When The English Fall

What if a massive solar storm were to disrupt power grids around the world, causing cars to stop, planes to fall out of the sky, electronics and phones to cease working?  Life as we know it would virtually come to a halt for most Americans, but not for the Amish.

In David Williams' thought-provoking novel When The English Fall (#778) events unfold against the background of an Amish farming community outside Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Told as a series of diary entries by an Amish farmer named Jacob, they are coping with difficulties of their own in weather fluctuations affecting their crops.  But when disaster strikes the world of The English all around them, the Amish at first are immune.  They are self-sufficient, and careful in preserving and storing their food.  Initially, they are able to provide weekly food donations for nearby Lancaster, but as food in the cities runs out, people begin to take matters into their own hands. How will Jacob's community be affected by the ever-encroaching violence, and what response should they make to threats against them and their families while remaining true to their way of life?

It's an intriguing ethical question, and only too easy to visualize.  There is much food for thought here.  Unfortunately, because it's been labeled as "science fiction"  many of the readers who might benefit the most from reading and discussing this book will never find it.  Simply calling it "fiction" might better serve the aims of the author.