'll love this.

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hugh Howey Can Tell A Story! September 14, 2011

By Hippie Poet

Format:Paperback

Are in into Sci-Fi? I can truely say it's not my favorite genre of books but, Hugh Howey is quickly turning me into a Sci-Fi lover.
I was first sucked into Hugh's writing with the Molly Fyde series. Those stories are awesome and I've yet to finish the last two books. (Shame on me)

Recently I read Howey's "Half Way Home", and I could not believe how much of a story Hugh put into this small novel. I was lost in the first few pages, as per usual with Hugh's books. The adventure begins immediately. Don your spacesuit and your mode of travel and let's go for a ride.

We are on a planet that was to be inhabited by a race of humans planted there. They are grown in vats, and each taught a certain occupation that will help on their goal to "settle" the planet and make it home. Only this time there is a problem and this group is aborted at age 15. Only half grown. Only half trained. Many die a fiery death. But a group of teens make it out alive and must now figure out how to manage, how to cope, how to live and learn on their new home.

I encountered young people with the perservence to try. No matter what odds lay ahead they were hell bent on attacking them head on. You'll meet Vinnie's in this story, a strange animal that I'd love to go for a ride on, and trees a mile or more high. You'll encounter metal worms that if you happen to be in their path, you'll be mincemeat. And you will learn what friendship means and the will of survival.

The story just overflowed with adventure, trials and tribulations and best of all a great lesson to be learned on being different, being determined and surviving against all odds.

Hugh Howey has done it again with an excellent story that I will definitely reread.

Now, I ask...how is the group doing? What's going on in their lives. How's the population now? I think I need another story from those that survived. :)

More About the Author

Hugh Howey is the author of the award-winning Molly Fyde Saga and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling WOOL series. The WOOL OMNIBUS won Kindle Book Review's 2012 Indie Book of the Year Award -- it has been as high as #1 in the Kindle store -- and 17 countries have picked up the work for translation. Look for WOOL in hardback in 2013 from Random House UK and keep your fingers crossed that Ridley Scott and Steve Zaillian will do something exciting with the film rights!

Hugh lives in Jupiter, FL with his wife Amber and their dog Bella. When he isn't writing, he's reading or taking a photograph.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#15 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#1 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

#1 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Science Fiction

#2 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#7 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure

#7 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure

#1 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

#1 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Science Fiction

#2 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#7 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure

#7 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure