This is really quite a series of books. The first one is brief but incredibly effective because of it. The remainder of the series has a slower pace to it, but it never drags. The story is set in a large underground silo where people have been living throughout their society's memory. They know something exists beyond their walls, but even asking about is punishable by death. The society in the silo is set up so that all work together to keep everyone else alive and the silo running. I agree with the concept of this interdependent structure for a society in this situation, but the science behind being completely sustainable with no outside influence bothers me a bit. I'm not convinced that the resources could simply be recycled in perpetuity like they seem to. It's a minor detail, and not really a big deal in the overall appreciation of this book. 
 The why of the government and its policies is the big deal of this story. The title of this series starts making sense at the end of Book 1 and is clarified as you learn more of what is going on in the silo (even as early as the beginning of Book 2). Howey makes good use of diversion and uncertainty to create a set of characters that you want to sympathize with, even if you don't initially. (view spoiler)[Especially Bernard. You can feel the pull to agree with his twisted logic, even when your other feelings are screaming out not to. (hide spoiler)] This is enhanced by the innate nature of humanity to desire to survive, which ultimately ties into both the plot and the reader's own emotions and perception. 
 This was a good take on post-apocalyptic fiction that combines some themes explored in both Logans' Run and the Foundation Series. Although the desire to preserve humanity and its knowledge is admirable, the government's use of psychology, misinformation, and force is a chilling reminder of what humanity is capable of. The actions of the heroes provide the counter balance of hope without coercion. I was both pleased and disappointed with the final ending. I expected the general shape of the silo's future to be what is written, but the ending felt a little too happy. (view spoiler)[At first I felt that Howey had betrayed a lot of the foreshadowing set up by the parallels with Romeo and Juliet, but I think it is more that he subverted that play's ending with the scene in the airlock, which I think makes this book's ending more acceptable. (hide spoiler)] 
 I recommend this to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, discussions of human nature, or a good story.