When the English Fall by David Williams

read by Eric Michael Summerer

So, the narrator is an Amish man living not far from Philadelphia when a massive solar storm causes civilization to fail and the “English”--that’s us--to literally fall, as in, airplanes falling from the sky. Chaos ensues, and we get to see it from the Plain People’s point of view, which is really fascinating, as really, it’s only a matter of degree. To them, our entire civilization is horrifically chaotic anyhow.

This is a satisfying and oddly surprising apocalypse tale (I do love me a good apocalypse). If you liked Life As We Knew It, say, or the opening chapters of Earth Abides, you’ll enjoy the hell out of this. Why, yes, I am trying to tell you you should read this. If you love a good apocalypse. But too short! I didn’t want it to end when it did.

My one complaint: I’m not entirely happy with the way the daughter’s epilepsy, or “epilepsy,” was used as a plot device. Again, I can’t say more without spoilers, but… hrm. A little too convenient. But, yeah. Read this book.