One Second After

By: William R. Forstchen

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

A post-apocalyptic thriller of the after effects in the United States after a terrifying terrorist attack using electromagnetic pulse weapons.

In a small North Carolina town, one man struggles to save his family after America loses a war that will send it back to the Dark Ages.

Already cited on the floor of Congress and discussed in the corridors of the Pentagon as a book all Americans should read, One Second After is the story of a war scenario that could become all too terrifyingly real. Based on a real weapon—the electromagnetic pulse (EMP)—which may already be in the hands of our enemies, it is a truly realistic look at the awesome power of a weapon that can destroy the entire United States, literally within one second.

In the tradition of On the Beach, Fail Safe, and Testament, this book, set in a typical American town, is a dire warning of what might be our future and our end.

©2009 William R. Forstchen (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[An] entertaining apocalyptic thriller....fans of such classics as Alas, Babylon and On the Beach will have a good time as Forstchen tackles the obvious and some not-so-obvious questions the apocalypse tends to raise." ( Publishers Weekly)

Amazing

This was an amazing book. I was aware of the threat of EMP's before reading this book, but after reading this book it makes that already known threat seem even more plausible. The concept can make for a very interesting conversation with a friend. The narration felt as if he was really in the situation. Great book and easy to follow.

A look into what could happen.

Due to current events in this world we live, I've recently begun looking into more preservation techniques should something catastrophic happen in the U.S.

During my research, I came across a video discussing what the aftermath if an EMP burst entails. As a gamer, I had some prior knowledge on the subject as most shooters nowadays have some type of EMP based weapon and it always deals with knocking out electronics. So I did some more research and someone suggested this book.

Needless to say, this book is brilliantly scary and well written as well as well narrated. I truly fill this story lays out exactly what would happen in the aftermath of an EMP based attack. Its not a matter of if it could happen but when? This technology is real and we the people are not prepared. I wont go on a rant but this book is just great. I shed some tears, my heart rate escalated, its good. Buy it.

Excellent listen and good entertainment

I notice a lot of the reviews and the "helpful" comments have gotten red vs. blue in nature. Let me stress one thing - this book was a good read. It requires some suspension of belief, but if you are a fan of genre, it provides a nice counterpoint to books like "The Road." In some sense, it's an slightly optimist apocalyptic literature.

One of the best purchases I made this year along with Split Second.

Haunting

This book was incredible. Frightening in it's potentiality. Terrifying at how fast things deteriorate. In some ways, this reminds me of LUCIFER'S HAMMER only the people came out better in that one. This was truly haunting. Thought provoking to say the least. Wonderful. Sad. WOW.

A must read for the genre

Inspired by alas Babylon by pat frank this is a modern telling of a similar story. An EMP hits the U.S. and survival of a small town ensuse. Realistic and not played as this genre often is.

Fascinating.

The foreword to this book was written by Newt Gingrich, which didn't necessarily start things off on the best note for me. However, Mr. Gingrich's comments were thoughtful and an appropriate opening for the book.

Further, if you simply absorb the story without consideration of any political agenda behind the book's purpose, this is an intriguing, engaging, and downright terrifying book. It left me with my eyes wider open to the risks described in it.

It was well written, interesting, and I really enjoyed the narration. I don't typically write reviews but I found this book well worth commenting on and reading.

Heavy, Realistic, Frightening: LISTEN UP

As the wife and mother of soldiers, I can't help but get angry that our country doesn't prepare for the likelihood of an attack by Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) . . . our all-too-politically-correct legislators and politicians in Washington DC are always ready to lend a hand to refugees oversees (including letting them in the US), fund another social program, or send the president on another vacation. I am sick and tired of the playing in the White House and the Senate and House putting up with it. My husband, a retired Sergeant Major, knew all about EMP . . . but I didn't . . . and the two of us listened to this book while traveling in the car to our son's house . . . he's an active duty soldier at Fort Bragg . . . Our dependence on all of today's conveniences, medicines, electronics is frightening . . . and I am the world's worst . . . I get up, get my coffee, and get on line . . . BUT I was also raised in the sticks of Kentucky . . . on the river, fishing, shooting, farming . . . I'm made out of tough stuff . . . and so is the old bird I'm married to . . . y'all, it is HIGH time we put a boot up the rear end of those representing us . . . I'm moving on to the second in this series . . . good job, William Forstchen

Amazing, Compelling, Emotional Must Read!!

I simply cannot recommend this book enough. It left me starting to research this in a depth greater than I already knew about and wondering why our government is ignoring this and why we having handed over the technology to countries s like China to destroy us utterly.

Great for what it is

If you like disaster and survival stories, this is a very entertaining listen, with adept narration, and some amusing attempts at regional accents. There are a lot of nifty details, as well as some totally hearbreaking battle and other crisis-related sequences.

The author seems like a guy with integrity and strong old fashioned values. this comes through in the choices he makes with his characters, with lots of very admirable military men and so forth. i've worked as an army contractor and have nothing but respect and admiration for the people i met.

that said, his main character (a guy just like the author, in many respects) accepts the wartime pregnancy of his young daughter with aplomb and is amiably tolerant of the local weirdos and potheads.

Of course the writer of the introduction is a ham and loves a soapbox, but it's funny to hear.

Overall the book left me with the feeling that I could be better prepared in my home in NYC, just as much for a bad storm as for another terrorist attack.

Final analysis: a super entertaining book, well read.

G R E A T!!

This book will give you something to think about, as this is one of those books that could happen. At any time.