Legacy

Story so far

Bernard introduced Lukas to hidden material he called their Legacy, while Solo described the reference books as a backup beyond the servers. Access was restricted, and induction into silo leadership involved exposure to the collection. Its leather-bound, gilded volumes preserve a carefully edited history; handwritten additions also contain instructions, manuals, mementos, and advice for future leaders. The term has also been used for men and women from the old world kept asleep in storage. Thurman described its truth as something to distribute carefully or withhold, and said knowledge enabling humanity to destroy itself had been excluded.

For readers such as Jimmy, the illustrated volumes made the unfamiliar world intelligible: entries explained locomotives, insects, cats, snakes, and fishing methods. The books taught him fishing knots and how to fillet a fish, and changed Solo’s understanding of familiar objects. Lukas found accounts of uprisings and their dangers and cited the collection as evidence that the world orbits the sun. The Legacy also contains information about animal breeds from earlier times.

Appearance

The collection includes leather-bound, gilded books, illustrated entries, and handwritten additions. Volumes have been stored in alphabetically labeled metal tins on large shelves.

Role

It preserves controlled historical and practical knowledge while giving its readers tools for interpreting the world beyond silo life.

Relationships

Earlier in this series

Also appears in books you've already read — spoiler-safe to their endings:

• WoolBook 1
• ShiftBook 2