Lottery
The lottery grants couples a limited chance to conceive; Mission and Allie learn of a pregnancy dated within their now-expired permission window.
Story so far
Winning the lottery gives a couple a year to try for a child, with a general aim of allowing parents two children to replace themselves. Deaths create opportunities for others: Holston and Allison’s opportunity passed on before their year ended, while Dr. Nichols says his premature son’s death was not officially counted as a birth before the lottery moved on. Juliette would prefer draws on fixed dates, and Troy believes an overcrowded Silo Thirty-Two should suspend its lottery.
Mission Jones contrasts an earlier baby boom after violence with the smaller number of births linked to natural deaths and lottery wins. His and Allie’s ticket has expired by the time they learn she is pregnant, but Allie says conception fell within the permitted window.
Role
It regulates permission to have children, linking reproductive opportunities to population replacement and deaths.
Earlier in this series
Also appears in books you've already read — spoiler-safe to their endings:
- WoolBook 1
Sources — 5 recorded facts, by chapter
- Troy believes Silo Thirty-Two should suspend its lottery until it has more space.
- A death can create a lottery opportunity for prospective parents.
- Mission contrasts an earlier post-violence baby boom with the current small number of births tied to natural deaths and lottery wins.
- Mission and Allie’s ticket has expired by the time they learn of the pregnancy.
- Allie says conception occurred within their permitted window.