This giveaway has ended. Scroll to the bottom to see who won!
It’s been too long since our last giveaway, and this week we’re going to get started again with something a little different and fun for Life in a Shoe, but the off-grid lifestyle holds a strong appeal for many people. Michael Bunker’s non-fiction book on the subject, Surviving Off Off-Grid: Decolonizing the Industrial Mind, received very positive reviews.
Now he has a fictional offering in a similar vein: The Last Pilgrims, scheduled for release on Feb. 24.
About the Book
More than your typical post-apocalyptic fare, The Last Pilgrims could well be one of the most important and prescient novels of our time. Twenty years in the future is five-hundred years in the past. It is just two decades after the worldwide societal collapse and the Vallenses, an Amish-like “plain people” living and surviving in what was once Central Texas, are under attack by the King of Aztlan and his armies. The pacifistic Vallenses are defended by the shadowy Ghost Militia and their inspiring leader Phillip, a militant freeman who wages a guerilla war with Aztlan.
Jonathan Wall and the thriving agrarian community of Vallenses have prospered by living the simple and sustainable ways of the past. In a massively depopulated world, balkanization is a reality and monarchy is back. A corrupt kingdom arises, led by a king who cannot abide freemen on lands that he covets. Just as the Vallenses send off a plea to the benevolent King of the South States, a mysterious assassin misses his target: Jonathan Wall.
Phillip “the Ghost” is on a personal mission to save the Vallenses – even if it is against their will, while Jonathan’s own son David and his fearless teenage daughter Ruth are led to challenge their pacifistic upbringing and question whether or not the time has come for the Vallenses to fight for the land, the people, and the God they love.
The Last Pilgrims is a modern re-telling of the forgotten history of the Ancient Waldenses – simple farmers who lived in the valleys of the Alps for hundreds of years despite repeated attempts to annihilate them. Full of tragedy, adventure, humor, and love, The Last Pilgrims is a rare post-apocalyptic saga that takes history and casts it into the future, while examining that future in light of the errors of the present and the past.
Check out the YouTube trailer. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but let’s be honest: how many books have a trailer this cool?
This book is brand new, but reviews from previewers are already looking good. I really like the last part of this review, where the blogger describes The Four Things I Appreciated Most About The Last Pilgrims:
- The period piece feel of the book. I am a sucker for period pieces, historical fiction, historical non-fiction, and any book that tells a good story with historical context weaved throughout. The Last Pilgrims actually takes place in the future, but because of the agrarian setting is feels like 500 years in the past.
- Discusses a “collapse” without the paranoia. The story is set twenty years after the breakdown of the industrial society that we know today. Because of this it would be really easy for it to slip into the crazy conspiracy theory and paranoia-oriented post-apocalyptic fiction genre. Fortunately, Mr. Bunker writes the scenario in a very realistic, matter-of-fact way that focuses more on the sustainability of this new life than it does the paranoid zombie conspiracy theories.
- Action as part of a good plot line. I almost never reach for an action-packed thriller first when I need a good read. Perhaps this is the reason I was a bit skeptical of the book. It’s not you, it’s me. But I was really pleased to find the action, battles, and suspense in The Last Pilgrims done tastefully and not at the cost of character development or a real, engaging plot line.
- Humor balances the drama. Humor is used throughout the book, mostly via witty banter between the characters. This makes the storyline just feel more real, engaging, and light enough to balance out the very real and serious drama playing out.
From another review:
“Fantastic writing… excellent, well-crafted and imaginative…
It is rare that someone has such aptitude to interweave so many elements into their work, that it not only conveys a very important message, but it is also a true pleasure to read. Your well-developed characters, the really well considered plot, timing and flow of narrative have really helped in creating a true masterpiece. You really made me stop and think about a life that is possibly lurking not far in the future, when having almost instant access to people, places and material possessions would be impossible.
- Natasha
- Leave a comment here.
- Link to this giveaway on your blog, facebook, and/or twitter.
- Link to The Last Pilgrims on your blog, facebook, and/or twitter.
- Like The Last Pilgrims on Facebook.
- Remember, if you have joined the mailing list for the Life in a Shoe newsletter, you are automatically entered in every giveaway!
I’ll take entries through Thursday and will announce a random winner on Friday, February 24 – the day the book will be released.
This giveaway has ended. The winner was newsletter subscriber, Britton!
Would love this good book to read!
I would love to win a copy of this book.
Wow, this book looks really good and I’d love to read it! Thank you for posting about it.
This would be a Addition to our library!
Linked to my Facebook page!
I joined the newsletter – and this book looks awesome! Pick me…pick me…pick me…please….
Thanks for the chance!
Sounds interesting.
This looks like a very captivating read. I only read a limited amount of fiction, but this book will end up on my shelf one way or another.
I’m looking forward to reading this book. Thank you for the chance of winning a copy.
I would love to win a copy of this book.
Tweet on twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/MystickJade/status/170506250516303873
Post n Face book. https://www.facebook.com/rose.curran2/posts/110613535732864
Like The Last Pilgrims on facebook
Following The Last Pilgrims on twitter.
Sounds exciting!
Sounds like a great read.
Sounds like a good book – I’d love to read it!
Awesome trailer! Wish I had time to read! I’ll wait til the movie!
My hubby would love it though!
Would love to read this and own it!
Also like “The Last Pilgrims” on FB!
This book sounds so interesting.
This does look to be an intriguing book to read. Please put my name in the hat and thank you for the giveaway. I can already see the movie….
Sounds like an exciting book!
–Gena
I’m always interested in a new book!
I’d love to read this! I don’t read action books too often, but typically love them when I do and this one sounds very interesting.
Heather
Looks very interesting! Even if I don’t win a copy I might buy one… depending on the price!
Or maybe I’ll get the first book that he wrote!
Wow I hadn’t heard of this book. It would definitely be an interesting read, but is it scriptural?
I would love to read this as would my kids!
I joined the newsletter mailing list.
Looks like an interesting book. Thanks.
Sounds like an interesting read!
Would love to win this book =)
Looks like a great book. Would really like to read it!
I have thought this book looks interesting for some time! I’d love to win!
I liked their book site on facebook!
This sounds like my kind of book. I love witty/sarcastic-funny.
I linked this to Facebook.
I like “The Last Pilgrims” on Facebook
The book sounds phenomenal. I’d love to win it.
This sounds like an interesting read
Liked The Last Pilgrims on fb
Oursafehaven
Sounds like a great read!
This sounds like a terrific book! I would LOVE to win!
This book looks amazing . . .wow, I’d love to be picked – my daughters would read it right away!! I hope they make a movie out of it!
Thank-you for the opportunity to win this book. It sounds like a great read for our family.
Looks interesting. Not saying I need another book but I WANT this one, so I guess it’s still legal to enter.
LIKE Last Pilgrim on FB
Sounds interesting
Do you intend to read it?
I’ve already started my digital review copy.
Looks pretty cool!
sounds like a great book! Karen
This sounds like it would make an awesome movie, too! I can’t wait to read the book. =)
I’m always interested in a good read! If I don’t win I hope they offer it on the nook cause my house is stuffed with books.
A giveaway how fun.
Sounds like a book my husband and I would both enjoy. Please enter me!
Please enter me!!
I feel so behind. I just found out about this book and it sounds terribly interesting, as does Michael Bunker. I would like to be entered please.
I linked this giveaway to my Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=346041005436622&id=668345984
I linked the book The Last Pilgrim, to my Twitter account: https://twitter.com/#!/NeKishaRowe/status/170942481544908800
I liked The Last Pilgrims on Facebook.
This looks like a fantastic book, would love to win it!
This sounds great, thanks!
Ooooh, I promised myself to never ever enter one of your give-aways again… the tease of it all and the disappointment of NOT being the *chosen* winner.
But this book looks like it would be really delightful, so I will go and like the FB page, too (not to increase my chances, but to be reminded of it in the likely event that I don’t win this
).
I’ve been wanting to read more fiction books; this looks like a good one.
Linked the giveaway to twitter
Linked to the Last Pilgrims on twitter
I wanna win de book!
I leaves a comment to say so!
For decades one of my favorite books has been Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. I have introduced it to several family members who have also added it to their read-over-and-over list. This book sounds like it would fit in nicely on my bookshelf for reading and rereading. Thanks for the possibility.
This looks like a great book. I hope I win!
I would love a copy of this book!
Looks like fun! pick me plz
wow! sounds really interesting!
This sounds very interesting!
This sounds fascinating! I love post-apocalyptic fiction, so this is right up my alley.
This book sounds fantastic! Would love to win!
I just liked it on facebook. I haven’t had much interest in reading anything for awhile. But, this looks good! I added it to my wishlist, too.
Sounds interesting. I’d love to win!
Would love to read this book!
Can’t wait for the release! Sounds amazing!
I would love to win a copy of this.
Posted about it on FB.
Liked The Last Pilgrims on FB.
Linked to the website on FB.
Was there a winner announced? I have looked around to no avail. Thank you!
It’s been a busy weekend. Doing it now!