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Pennsylvania #1-5
Pennsylvania Omnibus
Young Amishman Jedidiah Troyer is now a traveler. He's signed up for an emigration program that is colonizing the planet of New Pennsylvania. He just wants to start a farm and homestead on affordable land in a new Amish community. Space pioneering isn't as easy as it sounds when you're "plain." Jedidiah and his new friend Dawn arrive on New Pennsylvania in the middle of a rebel uprising, and TRACE, the resistance group that is rising up against TRANSPORT, has taken on the mission of getting Jed from the City to the Amish Zone. Being a stranger in the old world doesn't even compare to being a stranger in a new world... a world that is at war and where nothing is what it seems.
431 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2014
47 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
December 27, 2014
Pennsylvania is a very different kind of scifi, and that's part of what I loved about it. The story is told in a very easy to read narrative style that gets right into the meat of our main character's adventure. Jed is the oldest male in his Amish family and is about to take a journey to a distant planet to help humanity colonize their future home. Earth is suffering under a lingering war between the new tyrannical government, Transport, and rebel forces which make some areas far more dangerous than what the reader knows of America. This future-possible America is fascinating to imagine and experience through Jed, and that's just the backdrop. Before long we care about this young man and his journey into the unknown as he goes off alone, leaving his family behind.
What can I say about his journey that won't spoil anything? I'd rather give you a glimpse of story elements that Mr. Bunker has in store. Jed will encounter the rebels of New Pennsylvania and instantly have to run for his life. As an Amish man, he will question the use of technology Mr. Bunker invented, BICE, and yet must use this mind-Internet implant to save lives. There is a girl who becomes special to him, and creates an extra layer of interest in his survival and success on this unexpected mission. Mr. Bunker throws a lot of twists, fascinating worldbuilding concepts and technologies, and unique characters into this addicting read. If you like futuristic technology and fast-paced stories, this is a must read. You'll be delighted at the new world this adventure explores and will demand more stories in the future.
What can I say about his journey that won't spoil anything? I'd rather give you a glimpse of story elements that Mr. Bunker has in store. Jed will encounter the rebels of New Pennsylvania and instantly have to run for his life. As an Amish man, he will question the use of technology Mr. Bunker invented, BICE, and yet must use this mind-Internet implant to save lives. There is a girl who becomes special to him, and creates an extra layer of interest in his survival and success on this unexpected mission. Mr. Bunker throws a lot of twists, fascinating worldbuilding concepts and technologies, and unique characters into this addicting read. If you like futuristic technology and fast-paced stories, this is a must read. You'll be delighted at the new world this adventure explores and will demand more stories in the future.
July 22, 2014
Amish sci-fi. It actually works, that part was believable.
I wanted to get into this book. It just didn't hook me until the middle. Then I was finally into it. However towards the end I started wondering how it could end with 10% of the book left. And then 5%, this can't be wrapped up in that time!?!
Nope. It wasn't. The end left me high and dry and confused. I still don't understand. So is there more to this series??? No other reviews seem confused but I see no mention of this being the first book. What is going on? I've searched around and I think this is it?!?
All of this is incredibly frustrating as a reader. Is there more or not, it shouldn't be that hard to find out. And if there isn't, then wtf?!?
Big fat meh. This book left me irritated.
I wanted to get into this book. It just didn't hook me until the middle. Then I was finally into it. However towards the end I started wondering how it could end with 10% of the book left. And then 5%, this can't be wrapped up in that time!?!
Nope. It wasn't. The end left me high and dry and confused. I still don't understand. So is there more to this series??? No other reviews seem confused but I see no mention of this being the first book. What is going on? I've searched around and I think this is it?!?
All of this is incredibly frustrating as a reader. Is there more or not, it shouldn't be that hard to find out. And if there isn't, then wtf?!?
Big fat meh. This book left me irritated.
August 30, 2014
A mind bending slide through a future struggling to find the past. Pick this one up if you want SciFi done right!
July 31, 2022
This was a very mixed bag for me, but in the end, it was certainly interesting.
Some of the positives: Bunker is extremely creative. Amish sci fi? That's just the start. Most parts of this felt more inspired and original than a lot of other stuff I've read recently. Another positive: it sounds extremely authentic. I'd assume Bunker either grew up Amish or has Amish relatives because it sounds very genuine to the subject.
Some of the negatives: Much of the dialogue is cringe-worthy, some of the plot points are absurd and not in a sci-fi kind of way (the best hackers are people who have never used computers before?), and anytime suspense is maintained by characters saying "We don't have time to give you answers right now" or "You aren't ready to know the full truth yet," I get exasperated, so having that happen a dozen times in this book was frustrating.
Some of the positives: Bunker is extremely creative. Amish sci fi? That's just the start. Most parts of this felt more inspired and original than a lot of other stuff I've read recently. Another positive: it sounds extremely authentic. I'd assume Bunker either grew up Amish or has Amish relatives because it sounds very genuine to the subject.
Some of the negatives: Much of the dialogue is cringe-worthy, some of the plot points are absurd and not in a sci-fi kind of way (the best hackers are people who have never used computers before?), and anytime suspense is maintained by characters saying "We don't have time to give you answers right now" or "You aren't ready to know the full truth yet," I get exasperated, so having that happen a dozen times in this book was frustrating.
September 11, 2014
This book was really awful. Interesting premise, but, man, the writing is immature -- and that's putting it charitably. I could go on, but I'll post one star and leave it at that. Oh, and this: ". . . a few faint tracks on her face were the only reminder that she'd had an emotional episode over the death of Donovan." Ugh.
May 11, 2014
Amish Sci-Fi: A New Take on an Old Genre (minor spoilers)
Michael Bunker’s Pennsylvania Omnibus is simultaneously familiar and new. The familiar: a futuristic government establishment at odds with the liberties of its constituency breeds a “Fight The Man” rebellion. The new: at the heart of the story—and the rebellion—is an Amish community conflicted within itself. This sect mirrors the larger society in the story as it grapples with an essential question: how much of who I am need I give up to coexist peacefully in a society that I am, at times, at odds with?
Bunker’s characters are engaging and sympathetic. Jed, the protagonist, is the fish-out-of-water in New Pennsylvania, dumped in the middle of the rebellion when, really, all he expected to do was step off a transport and start farming a new land. The author’s descriptions of that new land, like his characters, are vivid and grounded in the familiar, but spiced with a unique mystery (e.g., landmarks on the landscape) that keep the reader guessing as to where Jed has really ended up. (Jed’s kept guessing, too!) Character archetypes, their motivations, the conflict, the tech—familiar, but by no means stale in Bunker’s hands.
It’s against that comfortable background that the author paints his real image—the fresh perspective on these events from an Amish community (and hero) in the middle of the conflict. (And, remember, this is set in the future; mixing that Amish viewpoint with a futuristic plot is, in itself, innovative and fun to read.) To avoid spoilers I won’t mention the heart of the characters’ conflict, but suffice it to say that the Amish way is both questioned and reaffirmed via the plot. I love fiction that examines these grey areas and doesn’t present black-and-white, easy-to-come-by answers to moral questions. That’s what engages me personally as a reader, and while Bunker has clear affection for Amish cultural values, he’s not above putting them to the test in his story.
If all this sounds a bit weird, that’s because it is; if by “weird” you mean “uncommon and different.” It’s that new take on an old story—the fun of seeing a sci-fi rebellion tale told from a cultural perspective that, frankly, I didn’t know much about beyond the movie Witness—that kept me reading, and enthusiastically so. Oklahoma is the upcoming sequel to Pennsylvania…if Bunker’s keeps his storytelling at this level, I’m hoping he’ll consider writing 48 more tales beyond the sequel.
Michael Bunker’s Pennsylvania Omnibus is simultaneously familiar and new. The familiar: a futuristic government establishment at odds with the liberties of its constituency breeds a “Fight The Man” rebellion. The new: at the heart of the story—and the rebellion—is an Amish community conflicted within itself. This sect mirrors the larger society in the story as it grapples with an essential question: how much of who I am need I give up to coexist peacefully in a society that I am, at times, at odds with?
Bunker’s characters are engaging and sympathetic. Jed, the protagonist, is the fish-out-of-water in New Pennsylvania, dumped in the middle of the rebellion when, really, all he expected to do was step off a transport and start farming a new land. The author’s descriptions of that new land, like his characters, are vivid and grounded in the familiar, but spiced with a unique mystery (e.g., landmarks on the landscape) that keep the reader guessing as to where Jed has really ended up. (Jed’s kept guessing, too!) Character archetypes, their motivations, the conflict, the tech—familiar, but by no means stale in Bunker’s hands.
It’s against that comfortable background that the author paints his real image—the fresh perspective on these events from an Amish community (and hero) in the middle of the conflict. (And, remember, this is set in the future; mixing that Amish viewpoint with a futuristic plot is, in itself, innovative and fun to read.) To avoid spoilers I won’t mention the heart of the characters’ conflict, but suffice it to say that the Amish way is both questioned and reaffirmed via the plot. I love fiction that examines these grey areas and doesn’t present black-and-white, easy-to-come-by answers to moral questions. That’s what engages me personally as a reader, and while Bunker has clear affection for Amish cultural values, he’s not above putting them to the test in his story.
If all this sounds a bit weird, that’s because it is; if by “weird” you mean “uncommon and different.” It’s that new take on an old story—the fun of seeing a sci-fi rebellion tale told from a cultural perspective that, frankly, I didn’t know much about beyond the movie Witness—that kept me reading, and enthusiastically so. Oklahoma is the upcoming sequel to Pennsylvania…if Bunker’s keeps his storytelling at this level, I’m hoping he’ll consider writing 48 more tales beyond the sequel.
August 29, 2015
This is a book I kept bumping into on Amazon and I was intrigued by the premise, an Amish science-fiction novel had to be worth a look. I wasn't wrong.
Jedidiah Troyer is leaving home to set up a new life on another planet, New Pennsylvania. But stepping out from the comfort of a life and community he knows so well becomes the least of his challenges as he finds himself accused of breaking the law before his journey even begins.
I really enjoyed the Pennsylvania Omnibus on a number of levels. The story is well written and I was continually left bamboozled as Bunker skilfully revealed each plot twist, especially in the opening third of the book. There are twists and turns galore and even when you think you have a grip of what is going on, Bunker is happy to pull the rug from under your feet once again.
However, the thing I liked most about the book was the culture cash of viewing a futuristic world through the eyes of somebody who has lived in a culture virtually unchanged in centuries. This juxtaposition of a world view based in the earth and a simple life meeting the challenges of a hi-tech virtual world is fascinating and gives the novel unique flavour.
There are occasions where the book is let down by its original episodic structure, with cliffhangers at the end of a chapter only to be quickly resolved on the next page, but overall this is an excellent book and one I highly recommend.
Jedidiah Troyer is leaving home to set up a new life on another planet, New Pennsylvania. But stepping out from the comfort of a life and community he knows so well becomes the least of his challenges as he finds himself accused of breaking the law before his journey even begins.
I really enjoyed the Pennsylvania Omnibus on a number of levels. The story is well written and I was continually left bamboozled as Bunker skilfully revealed each plot twist, especially in the opening third of the book. There are twists and turns galore and even when you think you have a grip of what is going on, Bunker is happy to pull the rug from under your feet once again.
However, the thing I liked most about the book was the culture cash of viewing a futuristic world through the eyes of somebody who has lived in a culture virtually unchanged in centuries. This juxtaposition of a world view based in the earth and a simple life meeting the challenges of a hi-tech virtual world is fascinating and gives the novel unique flavour.
There are occasions where the book is let down by its original episodic structure, with cliffhangers at the end of a chapter only to be quickly resolved on the next page, but overall this is an excellent book and one I highly recommend.
October 8, 2014
I vascillated between loving the premise of this story, to feeling "meh" about the continuation, to disliking the convolutions. So my rating is sometimes a two and sometimes a four. I marked it three stars for the concept alone.
My stepdad grew up old order Amish, and we'd go visit his family in the summers. Immediately at the beginning, I recognized the timbre of the voices between Jed and his brother, and it felt distinctly Amish. It's difficult to explain unless you've spent time with the Plain people, but it warmed me immediately to the story.
I'd have probably liked it better if I'd just read the short story and not the continations, though. It got a little convoluted after that, what with all the blowing things up, people dying to save the main character, and little concept of why he would be so important to the rebel cause.
All in all, it was a bumpy read, and I developed a bit of love/hate for it, but the concept - sci fi with Amish folk - is interesting. And Bunker himself is an awesome dude.
My stepdad grew up old order Amish, and we'd go visit his family in the summers. Immediately at the beginning, I recognized the timbre of the voices between Jed and his brother, and it felt distinctly Amish. It's difficult to explain unless you've spent time with the Plain people, but it warmed me immediately to the story.
I'd have probably liked it better if I'd just read the short story and not the continations, though. It got a little convoluted after that, what with all the blowing things up, people dying to save the main character, and little concept of why he would be so important to the rebel cause.
All in all, it was a bumpy read, and I developed a bit of love/hate for it, but the concept - sci fi with Amish folk - is interesting. And Bunker himself is an awesome dude.
April 29, 2014
Well, hey. An Amish scifi story. And it worked. Of course the conclusion of this volume leads to the next set called "Oklahoma" which will be forthcoming, so it's not really done yet, but this was an enjoyable read.
One thing I've discovered over the course of the last year (not specific to this series) is that I prefer completed full length novels over chapters released over time. I'm pretty sure this is a psychological reaction to having grown up with the "whole book" in my hands when I purchase it.
***This is an update from the concluding serial release of Pennsylvania5.***
Not only is this an excellent read, the Omnibus version has some outstanding production values and artwork, which really stand out, and show the author's dedication to putting quality in the hands of his readers.
Never let it be said that indie published works have to be second rate or "less" than the traditional publishing works.
Well worth the read!
One thing I've discovered over the course of the last year (not specific to this series) is that I prefer completed full length novels over chapters released over time. I'm pretty sure this is a psychological reaction to having grown up with the "whole book" in my hands when I purchase it.
***This is an update from the concluding serial release of Pennsylvania5.***
Not only is this an excellent read, the Omnibus version has some outstanding production values and artwork, which really stand out, and show the author's dedication to putting quality in the hands of his readers.
Never let it be said that indie published works have to be second rate or "less" than the traditional publishing works.
Well worth the read!
December 3, 2015
This book has a fantastic premise. An Amish man leaves earth to help settle a new colony of plain people on a distant planet called New Pennsylvania. When he arrives he finds himself drawn into the midst of a battle with a dystopian government.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this one. Once you reach the end you find you've been reading a different book than you thought. The ending felt a bit sudden but sometimes a little mystery can be thought-provoking.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this one. Once you reach the end you find you've been reading a different book than you thought. The ending felt a bit sudden but sometimes a little mystery can be thought-provoking.
January 22, 2015
Amish Sci-Fi. Hmmm
Pennsylvania was very different, but in a good way. Not only did I get a new and refreshing Sci-Fi experience with a lot of plot twists, but I learned more and more about the Amish culture the farther I got into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more works by Bunker!
Pennsylvania was very different, but in a good way. Not only did I get a new and refreshing Sci-Fi experience with a lot of plot twists, but I learned more and more about the Amish culture the farther I got into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more works by Bunker!
August 21, 2014
I did not like it. Amish Superman? Really. In the future only the Amish no how to grow food or do hard work. Also they are inherently genius hackers of technology due to their level-headed farming knowledge. I am only exaggerating a little.
July 22, 2014
This was terrible. Not sure how it got good reviews. Also not sure how anyone could compare it to Hugh Howey's Wool. Keep you 99 cents.
June 7, 2017
Young Amishman Jedidiah Troyer is now a traveler. He's signed up for an emigration program that is colonizing the planet of New Pennsylvania. He just wants to start a farm and homestead on affordable land in a new Amish community. Space pioneering isn't as easy as it sounds when you're "plain." Jedidiah and his new friend Dawn arrive on New Pennsylvania in the middle of a rebel uprising, and TRACE, the resistance group that is rising up against TRANSPORT, has taken on the mission of getting Jed from the City to the Amish Zone. Being a stranger in the old world doesn't even compare to being a stranger in a new world... a world that is at war and where nothing is what it seems.
Jedidiah Troyer is an eighteen year old who lives in the Amish Country of Pennsylvania on Earth. Promised cheap land and the prospect of starting a life on his own, he travels to New Pennsylvania, far outside our galaxy, in search of new opportunities, much like the settlers of old. Leaving behind everything and everyone he knows, he will hibernate for nine years until he reaches his new home planet. From there, he will then travel to the Amish Zone to begin his new life.
If only it could be that easy.
However, once he lands and comes out of hibernation, his life is put in immediate danger! Helped by mysterious allies, he learns that there is something sinister going on here as he is drawn into a conflict between opposing forces and is in way over his head in more ways than one.
For reasons unknown to Jed, and to the reader, the resistance is putting everything on the line to help him reach The Amish Zone. On the run from the Transport Authority, he realizes several things on the road to reaching The Amish Zone that forces him to question everything he thought he knew about this journey he has embarked on.
As the story progresses, we begin to understand why Jed is viewed as important to both the Transport Authority and to TRACE, the resistance. We discover along with Jed how the fight for freedom is being fought on multiple fronts, both literal and figurative, as well as the role he will play in the entire conflict, whether he wants to or not.
This story drew me into its mysteries very quickly & deeply, fleshing out this world with interesting sci-fi concepts and intriguing technology. The Amish Zone & its culture play a significant part of the larger stage this entire story plays out on, making for a unique tale contrasting technology with the simpler lifestyle of the Amish. This culture gives Jed a rich heritage and personality that makes him no ordinary protagonist and an intriguing character as well. With his non-violent Amish beliefs, he stands as an island of idealistic calm amidst a turbulent conflict, illustrating how he truly is a stranger in a strange land.
This story has plenty of rich ingredients in it, as it's full of suspense, features innovative uses of technology, fascinating surprises and unpredictable twists & turns. The mystery of where and when Jed is adds another layer to the mystery, as concepts of time and space also factor into the conflict. All of this and more are deftly incorporated into an engaging and engrossing story of a not-so-simple farmer who adapts to his circumstances while remaining true to himself.
By the end, many battles have been fought, we get answers to most of our questions, but also leaves room for the next tale in this tantalizing saga. This is the first part of a three part epic chronicle in the making, leaving room for the second in a planned three part trilogy, to be titled “Oklahoma”. I'm eager to see how the author expands upon the ideas that he established here in the next adventure!
Pennsylvania Omnibus
About the Author
Michael Bunker is a USA Today Bestselling author, off-gridder, husband, and father of four children. He lives with his family in a "plain" community in Central Texas, where he reads and writes books...and occasionally tilts at windmills. In November of 2015, Variety Magazine announced that Michael had sold a film/tv option for his bestselling novel Pennsylvania to Jorgensen Pictures. JP is currently developing Pennsylvania for production into a feature film or Television series. Michael is writing the first draft of the screenplay.
Michael's latest (and best rated) novel is Brother, Frankenstein which was released in late April of 2015.
Michael has been called the "father" of the Amish/Scifi genre but that isn't all that he writes. He is the author of several popular and acclaimed works of dystopian sci-fi, including the Amazon top 20 bestselling Amish Sci-fi thriller the Pennsylvania Omnibus, the groundbreaking dystopian vision Hugh Howey called "a brilliant tale of extra-planetary colonization." He also has written the epic post-apocalyptic WICK series, The Silo Archipelago (set in Hugh Howey's World of WOOL,) as well as many nonfiction works, including the non-fiction Amazon overall top 30 bestseller Surviving Off Off-Grid. Michael was commissioned by Amazon.com through their Kindle Worlds and Kindle Serials programs to write the first ever commissioned novel set in the World of Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle. That book is entitled Osage Two Diamonds, and it debuted on Dec. 17, 2013.
In late April of 2015, Michael released his novel Brother, Frankenstein to fantastic reviews.
Michael has been featured on NPR, HuffPost Live, and Ozy.com and was recently interviewed in a Medium.com article that will give you more background and insight into his life and works... http://bit.ly/17YbE63.
On November 21st, 2014 Tales From Pennsylvania, a fanfic short story anthology featuring 10 top speculative fiction authors writing fanfic short stories in the world of Michael Bunker's Pennsylvania, was released in paperback and e-book format. More than twenty authors have been (or will be) writing fanfic in the world of MB's Pennsylvania.
Readers who subscribe to Michael's newsletter get free copies of his books, usually before they're published: http://michaelbunker.com/newsletter
Jedidiah Troyer is an eighteen year old who lives in the Amish Country of Pennsylvania on Earth. Promised cheap land and the prospect of starting a life on his own, he travels to New Pennsylvania, far outside our galaxy, in search of new opportunities, much like the settlers of old. Leaving behind everything and everyone he knows, he will hibernate for nine years until he reaches his new home planet. From there, he will then travel to the Amish Zone to begin his new life.
If only it could be that easy.
However, once he lands and comes out of hibernation, his life is put in immediate danger! Helped by mysterious allies, he learns that there is something sinister going on here as he is drawn into a conflict between opposing forces and is in way over his head in more ways than one.
For reasons unknown to Jed, and to the reader, the resistance is putting everything on the line to help him reach The Amish Zone. On the run from the Transport Authority, he realizes several things on the road to reaching The Amish Zone that forces him to question everything he thought he knew about this journey he has embarked on.
As the story progresses, we begin to understand why Jed is viewed as important to both the Transport Authority and to TRACE, the resistance. We discover along with Jed how the fight for freedom is being fought on multiple fronts, both literal and figurative, as well as the role he will play in the entire conflict, whether he wants to or not.
This story drew me into its mysteries very quickly & deeply, fleshing out this world with interesting sci-fi concepts and intriguing technology. The Amish Zone & its culture play a significant part of the larger stage this entire story plays out on, making for a unique tale contrasting technology with the simpler lifestyle of the Amish. This culture gives Jed a rich heritage and personality that makes him no ordinary protagonist and an intriguing character as well. With his non-violent Amish beliefs, he stands as an island of idealistic calm amidst a turbulent conflict, illustrating how he truly is a stranger in a strange land.
This story has plenty of rich ingredients in it, as it's full of suspense, features innovative uses of technology, fascinating surprises and unpredictable twists & turns. The mystery of where and when Jed is adds another layer to the mystery, as concepts of time and space also factor into the conflict. All of this and more are deftly incorporated into an engaging and engrossing story of a not-so-simple farmer who adapts to his circumstances while remaining true to himself.
By the end, many battles have been fought, we get answers to most of our questions, but also leaves room for the next tale in this tantalizing saga. This is the first part of a three part epic chronicle in the making, leaving room for the second in a planned three part trilogy, to be titled “Oklahoma”. I'm eager to see how the author expands upon the ideas that he established here in the next adventure!
Pennsylvania Omnibus
About the Author
Michael Bunker is a USA Today Bestselling author, off-gridder, husband, and father of four children. He lives with his family in a "plain" community in Central Texas, where he reads and writes books...and occasionally tilts at windmills. In November of 2015, Variety Magazine announced that Michael had sold a film/tv option for his bestselling novel Pennsylvania to Jorgensen Pictures. JP is currently developing Pennsylvania for production into a feature film or Television series. Michael is writing the first draft of the screenplay.
Michael's latest (and best rated) novel is Brother, Frankenstein which was released in late April of 2015.
Michael has been called the "father" of the Amish/Scifi genre but that isn't all that he writes. He is the author of several popular and acclaimed works of dystopian sci-fi, including the Amazon top 20 bestselling Amish Sci-fi thriller the Pennsylvania Omnibus, the groundbreaking dystopian vision Hugh Howey called "a brilliant tale of extra-planetary colonization." He also has written the epic post-apocalyptic WICK series, The Silo Archipelago (set in Hugh Howey's World of WOOL,) as well as many nonfiction works, including the non-fiction Amazon overall top 30 bestseller Surviving Off Off-Grid. Michael was commissioned by Amazon.com through their Kindle Worlds and Kindle Serials programs to write the first ever commissioned novel set in the World of Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle. That book is entitled Osage Two Diamonds, and it debuted on Dec. 17, 2013.
In late April of 2015, Michael released his novel Brother, Frankenstein to fantastic reviews.
Michael has been featured on NPR, HuffPost Live, and Ozy.com and was recently interviewed in a Medium.com article that will give you more background and insight into his life and works... http://bit.ly/17YbE63.
On November 21st, 2014 Tales From Pennsylvania, a fanfic short story anthology featuring 10 top speculative fiction authors writing fanfic short stories in the world of Michael Bunker's Pennsylvania, was released in paperback and e-book format. More than twenty authors have been (or will be) writing fanfic in the world of MB's Pennsylvania.
Readers who subscribe to Michael's newsletter get free copies of his books, usually before they're published: http://michaelbunker.com/newsletter
October 21, 2019
”Most Plain People are used to feeling guilty when they’ve done nothing wrong. It’s part of the physiology and culture of being different. Usually this feeling only creeps up on them when they’re out among the English. There was something in the way the English looked at them that conveyed a sense of accusation.”
Amish- sure. Sci-fi? That’s a bit harder to swallow. It’s actually been used as a premise for jokes on late night TV. But Michael Bunker has written a fairly interesting series in the Pennsylvania Omnibus, and, it works! Amish boy goes to space? Interesting premise. Kept me reading. Time travel is always a hook for me. Technological requirements are always a compelling draw in Amish fiction. However, I wanted to know more about Jed; why was he doing this anyway?
Michael Bunker writes well. His conclusions might be muddy, but I’ll read more in the future.
Recommended 4/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it]
Amish- sure. Sci-fi? That’s a bit harder to swallow. It’s actually been used as a premise for jokes on late night TV. But Michael Bunker has written a fairly interesting series in the Pennsylvania Omnibus, and, it works! Amish boy goes to space? Interesting premise. Kept me reading. Time travel is always a hook for me. Technological requirements are always a compelling draw in Amish fiction. However, I wanted to know more about Jed; why was he doing this anyway?
Michael Bunker writes well. His conclusions might be muddy, but I’ll read more in the future.
Recommended 4/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it]
June 1, 2016
Other people have had trouble describing this book without spoilers. Here's my own lame attempt: "Total Recall" meets "The Matrix" with an Amish protagonist. That should give you the gist of it.
I've met the author, and he told me that he reads a lot of Russian dystopian literature. He also told me that he doesn't do happy and neatly tied up endings. Based on that + his lifestyle in a Plain community, I assumed that his take on sci-fi would be dark and possibly dreary, with maundering insights about a pastoral lifestyle. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by a fast-paced, action-packed, intense science fiction novel. His writing style is much more Daniel Suarez than Dostoevsky. This was a thoroughly enjoyable story that kept me hooked and turning pages. The mystery pulled me along. A few ideas and characters really stood out. (If you've read it, I'm sure you remember Go Eagles! Super awesome in the audiobook edition.)
My quibbles are all spoilers. Here goes:
Overall, I really thought this was a fun book, with more than enough intelligent mystery to keep me up late!
I've met the author, and he told me that he reads a lot of Russian dystopian literature. He also told me that he doesn't do happy and neatly tied up endings. Based on that + his lifestyle in a Plain community, I assumed that his take on sci-fi would be dark and possibly dreary, with maundering insights about a pastoral lifestyle. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by a fast-paced, action-packed, intense science fiction novel. His writing style is much more Daniel Suarez than Dostoevsky. This was a thoroughly enjoyable story that kept me hooked and turning pages. The mystery pulled me along. A few ideas and characters really stood out. (If you've read it, I'm sure you remember Go Eagles! Super awesome in the audiobook edition.)
My quibbles are all spoilers. Here goes:
Overall, I really thought this was a fun book, with more than enough intelligent mystery to keep me up late!
April 30, 2014
I read the first part of Pennsylvania in July 2013 and had to wait many months to see its conclusion. It was already clear to me that it was something special. I do not want to write here about the plot or the many twists and turns; you can read about them in my reviews of the single parts (or in many others written far better than mine).
What I want to describe here is the beauty of the paperback Omnibus edition.
The cover is designed by the master of covers Jason Gurley. They are a beauty in electronic form but you have to see them in print to fully appreciate the talent of this young artist.
Then the awesome Ben Adams artwork inside. He has already designed the artwork of another great indie book, Sand by Hugh Howey. If you had the chance to see them you know what I mean. They are present in the ebook version too, but the printed versions are mindblowing.
That said, this book is the proof of what an indie author can achieve gathering the best talents available.
Of course the great story is the most important part, but when you have it in your hand you'll feel the love for the book as an item, to keep on your bookshelf to andmire and to read on your sofa after an hard day of work.
Last but not least if you buy the paperback you can have the ebook version for just a buck thanks to the Kindle Matchbook program.
What I want to describe here is the beauty of the paperback Omnibus edition.
The cover is designed by the master of covers Jason Gurley. They are a beauty in electronic form but you have to see them in print to fully appreciate the talent of this young artist.
Then the awesome Ben Adams artwork inside. He has already designed the artwork of another great indie book, Sand by Hugh Howey. If you had the chance to see them you know what I mean. They are present in the ebook version too, but the printed versions are mindblowing.
That said, this book is the proof of what an indie author can achieve gathering the best talents available.
Of course the great story is the most important part, but when you have it in your hand you'll feel the love for the book as an item, to keep on your bookshelf to andmire and to read on your sofa after an hard day of work.
Last but not least if you buy the paperback you can have the ebook version for just a buck thanks to the Kindle Matchbook program.
March 19, 2015
I'll admit I was curious and a bit skeptical when I first read the description for Pennsylvania. Amish Sci fi? Really? What I knew about Amish societies did NOT match up with space travel. That's partly because I didn't know all that much! One of the pleasures of this tale is I did get to learn more about a fascinating country within a country, and yes, colonization makes perfect sense.
All that aside, Michael Bunker has crafted a fast-paced, engaging story to go along with such a unique premise. I was caught up in Jed's story from the start, and I'm eager to see where he ends up in the next installment. The secrets did surprise me, and best of all, they made perfect sense once I thought back over the story. All the clues were there. I ended up using this book for a class, so I can say it holds up very well to repeated readings!
The paperback itself is just gorgeous. It truly does stand as a testament to what indie publishing can do now, with an absolutely professional look, feel, and layout. Pennsylvania is a pleasure from start to finish. Count me in for the upcoming trip to Oklahoma!
All that aside, Michael Bunker has crafted a fast-paced, engaging story to go along with such a unique premise. I was caught up in Jed's story from the start, and I'm eager to see where he ends up in the next installment. The secrets did surprise me, and best of all, they made perfect sense once I thought back over the story. All the clues were there. I ended up using this book for a class, so I can say it holds up very well to repeated readings!
The paperback itself is just gorgeous. It truly does stand as a testament to what indie publishing can do now, with an absolutely professional look, feel, and layout. Pennsylvania is a pleasure from start to finish. Count me in for the upcoming trip to Oklahoma!
August 6, 2015
I heard about this Omnibus from a few very reliable sources for good books and I was excited to read. I will say for the first 29% I was unable to put the book down. It was intriguing. The mix of sci-fi and Amish culture was something new.
The focus of the story seemed to get a bit lost and muddled to the point where I lost track of what the characters actually yearned for. There is a fair amount of telling, and I had a hard time figuring out who Jed Troyer was since he didn’t make many decisions for himself, just followed the lead of others.
The ending was great and while the middle of the book focused on all of the brain chip implant technology, I wish it could have been littered with more of the time travel technology. I would have also enjoyed a little more character development.
In all, the beginning was great, the middle was “meh,” and the end was pretty good. The cover was great, and the artwork inside added a little something special which I appreciated as a reader.
The focus of the story seemed to get a bit lost and muddled to the point where I lost track of what the characters actually yearned for. There is a fair amount of telling, and I had a hard time figuring out who Jed Troyer was since he didn’t make many decisions for himself, just followed the lead of others.
The ending was great and while the middle of the book focused on all of the brain chip implant technology, I wish it could have been littered with more of the time travel technology. I would have also enjoyed a little more character development.
In all, the beginning was great, the middle was “meh,” and the end was pretty good. The cover was great, and the artwork inside added a little something special which I appreciated as a reader.
August 13, 2014
I think I must have been expecting a novel about Amish colonies on a new world, and how they go about it.
Instead, this was a part cyberpunk, part time-travel, part action novel that was fast-paced and entirely different than what I was expecting (hoping?) to read. It was filled with interesting ideas, though it might have been a bit smoother reading if more of the "how things got this way" had been explained... even after finishing the book I found that I was puzzled as to how it all was supposed to have transpired.
Anyway, while this wasn't my favorite sort of reading (just a subgenre disconnect), it was a fast-paced, exciting tale that crosses all sorts of interesting sci-fi & speculative fiction boundaries. It's definitely worth looking into!
Instead, this was a part cyberpunk, part time-travel, part action novel that was fast-paced and entirely different than what I was expecting (hoping?) to read. It was filled with interesting ideas, though it might have been a bit smoother reading if more of the "how things got this way" had been explained... even after finishing the book I found that I was puzzled as to how it all was supposed to have transpired.
Anyway, while this wasn't my favorite sort of reading (just a subgenre disconnect), it was a fast-paced, exciting tale that crosses all sorts of interesting sci-fi & speculative fiction boundaries. It's definitely worth looking into!
May 3, 2015
SPOILERS!
Initial premise is interesting.
First twists are interesting.
But wait... Jed is like Neo? He's the ultimate hacker because he only has an 8th grade education?
Pacing is sometimes really weird, probably because of the original serialization.
WTF do you mean this isn't a stand alone novel and I only realize that at the very end?
Initial premise is interesting.
First twists are interesting.
But wait... Jed is like Neo? He's the ultimate hacker because he only has an 8th grade education?
Pacing is sometimes really weird, probably because of the original serialization.
WTF do you mean this isn't a stand alone novel and I only realize that at the very end?
October 12, 2014
Amish sci-if? Actually believable. Started strong and faltered a bit along the way. A littke bit too simple and predictable in spots but all in all an entertaining read. 3.5 stars rounded down cuz of the lack of closure.
September 12, 2014
A fun and different science fiction novel!
September 22, 2019
The Amish crossed the ocean to settle on one new world, why not the stars to settle another?
From such basic questions are new sci fi experiences made.
The author knows the Amish ways well, and he figures the Plain People would take on the process of colonizing a habitable but (ostensibly) empty world with their usual practicality and stoicism, even in the face of war and rebellion where an increasingly intrusive and tyrannical government tries to crush a resistance movement of colonial freedom fighters.
Young Jedidiah Troyer is our protagonist and chief viewpoint, ready to go out and homestead even if he must pass years in cold sleep to reach New Pennsylvania, where he will be tilling alien soil under alien stars.
But while Jed is plain, the world of the Englishers is complex, convoluted, and never without conflict, and he soon finds himself on the government’s wanted list for reasons he can’t know. A hunted fugitive and under fire from the hostile government, he will find many mysteries to solve and assumptions about his new home that prove very false.
The book is unusual in several ways, particularly for a reader versed in the tropes of space opera. Our main protagonist is a fish out of water and sticks to his non-violent traditions. That means while there is no shortage of action, for the beginning of the book Jed is very much the damsel in distress. Later on, his role becomes more intriguing as he is uniquely suited to unraveling these mysteries, and the best philosophizing of the book comes from Jed, as the Amish colony carries on in the backdrop of Englisher battle. I won’t say more for fear of spoilers, but there are some truly far-out twists at the end.
In the end, the overall feeling I came away with was a memory of the final scenes of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai: where it is noted that the farmers and the land remain the same, no matter what conflicts blow over them like the wind.
From such basic questions are new sci fi experiences made.
The author knows the Amish ways well, and he figures the Plain People would take on the process of colonizing a habitable but (ostensibly) empty world with their usual practicality and stoicism, even in the face of war and rebellion where an increasingly intrusive and tyrannical government tries to crush a resistance movement of colonial freedom fighters.
Young Jedidiah Troyer is our protagonist and chief viewpoint, ready to go out and homestead even if he must pass years in cold sleep to reach New Pennsylvania, where he will be tilling alien soil under alien stars.
But while Jed is plain, the world of the Englishers is complex, convoluted, and never without conflict, and he soon finds himself on the government’s wanted list for reasons he can’t know. A hunted fugitive and under fire from the hostile government, he will find many mysteries to solve and assumptions about his new home that prove very false.
The book is unusual in several ways, particularly for a reader versed in the tropes of space opera. Our main protagonist is a fish out of water and sticks to his non-violent traditions. That means while there is no shortage of action, for the beginning of the book Jed is very much the damsel in distress. Later on, his role becomes more intriguing as he is uniquely suited to unraveling these mysteries, and the best philosophizing of the book comes from Jed, as the Amish colony carries on in the backdrop of Englisher battle. I won’t say more for fear of spoilers, but there are some truly far-out twists at the end.
In the end, the overall feeling I came away with was a memory of the final scenes of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai: where it is noted that the farmers and the land remain the same, no matter what conflicts blow over them like the wind.
September 15, 2019
Pennsylvania Omnibus follows the journey of a young Amishman Jedidiah Troyer as he leaves Earth to go to New Pennsylvania on another planet. Once Jed is on board the spaceship he is put into pods where he will sleep for nine years until he awakens on New Pennsylvania without aging a day. Jed explains all this to his little brother Amos over and over before he embarks on his new journey. Amos looks up to his big brother and is going to miss very much.
Jed is going to New Pennsylvania to help colonize a new world for the people on Earth. After his arrival on New Pennsylvania Jed is awakened by a lady Dawn that he saw on Earth before he left and is confused as to why she is here. Dawn explains to him that he is in danger and he must come with her if he wants to live. Dawn who is a member of the resistance group TRACE that is rising up against the government or TRANSPORT has been assigned to escort Jed to the Amish safe zone.
Pennsylvania Omnibus is filled with action on page after page and just keeps on giving. There are twists after twists that just keep on coming and just when you think you have it all figured bam another twists is thrown at you leaving you shell shocked.
Pennsylvania Omnibus is soon to be a Major Motion Picture and I can’t wait to see this one on the big screen with all the graphics with the drones and the bombings and the spaceships and the new colonies it is going to be epic.
Pennsylvania Omnibus is a mix between Star Wars and The 100. When I was reading Pennsylvania Omnibus I actually thought that it could be another chapter in Star Wars without Luke. Hey, admit it, it could work.
Pennsylvania Omnibus had me from the summary when it mentioned new planet, colonization, space travel, and Amish. I was like how to do you intertwine Amish and space.
Jed is going to New Pennsylvania to help colonize a new world for the people on Earth. After his arrival on New Pennsylvania Jed is awakened by a lady Dawn that he saw on Earth before he left and is confused as to why she is here. Dawn explains to him that he is in danger and he must come with her if he wants to live. Dawn who is a member of the resistance group TRACE that is rising up against the government or TRANSPORT has been assigned to escort Jed to the Amish safe zone.
Pennsylvania Omnibus is filled with action on page after page and just keeps on giving. There are twists after twists that just keep on coming and just when you think you have it all figured bam another twists is thrown at you leaving you shell shocked.
Pennsylvania Omnibus is soon to be a Major Motion Picture and I can’t wait to see this one on the big screen with all the graphics with the drones and the bombings and the spaceships and the new colonies it is going to be epic.
Pennsylvania Omnibus is a mix between Star Wars and The 100. When I was reading Pennsylvania Omnibus I actually thought that it could be another chapter in Star Wars without Luke. Hey, admit it, it could work.
Pennsylvania Omnibus had me from the summary when it mentioned new planet, colonization, space travel, and Amish. I was like how to do you intertwine Amish and space.
September 8, 2019
There's a lot of info-dumping, needless repetition, and setups without payoffs. They really drag down such an interesting premise. I realize it's just a collection of short stories but even with that, there's no real beginning-middle-end structure to so much of it that I felt like it never really went anywhere. If you're familiar with the plot twist you'll get the irony of that last sentence.
Using opsec and the 'need-to-know' basis for withholding info is fine once or twice but to string things along for so many chapters on something so flimsy - it got to be very frustrating. The whole gold coin thing made me so angry. Why set that up as a McGuffin only to make it so irrelevant? That happened a lot. Like they explain all the groups you might encounter between the city and the Amish Zone only to have none of them appear beyond a lone scavenger who turns out to be an ally and coconspirator. I wish there was a bit more "need to know" going on with all the exposition. Descriptions of tech could have been handled with a quick walk-through once but every single short story goes on and on about all the currency which is devalued and worthless after a few more pages. Or the administration and user interface for data mining or whatever. It's like a bureaucrat's wet dream and a little beyond belief that a farm boy with an eighth-grade education could master in half an hour.
Because of the premise and characters, this could be a really powerful novel after a developmental edit and a new outline before a proper rewrite.
Using opsec and the 'need-to-know' basis for withholding info is fine once or twice but to string things along for so many chapters on something so flimsy - it got to be very frustrating. The whole gold coin thing made me so angry. Why set that up as a McGuffin only to make it so irrelevant? That happened a lot. Like they explain all the groups you might encounter between the city and the Amish Zone only to have none of them appear beyond a lone scavenger who turns out to be an ally and coconspirator. I wish there was a bit more "need to know" going on with all the exposition. Descriptions of tech could have been handled with a quick walk-through once but every single short story goes on and on about all the currency which is devalued and worthless after a few more pages. Or the administration and user interface for data mining or whatever. It's like a bureaucrat's wet dream and a little beyond belief that a farm boy with an eighth-grade education could master in half an hour.
Because of the premise and characters, this could be a really powerful novel after a developmental edit and a new outline before a proper rewrite.
September 2, 2019
Jed is a young Amish man leaving for another planet because Earth has become overcrowded. Everything goes OK on his way to the transport, until he is going through "customs", where he gets his money electronically put into a wrist band, which also has his identification in it. The woman who processes him, named Dawn, is nice but seems sad. Imagine his surprise when she is put in a pod next to him for the nine years journey to the new planet. But when he is awakened nothing is what he thought it would be. Dawn smuggles him off before they can be processed. And leads him into a war. Technology is not something Jed had to deal with so it is all strange to him. And then he sees something that came from his old farm on Earth. Is he really on another planet? And if not, what happened? And why is everyone around him working to get him to the new Amish colony? Why is he so important? I would have given this book 5 stars but reading it was confusing at times. Instead of writing the story in chronological order, the author would tell part of the story, and then go back weeks in time and take several chapters to tell what happened. I don't understand why he just didn't write the events in order. And there never was an explanation why Jed's pod took more than nine years before he was awakened.
May 23, 2022
I specifically chose to read this story after reading Neal Stephenson's Seveneves. In Seveneves, a population of a few thousand (maybe?) leave Earth before a pending catastrophe. Infighting leaves only seven alive.
Pondering this disaster, I concluded that such a venture would be more successful with a cohesive community, people already actively supporting each other.
When I came upon Michael Bunker's Pennsylvania it seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. The Amish as a group fit with what I was thinking and so I was very excited to read about an Amish young man joining an Amish settlement on another planet.
Unfortunately, this book ended up in a completely different direction. Its hard for me to separate my disappointment from a judgement on the story itself.
It is interesting, but confusing in some parts, and ends abruptly. I like Jed and Dawn. I think I understand the ending, that they left the war behind to find a place and time to live in peace in the Amish way. But its ambiguous, they may just have ended up in the same war in a different place/time.
Pondering this disaster, I concluded that such a venture would be more successful with a cohesive community, people already actively supporting each other.
When I came upon Michael Bunker's Pennsylvania it seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. The Amish as a group fit with what I was thinking and so I was very excited to read about an Amish young man joining an Amish settlement on another planet.
Unfortunately, this book ended up in a completely different direction. Its hard for me to separate my disappointment from a judgement on the story itself.
It is interesting, but confusing in some parts, and ends abruptly. I like Jed and Dawn. I think I understand the ending, that they left the war behind to find a place and time to live in peace in the Amish way. But its ambiguous, they may just have ended up in the same war in a different place/time.
September 2, 2021
cookiereads Pennsylvania by Michael Bunker 🚀
Jedidiah Troyer is getting ready for a trip of a lifetime! He is going to New Pennsylvania, another planet, to help colonize the planet. He will travel by ship and be asleep for 9 years!! When he arrives, everything is different. There is war going on and Jed seems to be in the middle. Why is Jed so important? 🚀
Furiends this is one of the most unique books I have read this years!! When I heard that this book is characterized as “Amish sci-fi” I was like this cannot work. But furiends it does!!! Book kinda just ends though….will there be a sequel called Oklahoma perhaps…??? 🚀
2 paws out of four paws #michaelbunker #pennsylvania #amishscifi #bookstagram #booklover #dogsreadingbooks #corgiofinstagram #corglife #bluemerlecorgi
Jedidiah Troyer is getting ready for a trip of a lifetime! He is going to New Pennsylvania, another planet, to help colonize the planet. He will travel by ship and be asleep for 9 years!! When he arrives, everything is different. There is war going on and Jed seems to be in the middle. Why is Jed so important? 🚀
Furiends this is one of the most unique books I have read this years!! When I heard that this book is characterized as “Amish sci-fi” I was like this cannot work. But furiends it does!!! Book kinda just ends though….will there be a sequel called Oklahoma perhaps…??? 🚀
2 paws out of four paws #michaelbunker #pennsylvania #amishscifi #bookstagram #booklover #dogsreadingbooks #corgiofinstagram #corglife #bluemerlecorgi
September 8, 2019
I don't know what to make of this book. All in all it's more like an unfinished manuscript than a complete book. The ending is weird, nothing is resolved and it has the feel that another 'knot' is needed. I wonder if the author has plans in that direction? Some parts in the book were very good. I liked the development of the relationship between Jed and Dawn, and the descriptions of the Amish way of life and their beliefs and traditions. Other parts were tedious or unbelievable. An Amish that becomes a computer whizz in no time because of his upbringing, I just don't buy it!
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